Traditional lipo, Smart Lipo or Cool Sculpting- which is better for arms?

Question

I am 35 yrs old and have always had undefined arms with a tinge of "wing fat". As I'm getting older I'm noticing the skin sagging a lil bit more and want to do something now before it gets outta hand. Not all DRs offer all 3 modalities in their office and usually they advocate the service they offer.....but how do you know which is best for a minimal effect if fat removal and skin tightening without a need for major skin or fat removal??

Justin Yovino, MD, FACS · Answer

Cool sculpting will result in the least shrinkage. Forget about traditional lipo. Smart lipo is the way to go but you must find a plastic surgeon who performs a lot of sculpting, utilizes the laser, removes the fat with a powered device and very small cannulas that are 3 mm and less with small holes, and performs the procedure under light sedation so that you can activitely place your arms in all different positions for smooth multidirectional and level sculpting.

Marco A. Pelosi III, MD, FACOG, FACS · Answer

The answer really depends on how much excess fat, how much excess skin, and the quality of the skin. If the skin is completely stretched out, it will wrinkled once the fat is removed by any type of lipo and you would probably be best off with a brachioplasty. If it's not too stretched, any type of lipo will create improvement. The best advice is to go for a consultation with a surgeon who offers both lipo and brachioplasty.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

Cool sculpting will be very disappointing.  Traditional liposuction would give you a very nice result in a predictable fashion with low risk.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

I would look at before and after pictures and reviews to determine who 
is the best surgeon for you.  Do not concern yourself with the methods 
used, just the results obtained.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

The best results for the arms come from liposuction, and you can even get additional skin tightening none of the non invasive devices do.  Other devices, nonsurgical also have a very difficult time with "contouring" and that is especially important with the arm area.  I would suggest seeing someone who does both surgical and nonsurgical contouring so you get the best options.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Mitchell Chasin, MD · Answer

Of the three options you listed here, Smartlipo laser liposuction is going to be the best at removing both fat and offering skin tightening (to tone up that “wing”). Laser liposuction is a combination of fat removal and skin tightening using different wavelength fibers. While Coolsculpting and Traditional liposuction are great treatments to help remove stubborn pockets of fat, you will not see the same sort of tightening affect as you would with Smartlipo. The only other option that works well when you have skin laxity (hanging skin below the arm) is bracchioplasty, or a surgical removal of excess skin. Most patients find the scarring from this is something they don’t want to tolerate in exchange for the more aggressive skin tightening. 
  
Also, I want to mention that CoolSculpting is going to be coming out with a new handpiece in April for the arms. Don’t be fooled- this handpiece will offer a better fit for the arms, but it still isn’t going to offer the skin tightening you need. CoolSculpting is a great option when fat is the only concern for arms. 
  
Finally, I really appreciate that you offering this honest opinion that doctors offer what they have in their office as your best option. I see that all the time. I think as doctors we have the duty to offer our honest opinions. I offer all three of these options, and more, for arms, because I know there are patients who need each of these. I’m glad you’re doing your homework and becoming an informed patient. Kudos to you.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Many patients consult the office because they are unhappy with their arms and sagging skin.  The best combination that we have observed is a combination of Coolsculpting followed by Thermage.  Coolsculpting will freeze the fat in the area and a week later Thermage is performed to tighten the skin.  With this combination you can expect to have good results within a few months. Please consult a board certified dermatologist who is experienced with these advanced non-invasive cosmetic techniques.

Kimberly Finder, MD · Answer

This is a great question. Liposuction, done by an experienced liposuction specialist, is the most precise way of removing either small or larger volumes of fat, and offers the skin tightening that cannot be achieved with CoolSculpting. Using laser assistance with liposuction offers even further skin tightening enhancement. Smartlipo is often discussed as if it were a laser procedure that didn't involve the suctioning part of the procedure. Smartlipo, or other brand of liposuction-laser, is a part of a lipo procedure, not the entire procedure. Suctioning is still required, preferably on an awake patient. This is the safest way to perform liposuction, and allows the patient to assist in the positioning necessary to achieve optimal results.Liposuction of the arms is a very rewarding procedure for someone who has skin that has not lost too much of its natural elasticity (there has to be the ability of the skin to respond to the stimulus; it can't be totally stretched out).I don't perform CoolSculpting because I can do liposuction, with, or without laser assistance. Liposuction always yields more precise, complete, and faster results than freezing the fat.

Shain A. Cuber, MD · Answer

It is always important to consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon to see which procedure will benefit you best.  With that being said, although each of these are great methods of fat reduction, smart liposuction would be the best solution in your case.  The reason being that Smart liposuction not only removes the unwanted fat, but will tighten the skin on the arms in the process with the laser technology it offers. During the consultation, the surgeon will determine if you are a good candidate. If there is too much skin, then a brachioplasty may be needed.

Melinda Lirag Lacerna-Kimbrell, MD, FACS · Answer

I use SlimLipo. It's a combination of fat melting and skin tightening using a diode laser that targets the actual fat cell. After the use of that laser I aspirate the melted fat. I see that skin retraction is more successful with use of SlimLipo laser. Without pictures or seeing you in person to evaluate you though, I can't comment on how your skin may look after the procedure or if you need to have skin excised. Be sure to follow up with a board certified plastic surgeon in person for the best option for you!Thank you for your question!

Traditional lipo, Smart Lipo or Cool Sculpting- which is better for arms?

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