Is arm lipo a more difficult procedure for a surgeon to perform than other types of lipo?

Question

Most gallery photos show lipo of the abs & flanks. I'm interested in arm lipo along with a few other areas. Should I see someone who specializes in arm lipo? Or would most skilled, qualified surgeons be able to provide a satisfactory result for arms because the same techniques apply regardless of the body part? I am petite (BMI 20) and 36 years old with good skin tone. I just carry extra weight in my arms, which is compounded by leftover muscle/ bulk from athletics when I was younger.

Timothy M. Bradley, MD · Answer

Arm liposuction is more time consuming and in some ways more difficult to perform than liposuction of the torso. The upper arm is basically a cylinder and the skin is thinner, so smaller cannulas and more attention to detail & proper technique must be adhered to through out the procedure. Lumpy , bumpy or wavy skin contour can occur of fat is removed too aggressively or too close to the skin. A surgeon who has generalized experience in liposuction may not have much experience in arm liposuction per se, but that does not mean you will not obtain a good result as long as your surgeon understands and adheres to certain technical nuisances of arm liposuction. A patient is going to have to find out how much experience , and their comfort level his or her surgeon has in arm liposuction when discussing their particular desires for liposuction of the during your consult. It is the patient’s responsibility to perform their due diligence when selecting both physician & facility . Good luck

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

Liposuction of the upper arm is a relatively simple procedure.  Most people with upper arm fat are women, and the most common area for this upper arm fat is the tricep area from the armpit to the elbow.

The incision should be made just superior to the elbow, and liposuction can be easily accomplished with four different length canulas, 8, 17, 21 and 24 cm.  I most commonly use a canula with an internal diameter of 3 mm.

Aggressive liposuction in this area is safe and aesthetic as long as, in the post operative period, the patient gets ultrasound therapy (the kind physical therapists use for sore muscles) to this area to break up bumps, divets, and ridges.

I have used this four canula technique for over thirty years with very few touchups.  A fifth canula with a solid shaft is used after the first four canulas has sucked out the fat.  This canula allows the plastic surgeon to smooth out the suctioned area.

Suctioning other areas of the arm often leads to dents and divets which cannot be corrected.

As to your question why so few plastic surgeons have liposuction of the upper arm on their website galleries is probably because it is not an often-asked-for surgery.   Thank you for your suggestion.  I will see that a few of my liposuction of upper arm cases are put up today.

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. To provide a valid medical opinion I will need to see pictures of you body from different angles. I would suggest to be treated by board certified plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.

Respectfully,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Respectfully,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

yes the arm is 360 degrees and needs more than just liposuction, sometimes internal heating and/or skin removal.

my whole practice is doing lipoabdominoplasty/brachioplasty, or at least liposuction with internal heating (which is not the gold standard for skin tightening with body contouring).

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after).

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

All  docs do lipo but you really need someone who specializes in it to get the best results-especially if the arms or calves/ankles need it. Your doc needs to do it under tum. local (NOT General anesthesia) and use the micro canulas and sit and stand you up occasionally to fine tune the results.  Lipo is done all around the arm and then Bodytite RF is used at the same time to tighten the skin.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear ResearchMedley,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to 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

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Without photos, specific advice cannot be provided. If your skin has good elasticity, lipo can trim, tighten, and tone your arms; if not, you may be a good candidate for BodyTite with liposuction. BodyTite does not remove any fat, but it is capable of producing a 45% contraction in tissues. Results can be seen immediately after one treatment and are more evident over three to six months post-treatment. Consult via email or Skype with a board certified PS who is an expert at lipo.

Garrett Jones, DO · Answer

The difficulty of any liposuction procedure, including arm liposuction, depends on various factors, and it can vary from patient to patient. Different areas of the body have unique anatomical considerations, and the difficulty of the procedure may be influenced by factors such as the amount of fat to be removed, the patient's skin elasticity, and the surgeon's experience and skill.Arm liposuction, which targets excess fat in the upper arms, is generally considered a routine and commonly performed procedure. However, there are aspects that can make it more challenging compared to other areas:1. Thin Skin and Limited Fat:• The skin on the arms is relatively thin, and there may be limited fat in certain areas. This requires a careful and precise approach to avoid contour irregularities and ensure smooth results.2. Proximity to Nerves and Blood Vessels:• The arms contain important nerves and blood vessels that need to be preserved during the procedure. Surgeons must exercise caution to avoid damage to these structures.3. Skin Elasticity:• The elasticity of the skin in the arm area varies among individuals. Good skin elasticity is essential for achieving optimal results and avoiding sagging skin after fat removal.4. Patient's Expectations:• Managing patient expectations is crucial, as achieving a sculpted appearance while maintaining a natural look requires a balance that can be more challenging in areas with thinner skin.While arm liposuction may have its specific challenges, skilled and experienced plastic surgeons are well-equipped to address these concerns and tailor the procedure to each patient's unique anatomy. Surgeons often use advanced liposuction techniques, such as tumescent liposuction or laser-assisted liposuction, to enhance precision and minimize risks.It's important for individuals considering arm liposuction to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience in body contouring procedures. A thorough consultation with the surgeon will help assess the patient's candidacy, discuss expectations, and determine the most suitable approach for achieving the desired results.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Surgeons who have had experience in liposuction should be able to do a great job with your arms. In that area, we do need to be a little conservative and not remove all the fat for best results. Minimally invasive skin tightening treatment with radiofrequency, like ThermiTight, can be added to tighten the arms.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Medical career I decided to focus my plastic surgery career exclusively and Liposuction and fat transfer procedures.

I typically perform about 400 Liposuction cases per year. I’ve done over 7000 in my career.

70% of the cases I do a Abdomen‘s or rather full torso Liposuction and middle-aged postpartum women. These may or may not include liposuction of other areas as well and may include fat transfer.

There’s no question that abdominal liposuction is the most commonly performed body contouring procedure.

There were three milestones that changed how I approach and treat arms for Liposuction.

The first was when I converted to using local anesthesia and avoided general anesthesia for this procedure.

The second was when I finally realized how to make my incision patterns correctly so I could reach every part of the arm and forearm including the armpit with three incisions placed so they’re barely visible.  With this also came the understanding that arms should be treated Sercombe Franchel he, generally always blended into the forearm and always including the fat over the deltoid.

The last change Came from understanding how to assess and explain the assessment to patients during in person consultations.

Do you understand what Liposuction can and cannot deliver patients need to realize that they should not view results with arms in an out position. This is especially pertinent to those who have any type of skin laxity.

Along with chin liposuction arms giving the most consistent high patient satisfaction of any anatomic area that I treat with Liposuction.

The only potential reason for dissatisfaction is if the procedure is technically not done correctly or patients are under the belief that skin laxity will be corrected.

Results in regards to before and after pictures are best taken with the arms in the down position. This really shows what results look like and this is how we spend most of our time not with our arms straight out but down by your side.

I have a few arm liposuction results posted under my profile on real self. You can take a look at those.

Plastic surgeons vary immensely on how they approach arm liposuction Including results and outcomes.

The most important variable other than getting an honest assessment in regards to your own candidacy is finding the best plastic surgeon.

To do this I recommend the following.

Whenever possible have in person consultations.

Avoid traveling long distances for elective surgical procedures unless necessary.

Schedule multiple consultations with local board-certified plastic surgeons.

During the consultation ask each provider to show all of their before and after pictures for arm Liposuction results.

The goal is not to see the best results of their career but rather To get an idea of what average or typical results look like, to get some estimate of how many of these procedures the provider has performed and to ideally find a before and after picture with someone who has similar characteristics to yourself.

Read the reviews on all the various physician review websites and avoid providers who have any significant number of justified negative reviews.

Do not schedule surgery during the consultation. Make sure you always give yourself some time to think about the decision and make sure you finish all schedule consultations before committing.

When in doubt slow down and schedule more consultations.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD
Linea Nova Body Contouring

Is arm lipo a more difficult procedure for a surgeon to perform than other types of lipo?

Answers (10)

More Liposuction Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (10)

More Liposuction Questions

Is this a sacral fat pad and is lipo my only option for removal? (Photo)

Does the type/method of lipo affect the survival rate for fat transfer?

I am a 21 year old, 5'4", 300 pound female. I was wondering if liposuction was possible for me? (Photo)

Lipo 360/arms/thighs/J Plasma. What should I get done? Should I get a BBL? Or is this foundation just bad already? (Photo)

Birth Control/Piercings & Liposuction?

Will Lipo 360 give me a more defined and smooth hourglass shape. Will it make my hips and butt look bigger?

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS