Is it Possible to Make Muscular Arms Smaller?

Question

I've had pretty muscular arms my whole life ( I've had it from my dad) and I hate because I'm uncomfortable wearing sleeveless shirt and dresses. I also feel like it makes me look less feminine. Is there any surgeon out there who can alter the look of my arms and make it look more full and woman-like? Thanks.

David R. Stephens, MD · Answer

There is no treatment to reduce true muscle size. If you have some fat on your arms, than the fat can be removed but you now risk having more muscle definition. If you are thin and have strong biceps and triceps then there is nothing that can be done to cover this. It is hard to recommend anything to you without photos. Sometimes we have to accept things that we cannot change. All the best.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding how to make muscular arms smaller. The arms consist of four significant types of tissue: skin, fat, muscle, and bone. In this situation, we are not going to consider bone. To. Make your arms less muscular; you need to decrease the muscle mass in your arms. If you are working out, I suggest you do less weight training. That means less lifting with your biceps and triceps. Suppose that is not the issue. I do not necessarily suggest removing or shaving down muscle. Some plastic surgeons, however, advocate that, but in my opinion, it is too traumatic and can lead to significant blood loss and underlying nerve damage. Another option could be fat transfer. Fat can be harvested from the abdomen and love handles and be transferred to the areas on your arm. This would help to camouflage the underlying muscles. Typically this is an insertion of the biceps to the deltoid and the triceps to the deltoid. Fat can also be inserted on top of the muscles to camouflage the muscles. I hope this helps answer your question about helping your arms look more 'women' and less muscular. 
I specialize in arm lifts.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction.  If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, please contact my office.  Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts. Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts.  Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

In
theory, muscles can be surgically reduced, but this isn’t a commonly performed
surgical procedure for a variety of reasons. This procedure has the potential
for significant complications. In addition, this type of procedure might
adversely impact arm function. For these reasons, most plastic surgeons agree
that upper arm muscle reduction isn’t a good idea and as a result, they don’t
perform this procedure.

In
some cases, alternative procedures may occasionally be helpful when arm
reduction is desired. Under these circumstances brachioplasty and liposuction
might be effective in some cases.

If
you’re concerned about upper arm contour, consultation with a board certified
plastic surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon should be able to formulate a
treatment plan that’s appropriate for your problem.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Unless you have almost no body fat, the arms can be made smaller. As a bodybuilder, I do see people at 4% bodyfat who do not have enough fat to liposuction. However, these represent a small fraction of a percent of patients. Find the plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of liposuction procedures each year. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Marialyn Sardo, MD · Answer

It would be difficult to answer this question without photos and examining you. Muscle tissue cannot be reduced, but it may be possible to contour the arms in such a way to make them appear less muscular. See a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and see if there is anything possible to soften the look of your arms

Is it Possible to Make Muscular Arms Smaller?

Answers (5)