Arm Lipo or do I need a brachioplasty? (Photos)

Thank you for your inquiry! By your photos, it looks like you would be a great candidate for liposuction of the arms as that procedure will help remove any excess fat. I recommend scheduling a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself so we can assess your eyes, discuss to your goals, and create a surgical plan that is best for you and your goals!

Dear Modest27708,


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

Hello and thank you for your question.
It is difficult to give you a full assessment without a physical examination to determine the degree of your skin elasticity. Having said that, there are options that can help with skin tightening short of a traditional brachioplasty in properly selected candidates. These options include liposuction with the addition of a skin tightening treatment ( Renuvion) or a "short scar brachioplasty", which limits the scar to just under the armpit area. For best results you should select a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. I hope this helps. Good luck.

It does not look like you have that much hanging skin and you would definitely be a better candidate for liposuction. If, for some reason, that was not adequate then you may be a candidate for transverse brachioplasty (incision in the arm pit) as opposed to long brachioplasty (incision from arm pit to elbow).

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Arm liposuction removes the excess fat. Patients with good skin quality it contractions gradually after lipo with the help of garments and lymphatic massage.
Arm lifts remove the extra skin and can be approached from the armpit in mild cases.
Sofwave nonsurgical external ultrasound is approved arm tightening. Also liposuction can be performed with renuvion intraop for firming the skin.

Yours is a tough case.

I think I understand see the sculpted and toned look you are going for, and there IS a bit of excess fat on your arms (it runs in families)

Lipo alone, perhaps Vaser, would give you some improved shape but it's fine line between achieving that and getting irregular skin. This is because the arm (and inner thigh) skin is very thin, fragile, and poorly supported from below.

Be sure your practitioner is aware of theses possible problems and outlines a detailed plan on how s/he will avoid it

Lipo of the arms is really a special skill that most docs don't possess. Calves/ankles and arms are best done by those of us who really specialize in liposculpting. You should always get it done under local with a little iv sedation for complete comfort and the addition of Bodytite/quantum/Morpheus for skin tightening as well.

I would definitely try liposuction first. Your skin tone is good and I think you should see a nice improvement. If you are unhappy with lipo then you could always consider a 2nd stage arm lift but dont think that would be necessary. Good luck!

Whether arm liposuction or a brachioplasty (arm lift) is the right procedure for you depends largely on your skin quality and the amount of excess skin and fat in your upper arms. If you have good skin elasticity and your main concern is excess fat without significant loose or hanging skin, arm liposuction may be a great option. It’s less invasive, results in minimal scarring, and can provide excellent contouring for the right candidate. However, for patients experiencing loose, sagging skin—particularly with stretch marks or a “batwing” appearance—a brachioplasty is typically the more effective choice. This procedure removes excess skin and tightens the area, but does involve a longer scar, usually placed along the inner arm.In many cases, patients achieve the best results from a combination of liposuction and skin removal. Based on the photos provided, it appears there is only a minimal amount of loose skin, so liposuction alone may be sufficient to address stubborn fat in this area. That said, it’s important to discuss with your surgeon whether liposuction alone could potentially make loose skin more noticeable. There are also skin-tightening options available, such as Renuvion, which can be combined with liposuction, or non-surgical treatments like CoolSculpting and CoolTone that may help improve skin firmness post-lipo. The best way to determine the ideal approach is to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your arms in person and recommend a treatment plan tailored to your goals.

You would do well with liposuction and minimally invasive radiofrequency like Renuvion for skin tightening.