Arm liposuction revision - do I need more lipo or an arm lift? (Photos)

Question

Hi! I’m kindly looking for revision advice after poor back upper arm lipo results in 2023. I want smoother, tighter arms. I’ve had mixed opinions: some surgeons I’ve seen recommend more lipo + fat grafting + BodyTite, while others say BodyTite or Renuvion won’t be enough to tighten the skin and I’d need more lipo + fat grafting and a half arm lift, not full. Would love your input. Thank you.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear dietmax00,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello dietmax00, 
Thank you for your question regarding arm liposuction revision, and do you need more lipo or an arm lift? Thank you for your history and your pictures. First, we should analyze your pictures to determine the best procedures. According to your pictures, you have mild upper arm cutis pleonasmus (excess skin) and mild upper arm dermatochalosis (loose skin) without stretch marks (stria). Furthermore, you have mild arm lipodystrophy (excess fat). Since you do not have much excess arm skin and have excellent skin quality (no stretch marks), most plastic surgeons would not suggest an arm lift or brachioplasty for now. Most plastic surgeons would suggest VASER arm liposuction. VASER is the best tool for revision arm liposuction. Additionally, radiofrequency (BodyTite or Renuvion) is a valuable addition to VASER to maximize skin contraction. Most plastic surgeons believe you will get the best results with these modalities. You can do some fat grafting; however, the fat grafting will be unreliable due to the scar tissue, VASER, and radiofrequency treatments. If you do achieve the results you are seeking, then consider an arm lift or brachioplasty; however, at this time most plastic surgeons would not see a need. To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a free virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. Since an arm lift can be a challenging surgery, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of lifts. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 150 arm-lift procedures. Make certain 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, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, FASBPS (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.)

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Arm Liposuction is not an easy procedure to do from a technical perspective.
On top of this most plastic surgeons aren’t particularly good at Liposuction in the first place.
Revision procedures are far more difficult than primary procedures. For this reason, any attempt at improving your results should to be done by someone who is approaching mastery of Liposuction.
This means somebody who preferably focuses exclusively on Liposuction.
From years of firsthand experience, I don’t think Renuvion adds anything.
I’ve never had a patient. Tell me that their skin was tighter after using this device.
Renuvion is good at selling Liposuction and not much more.
Of course people want skin tightening.
The problem is that the device doesn’t do anything other than add costs. 
I would be careful having an arm lift.
The scars can be unforgiving.
You should have a plastic surgeon and carefully assess your skin scar healing history to give you a good understanding of what that scar could look like.
Those who heal exceptionally well with minimally visible scars may be good candidates for skin resection.
Those who’ve had any history of problematic healing should avoid an arm lift because the scars can be so unforgiving.
Recognize that any attempt at improving the outcome can easily make things worse.
Provider selection is by far the most important variable and finding the right plastic surgeon is going to be very difficult.
My practice has been devoted exclusively to Liposuction and fat transfer for the last 15 years.
I generally turned down revision cases because the patient satisfaction is generally low.
The truth is, it’s a very difficult to improve the outcome once Liposuction has been done poorly.
Fat transfer is unlikely to be successful because the area where you need fat doesn’t have tissue to support the grafted fat.
Revision work is extremely difficult and the chance of having a high-quality outcome is fairly low even in the hands of very talented providers.
You should really take this in the consideration before having another procedure.
 Sometimes it’s better to accept the outcome and leave good enough alone.
I say this from decades of experience having done thousands of liposuction cases.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD.

Arm liposuction revision - do I need more lipo or an arm lift? (Photos)

Answers (3)

More Liposuction Revision Questions

Unhappy with legs after liposuction for breast fat transfer - What is the best option to fix this? (Photos)

How can I fix my buttock area: shark bite effect, banana rolls, loose skin? (Photos)

Lipo revision for butt and hips - what is the best technique for smooth natural contours?

Lipo Revision after a year or other options - how can I correct the asymmetry? (Photos)

Under chin liposuction and uneven results 1 year post op - how can this be improved? (Photo)

How can I get rid of dimpling from liposuction (April 2025)? (Photos)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS