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.

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.-

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

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

Answers (10)

Answer: Arm and calf/ankle liposuctions are only for the true experts.

Answer: Arm and calf/ankle liposuctions are only for the true experts.

Answer: Liposuction candidate

Answer: Liposuction candidate

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

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

Answers (10)

Answer: Arm and calf/ankle liposuctions are only for the true experts.

Answer: Arm and calf/ankle liposuctions are only for the true experts.

Answer: Liposuction candidate

Answer: Liposuction candidate

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.