Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift? (photos)

Question

I see that a mini arm lift is a type of surgery done, but most doctors discount it as ineffective. In what situation would it be appropriate and effective? I am thinking of having some liposuction on my arms and am concerned that I will need an arm lift afterwards. At 60 years old there isn't much elasticity left in the arms. I play tennis, so a a full arm lift wouldn't be very attractive.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, thank you for question regarding a mini or crescent arm lift. The crescent or mini-arm lift treats the proximal or upper third of the arm.  During the mini arm lift, a crescent area of upper skin is removed; that is why some plastic surgeons also call the mini arm lift a crescent arm lift.  The mini arm lift is ideal for patients with minimal arm deformity or for patients who cannot tolerate a longer arm scar AND realize this surgery's limitations.  Type 2 arm patients have minimal upper arm skin and fat which is limited to the upper 1/3 of the arm.  Type 2 arm patients are best treated with a mini arm arm lift.  However, based on your picture, you are a Type 3 arm patient.  That means you have excess upper arm skin and fat all the way to the elbow.  Type 3 arms are best treated with a full brachioplasty or full arm lift / arm reduction.  Also, because of your age and significant upper arm sun exposure (partially from living in Arizona and playing tennis), your upper arm skin has lost its elasticity.  You need a full arm lift.  Even if your underlying upper arm fat was reduced, your arm skin would not bounce back. So, you have to ask yourself, "do you want great arm lift results and a longer arm scar or do you want minimal to (at best) mediocre arm lift results with a smaller arm lift scar? I hope that I have answered your questions about the different types of arm lifts.    If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, 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).

Jeff Angobaldo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  An examination is needed to answer your question to evaluate the degree of skin laxity.  If you have proximal arm laxity, then a mini would be good. If you have laxity throughout the entire upper arm then a full brachioplasty is needed.  Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Best wishes.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

A mini arm lift is ideal for patients who want to benefit from the implications of a full arm lift, but who have a milder, less pronounced condition. As expected, the mini arm lift is aimed to address mild to moderate skin elasticity that is making the patient feel self-conscious or otherwise unhappy with his or her body image. To help determine whether a mini arm lift would be a good option for you, as opposed to a full arm lift or liposuction procedure, consult a board certified surgeon to further discuss your candidacy.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The mini arm lift is great for someone who has a mild to moderate degree of skin laxity and is wanting to minimize extended scars on their arms. There are limits to how much laxity reduction this can achieve. I would recommend visiting a board-certified plastic surgeon who can describe the whole variation of arm lifts to help understand the pros and cons of each type of procedure. In general, their is a trade-off between incision length and laxity reduction.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the good question. Very few patients are a good candidate for the "mini" arm lift operation. Those patients have a very limited area of "excess" skin/adipose tissue close to the axillary area. The vast majority of patients who present with concerns regarding their upper extremity appearance, are better candidates for full arm lifting operations. I hope this, and the attached link, helps. Best wishes.

Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift? (photos)

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Answer: Mini arm lift

Answer: Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift?

Answer: Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift?

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Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift? (photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Mini arm lift

Answer: Mini arm lift

Answer: Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift?

Answer: Who is a candidate for a mini Arm Lift?

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Everything you need to know about Arm Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.