No Results After Arm Liposuction

Question

i had liposuction on my arms and thighs 1 month back.my ps made four incisions on each of my thigh and till now,i have lost 1.5 inches from them.but my main worry is arms.there is no inch loss from them and ps made only 1 incision near the elbow to remove fat.my right arm was 12 inches and left arm 13 inches before the surgery and it is still the same.i am 22 year old girl.so when can i expect result in my arms??there is no pain,bruises but there is no inch loss too...

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

The good news is that you are only 4 weeks post-op which is early in the recovery process. It takes longer to see the final results from liposuction of the arms than most other areas. This is due to the fact the that there is not a localized fat deposit in the upper arm and that the skin is thinner and does not shrink back as well as other ares of the body. The liposuction has to be done in a way to avoid contour irregularities (dents), over-removal resulting in wrinkling and prevent making the skin loose and hang. For these reasons, less fat can be removed from the arm than other areas. Post-operative compression with a garment is important. I generally stress realistic expectations with this procedure as you are not going to see the dramatic movement in your arm measurements  as in areas such as the thighs or abdomen. I would recommend discussing your concerns with your Plastic Surgeon.

	Best Regard, Andrew Lyos MD, FACS

Darren Smith, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, thank you for your question. It can take a few weeks to see results after liposuction due to swelling. I generally advise my patients that they can expect to see a nice change after about a week or two, but it can take 3-6 months to see the final results. There is always some variability, so definitely hang in there and give it time!

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

I would discuss the surgery with the surgeon as well as the amount of fat removed and the option for revision surgery. Perahps your less than ideal results are due to poor skin tone.

Andrew P. Trussler, MD · Answer

Liposuction in any area takes approximately 3 months to see results. It is too early to see results as objective as measurements. You likely still have edema and firmness in the tissues and have not been exercising as much as previously considering you had thighs and arms done. Drop the tape measure and start some cardio now. I would recommend returning to see your plastic surgeon at 2 months for early before and after comparison photos if you have returned to normal activity.

	Dr. Trussler

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Gravity pulls the swollen arm down more when the arm is outstretched and swelling can last for months after liposuction, so you may not see your great result for a while. Have you been instructed to wear a compression garment? This may help minimize the swelling seen.

No Results After Arm Liposuction

Answers (5)