What procedures can be used to treat loose arm skin? (Photo)

Question

I have loose skin in on arm whe it folds at the elbow is surgery the only answer

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Calm349680, 
Thank you for your question regarding what procedures can be used to treat loose arm skin. Thank you for your picture. However, it is difficult to determine what part of your body this is a picture of. Is it the flexion crease (front) or back of your elbow? Furthermore, you did not include pictures of the rest of the arm, so I do not know if you need an arm lift. Either way, the arm lift can tighten skin around the elbow. If the skin on the front of your elbow bothers you, the arm lift will pull the skin posteriorly and reduce the skin folds on your elbow. If the skin on the back of the elbow bothers you, the arm lift can also remove that skin by extending the incision posteriorly around the proximal elbow. Please remember some skin needs to be left so you can bend your elbow. If you do not want an arm lift, you may consider radiofrequency (RF) to help tighten the isolated elbow skin. Good luck. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding arm reduction and, specifically, what procedures can be used to treat loose elbow and arm skin. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty, arm scar revision, or arm crease fat grafting, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. 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 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, 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.)

Mehmet Ozdemir, MD · Answer

It is completely natural to be hesitant about surgery, especially for a localized area like the elbow where skin is naturally more redundant to allow for joint movement. When we see this type of fine, localized wrinkling often called "crepey" skin it is usually a result of a loss in dermal thickness and elasticity rather than a major structural failure that would require a scalpel. While surgery (like an arm lift) is the "gold standard" for removing large amounts of hanging skin, it is rarely the first choice for the elbow due to scarring concerns; instead, non-surgical "skin boosters" are often quite effective here. Treatments such as Profhilo, radiofrequency microneedling (like Morpheus8), or biostimulatory injectables (like Sculptra or Radiesse) can help thicken the dermis and improve the "snap-back" of the skin without the need for an operating room. I would recommend starting with a consultation to see if these collagen-stimulating options can provide the tightening you're looking for before considering any invasive procedures.

Laura Roider, MD · Answer

@Calm349680 This is a great question. It is normal to have some loose/excess skin at the fold over the elbow (also known as the AC fossa). The reason this skin exists is because you need to be able to straighten your arm and that extra skin allows you to do that. 
If you still have loose skin when your arm is completely straight I would recommend discussing this with a Plastic Surgeon in your area. You may be able to have skin tightening procedures or skin removal. However, please be advised that this is not traditionally addressed with a standard arm lift.

What procedures can be used to treat loose arm skin? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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