Can I reduce my arm circumference at all without surgery? (Photo)

 Thank you for sharing your photos and for your question. Surgery would be the best option to reduce the circumferential volume and skin laxity of your arms. However, coolsculpting is a non-invasive way to reduce some of the volume in the arms without surgery. It won't do much at all for your skin laxity. I would recommend visiting a board-certified plastic surgeon that has  coolsculpting in their practice so you can have an informal discussion of the pros and cons of each of procedure.

Smart lipo or Vaser ultrasound liposuction will reduce the fat and tighten the skin- not to the degree of an arm lift with skin removal, but usually enough of an improvement. An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon who performs these procedures is recommended.

Dear FreeSpiritMe,

Given your concerns and the desire to explore non-surgical options, one treatment you might consider is Morpheus8. Morpheus8 is a radiofrequency microneedling device that can provide skin tightening by stimulating collagen production in the treated areas.

However, it's essential to set realistic expectations. From your description and the photo provided, the primary issue with your arms is a combination of excess skin and fat. While Morpheus8 can offer some tightening, its ability to reduce arm circumference significantly is limited, especially if there's a notable amount of excess skin and fat.

For more substantial changes in arm contour, a combination of brachioplasty (arm lift) and liposuction, as you've mentioned, would be the most effective approach. This would address both the excess skin and localized fat deposits. I understand your concerns regarding scarring; however, scars usually fade over time and become less noticeable. Furthermore, the placement of incisions can be done in a way that makes the scars less visible in most everyday situations.

If surgery is not an immediate option for you due to downtime or other concerns, you might start with Morpheus8 to achieve some improvement in skin texture and tightening. It's a step towards improving the appearance of your arms without the commitment of surgery. Nonetheless, it's vital to have a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to discuss the potential outcomes and tailor a treatment plan suited to your needs.


Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Thank you for your question and photos.  Although you do not want to undergo a surgical procedure to improve the appearance of your arms, an arm lift is truly your best option.  There are some other noninvasive methods, but none of which will give the degree of correction that you are seeking.All the best,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

Hi, I just added a link that might be helpful...Hi FreeSpiritMe.  Thank you for the photos.  Liposuction will remove some fat but you may not see your skin spring back as much as you are hoping because the inner arm skin usually doesn't have a lot of elasticity.  The VASER technology provides some tightening of skin and would be helpful if you proceed with liposuction.  Short scars will provide only partial improvement, but may be your only alternative if you don't accept the full length scars that maximize contours  from arm pit to elbow.  Have a consult with an ABPS certified Plastic Surgeon as an in person examination is central to knowing what liposuction can achieve.  Good luck!

Based on your photos- it is my opinion that the best way to achieve a noticeable and significant improvement in your arms- is through a brachioplasty. Anything short of that -in my opinion- is a waste of time and money.

There are two choices for arm reduction with an in-office procedure. A small liposuction procedure with awake anesthesia will have the most improvement. A series of Coolsculpting sessions will also reduce your fatty layer. The liposuction is going to cost you less than the Coolsculpting.

Well, admittedly, you present plastic surgeons with a quite a challenge what with you wanting a nice improvement without surgery on arms that present like yours:  you have a lot of fat on the arms and also a lot of loose skin.  Considering your question then I will not even mention any surgical approaches.  Losing additional weight by way of diet and exercise may reduce the circumference of your arms but you will be left with more loose skin.  There are external modalities that are being touted as being able to reduce underlying fat deposits and also to tighten skin.  Worth trying but, professionally, I take such claims with about a pound of salt....  Considering your desire to reduce circumference without surgery, however, then they are certainly worth investigating.

There definitely are nonsurgical treatments that can reduce arm circumference. There are 2 aspects to consider, fat reduction and skin tightening. Exilis radiofrequency treatments address both aspects. SculpSure is a new laser FDA approved for fat reduction in the abdomen and flanks. It is currently being tested for use in the upper arms for fat reduction. There is no downtime with either of these procedures!Minimally invasive surgical options include SmartLipo, which addresses the excess fat and also encourages skin tightening. With this procedure a compression sleeve and massage therapy is recommended following the treatment.

Based on your photos the best surgical option for you would be an arm lift, but since you feel that is not a good choice for you, you may consider liposuction.  Be aware that liposuction does remove excess fat, but does not remove skin so you may be left with skin that appears looser or saggier after the procedure.  The scars from this procedure are very small and can be well hidden.  Non surgical options would include diet and exercise to try to tone the area.Best wishes.