Arm lipo or arm lift? (Photos)

Question

Hi! I have larger arms, which doesn’t bother me as much as them folding over when they’re resting by my side. Even when I’ve been on the smaller side (size 12), I had this issue in high school. I’m wondering if lipo with rejuvion would work or if I need a full arm lift? Again, not really self-conscious about my arms being bigger, just the hang near the armpit that creases.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is impossible to say whether liposuction only or liposuction and skin excision (arm lift) would be better solution in your case. In person or teleconference consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended. Good luck.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question about whether you need an arm lipo or an arm lift.  Thank you for your history and your picture.  Based on your arm picture, you have excess skin and fat from the armpit to the elbow.  By classification, you have Type 4 arms with excess skin and fat from the axilla to the elbow.  Liposuction is best for patients with isolated pockets of fat and excellent skin and ideal recoil factors.  Since you have excess arm fat AND SKIN, liposuction will not address the excess arm skin, even if you use Renuvion or J-Plasma.  The best treatment for your arms would be an arm lift or brachioplasty.  During a typical brachioplasty, arm liposuction is performed on the medial (inner) aspect of the arm as well as the triceps region.  Then, an incision is made from the armpit to the elbow.  The tissue dissection is then carried to the posterior aspect of the triceps region.  The excess arm skin and fat are then resected, and the arm scar is mobilized.  The scar should be placed between the biceps and triceps.  This leads to maximum arm scar concealment when your arms are by your side.  If the arm scar is placed on the triceps region, the scar is much more visible when the arm is down by your side.
Usually, a formal brachioplasty (arm lift or arm reduction) is performed under general anesthesia with an anesthesiologist.  Arm liposuction combined with an arm skin reduction typically takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete.  Usually, drains are not required.  For the first two weeks, you’ll wear ACE bandages on the upper arms.  After the ACE bandages are discontinued, you will be placed in an arm garment for approximately 6 to 8 weeks.  ACE bandages and garments help to minimize swelling, flatten the scar, provide physical support to the healing arms, and offer emotional support, knowing that the scar will not break open.  Arm scars usually heal very well.  However, if you are concerned about the appearance of the arm scar, you may need laser treatment, scar revision, micro-needling, or Morpheus 8.  Most plastic surgeons would agree you should not waste your money on arm liposuction.  Arm liposuction will get rid of some of the fat, but you’ll be left with arms that will probably look worse because of the excess hanging skin.  Good luck.

Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts.  Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts.  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.  (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric 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, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!   We would love to sit down with you to discuss your concerns.  Removing volume from an area will leave excess skin.  Renuvion is a procedure that helps skin retract, but it does not remove the excess skin.  An arm lift, brachioplasty, removes the volume and the excess skin.  Schedule a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thank you for your query. Based on your single photograph I would recommend a combination of Liposuction along with an Arm lift for best results. If, however, you do not wish to have a scar , lipo with rejuvion is an option. Please find an experienced board certified plastic surgeon who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best1

Gulcin Nujen Cardak, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Hi there, we can’t make any comments regarding this picture. Please take photos as following, stand upright, raise your arms at the level of your shoulders and bend your elbows to upright position and ask someone else to take your picture. Then we can make some suggestions for you.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

Stubborn areas of arm fat can be reduced with Vaser ultrasound liposuction.

This will contour those arm areas and tighten the skin without removing skin and resulting large scars.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended to confirm you are a candidate as well as discuss your options and expectations.

Miguel Mota, MD · Answer

Hi. Excellent question. I believe lipo with reunion will not be enough. An arm lift with lipo would be your best option. Part of the reason why they fold over when resting on your side may be be3cause of excess skin and fat on your armpit and braw line area as well. This can also be treated with an extended arm lift. 
I feel an extended arm lift would be the ideal procedure for you! I have attached a one week post op extended arm lift video so You can better understand what I mean.

Best of luck,
Dr. Mota

Luis Suarez, MD · Answer

According to the pictures and information that you have submitted, Liposuction alone would not give the best results as mostly you have loose skin and by only doing Liposuction skin would not fully retract so in this case a combination of both would give you the best possible outcome!

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

The main consideration when choosing between arm lipo with skin tightening (like Renuvion) and an arm lift (brachioplasty) comes down to skin laxity and excess skin vs. excess fat.
Here’s a helpful way to think about it:
If you predominantly have excess fat with reasonably good skin elasticity, and your skin has the ability to shrink back once the volume is removed, liposuction with Renuvion can be a great, less invasive option. It can reduce the bulk and allow your skin to conform nicely, addressing those small folds.
However, if you have moderate to significant skin redundancy or poor skin elasticity, simply removing the fat will not resolve the “hang” — it may even make it more pronounced. That’s when an arm lift (brachioplasty) is typically recommended. An arm lift physically removes excess skin and tightens the area, yielding a smoother, more sculpted contour.
A persistent fold near the armpit, regardless of your weight makes me think you might be dealing with a small amount of excess skin in addition to excess fat. Nonetheless, a physical exam by a board-certified plastic surgeon is key to making the best decision.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Further photos of your arms away from your body are needed for the best recommendation.  Liposuction would remove some of the "bulk" fat from the arms.  If the skin laxity is mild then J-Plasma should help.  If it is more severe where it is loose or hanging then an arm lift may be a better option.  See a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation to learn more.

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