Sagging Upper Arms After Weight Loss - Non-Invasive Options?

Hello, thank you for your question about a non-invasive arm lift after massive weight loss.  It is impossible to answer your questions without pictures or a thorough physical examination and medical history review.  There is one proven non-invasive treatments for mild fat arms.  As far as non-invasive treatment, I can only suggest CoolSculpting. However, CoolScultping treats fat, not skin.  I believe CoolSculpting is not that effective for the treatment of arms in weight loss patients.  This is probably because the arm skin has been damaged with the weight loss and does not bounce back as much as non-weight loss patients.  In determining the best treatment option for your arms, the following conditions are important : your age, quality of arm skin, rapidity of your weight loss, amount of your weight loss, arm skin texture, amount of arm fat still left, amount of weight you still want to lose, and realistic arm reduction expectations.    However, be warned, with a history of weight loss, especially "rapid weight loss", your best option will be a formal arm lift or brachioplasty.  Arm lifts are performed under general anesthesia.  During an arm lift, arm liposuction is performed and the upper arm is defatted.  Then, a variety of upper arm incisions can be made.  Typically, an arm incision is made from the armpit to the elbow.  The arm lift scar is well hidden on the inner, upper arm. The arm lift procedure takes about three to four hours to perform and takes about one to two weeks to recover.  In conclusion, I would save your money seeking a non-invasive treatment for your arms after weight loss.  A good product does not exist, yet !  If you do find a provider who says they can deliver, demand to see at least 20 arm reduction patients (who have lost weight rapidly) whom they have treated successfully with their non-invasive technique.  Carefully examine their pictures.  To my knowledge, there is no effective non-invasive arm treatment after weight loss. I hope that I have answered your questions about the non-invasive treatments of arms after weight loss.   If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, or brachioplasty, please contact my office. When searching for an arm lift specialist, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant expertise in arm reduction surgery.  Demand to see many before and after pictures of patients just like yourself on forums like RealSelf and their website.  Check out patient reviews of your chosen plastic surgeon on forums like RealSelf.  Thank you.  Sincerely, J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS, FICS, FASMBS. (Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and fellow of the American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery).

Unfortunately there are really no effective non-surgical treatments for removing significant skin under the arm. Non-invasive procedures like coolsculpting only address the fat that lies under the skin and over the muscle, it does not do anything to improve excess skin. Laser therapy and other skin tightening procedures show extremely minimal results, if there are any results at all. There is a reason why board certified plastic surgeons do not include this procedure in their practice offerings. It would be best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to review the best options for you.

Unfortunately, there are no effective nonsurgical options to address loose arm skin after significant weight loss. Brachioplasty (arm lift) surgery is the best treatment to effectively remove excess arm skin and restore contour of the arm and armpit. Usually after significant weight loss, an extended brachioplasty is required resulting in a scar that spans from the armpit to the elbow.

It is unlikely that non-invasive options will improve the sagging skin of your upper arms.  Liposuction is helpful if you have excess fat.  If you have primarily loose skin, surgery is your only effective option.

                  It’s
not unusual for patients to have sagging upper arms after significant weight
loss. When excess skin is present the only viable treatment option is surgical
excision. Unfortunately this can result in scarring along the vertical axis of
the arms. For this reason many patients are looking for non- surgical
alternatives for treatment of this condition.

                  Other
than surgical excision, there’s no way to remove excess upper arm skin. A
variety of non-surgical options are available, but these procedures have been
disappointing. In addition, they are often associated with significant expense.


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

In my opinion there are no satisfactory non-surgical techniques for correction of lax skin of the upper arm which will produce anywhere near the results of a brachioplasty

A photo or exam is needed to determine the best recommendation for you. If you have mild to moderate skin laxity you may be a candidate for BodyTite. This is a minimally invasive procedure that uses RF technology to tighten skin. It can be combined with liposuction if desired and it requires no general anesthesia. I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Many times
after people lose a considerable amount of weight they are disappointed to
discover they did not achieve their ideal figure that they envisioned due
excess, sagging skin. After the skin has
been excessively stretched it loses its elasticity, which makes it difficult if
not impossible for it to return back to its original shape or size without
surgery. In addition to the aesthetic concerns, loose skin can lead to rashes,
infections and other health issues under the folds of the skin.

There are many
non-surgical procedures that claim to reduce or eliminate sagging skin under
the arms and other areas body. These
non-surgical procedures usually involve a variety of different non-invasive fat
reduction procedures and laser treatments. Unfortunately, these treatments do
not achieve optimal results for this type of cosmetic concern. To adequately address excess fat and skin in
this region brachioplasty usually produces the best results. I would recommend scheduling a consultation
with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your cosmetic concerns and
options.

There are many causes for flabby arms.  If one has flabby arms, the best indicator of the treatment would be the elasticity of the skin.  If the skin has good elasticity, then Lipo suction alone may be the answer.  If not, then an arm lift to resect the excess skin is best.  However, the best indication for an arm lift, and the most gratifying are those who have lost a lot of weight.  The skin is usually flabby and overstretched.  It is simple and effective to remove the skin that has been stretched past its capacity.  No Liposuction, or other noninvasive modalitiy will help the skin become more firm around the arms.  The length and type of the incision will vary depending upon the location and the amount of fat in the arms.  The cost will also vary by geographic locale.  Most will run anywhere from $3500-$7000.  I would advise you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to have treatment recommendations specific to your concerns.

Congratulations on your weight loss! A photograph would be necessary to adequately evaluate your upper arms, but generally speaking, there is no good non-surgical option for treating saggy upper arm skin, especially after significant weight loss. Your only solution is an arm lift (brachioplasty) and I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your situation in more detail.

I hope that helps and wish you all the best!