What Can I Do About my Armpit Fat? (photo)

You appear to have what is known as an axillary breast.  As an embryo, everyone has a " breast line" which runs from the armpit, through where the normal breast is and down as low as the groin.  Breast tissue can develop anywhere along this line.  It is relatively common to have it develop in  the armpit area.  As it is partially breast tissue and fiberous, it is hard to remove it with liposuction alone and resection is usually needed.  The trade off is a small scar which should be well hidden.

The fullness you are seeing is fatty tissue (possibly a small amount of breast tissue as well). If the quality of the skin in that area is good, then liposculpture would be ideal. This can be done through a 4-5mm incision hidden in the lower axilla. Time will then allow the skin to "shrink" and blend in with the surrounding axilla/breast skin.
However, if the skin is too loose, then excision is necessary. From your photos liposculpture should be your first choice. 

Armpit fat, also known as axillary breast tissue, is a common concern for many people. It often appears as extra fatty tissue or even a small amount of breast tissue in the armpit area. This condition arises from the "breast line," a development line that can extend from the armpit through the breast and down toward the groin.
Treatment options for armpit fat include:
Liposuction: If the issue is primarily excess fat, liposuction may be effective. It involves the use of small incisions to remove fat, and is particularly suitable if the skin is thick and elastic. The recovery time is usually quick, with minimal scarring.
Vaser Liposuction: This advanced form of liposuction uses ultrasound technology to remove fat more selectively and gently, causing less discomfort and is suitable for patients looking for more contouring and definition.
Excision: In cases where the tissue is composed of breast tissue or if there is excess skin that cannot shrink after liposuction, surgical excision may be necessary. This approach removes the tissue directly and leaves a small scar, which is often well-hidden.
It’s best to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon to assess the type of tissue and determine whether liposuction or excision is the most suitable treatment.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

It's a great question. When the armpit skin is thick and elastic then armpit fat does really well with liposuction. Tiny holes are made and very small instruments are used to remove the stubborn fat. Once everything heals, no one will know that a little lipo was needed. 

Hello and thank you for your photos and inquiry. This is a very common problem and generally is a minor intervention. This area is commonly treated with liposuction to remove the excess fat in this area and in some cases excision if skin is redundant. In certain cases, rather than being fat, there can be some accessory breast tissue found in the axilla (arm pit); in these cases liposuction cannot treat the area and direct excision is necessary. An in-person consultation is best to assess the type of tissue, amount of tissue, and skin laxity to determine what is the best in your case. Be sure to consult a board certified plastic surgeon for this procedure. Hope this helps. James Lee, MDBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonMontreal, Qc, Canada

Vaser liposuction, also known as Vaser #lipo, LipoSelection or Liposuction, is an advanced body #contouring procedure that selectively removes unwanted body fat. An alternative to the harsh techniques of traditional liposuction, #Vaser lipo uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology designed to gently #reshape your body.Many studies indicate that there is less injury to the body with Vaser than with traditional #liposuction. Recovery from Vaser Liposuction is based on the level of soreness and bruising experienced by the patient. But, it can vary among patients. As with traditional liposuction, there are no large incisions  or effect on the muscle and other underlying tissue. Therefore, #healing time may be less than anticipated by most. Therefore, Vaser patients may experience less #pain or discomfort, #swelling (#edema) and bruising post procedure due to the nature of the technique.
There are three types of #Vaser Lipo. Each benefit patients differently depending on their needs. Vaser Lipo  is capable of removing fat from resilient areas providing a smoother and slimmer results. It is common for reducing love handles, extra skin along the bra line or flanks on many female patients. Vaser Hi-Def  targets both deep and superficial fat cells which is found around muscle tissue. This is suggested to tone and defined rather than reduce fat when not necessary. Finally, Vaser #4D, although similar to Vaser Hi-Def works well with the existing muscle tissue.. However, it results in more natural appearing definition to those areas, being treated. Vaser 4D is often applied to treating abdominal region to improve definition.  
An ideal #candidate for Vaser Liposuction is a person in good health who seeks a minimally invasive way to remove stubborn fat with less downtime than traditional #liposuction. Vaser is ideal for those seeking improved definition of muscles and contouring. Those who seek increased sculpting of are ideal vaser lipo candidates.I suggest you consult with a plastic surgeon who is board-certified with a great deal of experience specializing in cosmetic #surgery and liposuction. If so, your board-certified plastic surgeon will recommend the type best suited for you during a one-on-one in-person consultation.

We refer to your problem as an axillary puff.  It is a common concern for my patients. Typically liposuction is the best option.  If there is loose skin, such as following weight loss, excision may also be advised.  In general it is difficult to resolve it completely because it changes with movement of the shoulder joint and skin laxity is a major contributor.  Most patients are happy with improvements from liposuction alone.Below I attached a link to a bunch of my case pictures with different degrees of axillary fat and skin laxity.  Good luck.

Thank you for your question. Most likely, it is not migrated breast tissue and is just a pad of stubborn fat. I can and do perform liposuction in this area, and it is a somewhat frequent occurrence in patients who are thin but cannot eliminate this particular pad of fat.

What most people call armpit fat may be fat or fat and some breast tissue. Many doctors are fully capable of examining this area and if there is a concern, then further testing such as ultrasound can be done to make sure what we are dealing with.Generally speaking, fat can be removed with liposuction and create a beautiful contours and appearance. If there us a significant breast tissue, that may bee surgical excision.I hope that helps and best regards, Dr. Sapijaszko

If the area is primarily fat and not fibrous tissue, liposuction could be a great option to reduce your armpit fat. CoolMini from CoolSculpting is a non-invasive option that was just FDA approved as well. Finally, Kybella, which is a simple injection approved for neck fat can also be used in this area. I recommend visiting a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with experience in armpit fat removal for an in-person evaluation to see what the best option for you is.

This is a very common question.  If the area consists primarily of fat and skin elasticity is not an issue, liposuction may be an option.  If the area instead consists of axillary breast tissue, liposuction may not be as successful and may require excision instead.  In some cases, a combination of liposuction and excision is required.  It is difficult to best advise without conducting a physical examination.I would highly recommend consulting with aboard-certified plastic surgeon who has experience dealing with this "problem area."  It is at the time of this examination that the best course of action can be determined.  All the best.