Arm lift options with minimally invasive scar? (Photo)

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding arm lift options with a minimally invasive scar. Thank you for your history and your picture. It is impossible to answer this question with just this single picture. You need a virtual or, preferably, a physical consultation. Options regarding the arms include VASER high-definition liposuction. Are you looking for more slender, feminine arms or more athletic, muscular arms, or something in between? If you want to embark on an arm liposuction route, consider either slimming your feminine arms or targeting more areas. VASER high-definition liposuction can provide either slim or athletic-looking arms, depending on your desired outcome. Suppose arm liposuction is not an option for you based on physical examination. In that case, you may be a candidate for an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty. During an arm lift, an incision is made from the armpit to the elbow and is usually combined with liposuction. Arm liposuction alone can be performed under twilight or IV anesthesia. A formal brachioplasty should be performed under general anesthesia. Good luck. I hope I answered your question regarding arm lift options with a minimally invasive scar.
To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a free virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any further questions regarding arm lifts, arm reductions, brachioplasty, or arm crease fat grafting, please consult with an experienced plastic surgeon. Since a brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery, is a complex procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts. Do your research. Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts. Make sure they have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA. (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgery, American College of surgery, International College of surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Hard to say from the photo alone what would be best but generally speaking the arms respond and contract really well to liposuction with vaser and a skin tightening procedure like renuvion or bodytite. Most people have really good results with small scars. Can be done awake in clinic too under local if you're trying to avoid anesthesia.

Based on your concerns about loose and bumpy skin on your arms, a combination of non-surgical skin tightening treatments like radiofrequency (e.g., Thermage) or Ultherapy may help improve mild laxity and firm the skin without scarring. If the issue involves excess fat causing the irregularity, liposuction could smooth the contour through small, inconspicuous incisions. For more significant skin sagging, a mini arm lift or scarless arm lift may be considered, offering effective skin tightening with minimal scarring compared to a full brachioplasty. A consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon will help determine the best approach based on your specific needs and goals.

For patients with early skin laxity and mild fat deposits in the arms, a good option is liposuction combined with Renuvion skin tightening. Liposuction removes excess fat and only requires 1-2 very small incisions, while Renuvion uses helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to contract the underlying tissues and improve skin tone, often using the same incisions as the liposuction for no additional scars. This combination can restore a smoother, more contoured appearance without the need for the longer scar associated with a brachioplasty.

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.


Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

From the photo provided, it’s difficult to give a full evaluation, but there are definitely options available to treat loose or sagging skin on the arms especially if you’ve noticed changes in tone and texture recently.
Depending on your skin’s elasticity, volume, and the degree of laxity, the ideal procedure could range from a minimally invasive arm liposuction (sometimes enhanced with skin-tightening technologies like Renuvion, BodyTite, or VASER) to a more extensive brachioplasty (arm lift) if there’s significant skin redundancy.
Many patients like yourself who are concerned about visible scarring are good candidates for non-surgical or hybrid approaches that minimize incision length while still offering skin tightening benefits. However, if the skin is too stretched or has lost its ability to retract, a surgical arm lift may be the most effective solution, and the scar can often be strategically placed and refined over time.
We highly recommend a personal consultation to assess the tissue quality, skin elasticity, and fat distribution. This will help determine whether you’re a better candidate for liposuction alone, liposuction with energy-based tightening, or a surgical lift.

Based on only one post a photo and only one arm and not in the right position, I recommend you doing a virtual consultation for better understanding you can have superficial Lipo sculpting or liposuction with small Lipo cannula in combination with either J plasma or Endo laser for less invasive results Best of virtual consult with for better understanding fee range $6000-$10,000.

There are a few options to consider to address arms. Liposuction is an option where subcutaneous fat is removed to help sculpt contours. Potential drawbacks are skin laxity or contour irregularities. BodyTite is a minimally invasive procedure that can remove subcutaneous fat and applies RF technology to tighten skin. This is best for those with minimal to moderate skin laxity. No general anesthesia is needed for this procedure and the scars would be minimal. An arm lift is designed for those with moderate to more severe skin laxity. The incisions can range from those just in the underarm area to those that run along the inside of the upper arm. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to see what is recommended for you.