Alternative to full brachioplasty?

Thank you for your questions regarding alternatives to a full brachioplasty. First, a consultation is an order. Without pictures and more history, your question is a little difficult to answer. However, I will discuss the general options. If your skin has good elasticity, no stretch marks, and you do not have a history of a weight loss of 100 pounds or more, you may obtain optimal results with VASER liposuction. During the VASER liposuction, the arms can be made smaller. If you desire muscular, athletic arms, with contoured biceps and triceps, you may consider VASER HI DEF arm liposuction. Since you want a minimal incision, I would suggest a crescent arm lift. During the crescent arm lift or brachioplasty, a crescent area of skin and fat are removed in the upper inner arm. The benefit of this procedure is that the arm scar is hidden and arm skin is removed. The main disadvantages of the crescent arm lift is that not much skin is removed and it does not effect the skin around the elbow. If you allow a longer incision, you will achieve better results. Sometimes the crescent arm lift is combined with an incision that goes partly down the inner arm. The resulting scar looks like the letter T. This is often called a modified T arm lift. If your arm skin has poor elastic qualities, you would do better with a formal brachioplasty from the armpit to the elbow. However, you stated you did not want this procedure. I hope this helps to answer your question regarding alternatives to the full brachioplasty.
I specialize in arm lifts. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, please contact my office. 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. (“Verified” 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.)

Without the benefit of physical exam, and posted photos- it's impossible to comment re/what you'd benefit from. Generally speaking, the only reliable way to remove excess skin and fat- is with surgery. Anything shorter than that probably will not deliver satisfactory results. In person consultation is needed.

Please avoid Coolsculpting because there is no skin tightening with that and most do not lose much fat. You might do well with liposuction and minimally invasive radiofrequency like Renuvion for skin tightening.

If you're considering an alternative to a full brachioplasty (arm lift surgery), there are a few options that may be considered depending on your specific concerns and goals. It's important to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon to discuss your individual case. Here are some alternatives to a full brachioplasty:1. Liposuction:• Liposuction is a less invasive option that can be used to remove excess fat from the upper arms. It is suitable for individuals with good skin elasticity but who have localized fat deposits.2. Non-surgical skin tightening procedures:• There are non-surgical treatments that use technologies like radiofrequency or ultrasound to tighten loose skin. These procedures may have less downtime compared to surgery.3. Exercise and weight management:• Building muscle through targeted exercises for the arms may help improve the overall appearance of the arms. Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight can prevent further skin laxity.4. Fractional laser treatments:• Laser treatments can stimulate collagen production, improving skin tightness and texture. While they may not provide the same level of improvement as surgery, they can be an option for mild to moderate skin laxity.5. Topical treatments:• Certain creams and lotions may claim to improve skin elasticity, but their effectiveness can vary. Consult with a dermatologist for recommendations.It's crucial to have a thorough consultation with a skilled plastic surgeon who can assess your specific concerns and recommend the most appropriate treatment option for you. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of non-surgical alternatives may be limited compared to surgery, and individual results can vary.

Although it is difficult to say without an in person examination, if you have good skin elasticity, you should be a good candidate for an arm lift and liposuction. Lifts on this famously wobbly part of the human anatomy are particularly popular. Heavy and even moderately droopy arms can be recountoured very effectively with liposuction. Liposuction modifies volume by sucking out fat and because liposuction stimulates the skin to tighten, good elasticity provides a smooth contour after fat is removed. I use several innovative forms of liposuction, including SmartLipo, in order to contour and resculpture the area while providing the most beautiful results with minimal scarring. Thermage is a good option for tightening the skin of the arms and can be performed in addition to the procedures listed above. For the loose skin of your arms, Thermage® is a safe, non-invasive, cosmetic procedure that’s clinically proven to help smooth, tighten and contour skin for an overall younger looking appearance. The treatment delivers natural looking results with little to no downtime —on all skin colors, on and off the face, all in a single procedure. Fast and easy, you can even come in during your lunch break and return to work after! But if a patient is left with severely hanging skin as a result of age or weight loss, a brachioplasty will be the most effective procedure—though once again, the trade-off for tightness is a big scar. Today an arm lift (brachioplasty) procedure takes a relatively quick two to three hours, typically under twilight sedation and local anesthesia. The excess fat is sucked out using liposuction, the underlying connective tissues are tightened, extra skin is removed, and the skin is sutured into place. Your mobility won’t be too restricted, and many patients find they can return to work after a week. I suggest you make an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss what treatments are right for you

Some patients can consider liposuction and BodyTite to improve arm contours. BodyTite uses RF technology to tighten skin up to 40%. An in person examination is needed to determine if you would be a good candidate for this minimally invasive procedure.

The only alternative to brachioplasty is to consider VASER lipo and Renuvion J plasma therapy. Pleae note that J plasma will reduce skin laxity but not skin redundancy. Please consider a virtual consultation with a high definition body contouring specialist.