Not Sure if I Am Supposed to Get Arm Lipo or an Arm Lift? Pictures Included.

I would suggest trying liposuction first and see how much elasticity you have. In my experience you will have some improvement reducing the weight of the fat. Non invasive skin tightening such as RF (Velashape 3) may be of further benefit. If not satisfied you could then consider an arm lift.

You may need one or both of those procedures depending on your skin laxity, and if the part of your arm that hangs down in these photos is primarily fat or skin. Although photos can be helpful, the best thing to do would be to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon for a consult.

                   It’s
not unusual for patients who have undergone massive weight loss to develop
loose saggy upper arm skin. When this occurs treatment varies from patient to
patient and depends on a variety of factors. Under these circumstances the vast
majority of patients require brachioplasty to correct their problem.

                  Your
pictures suggest that you would benefit from brachioplasty, but without a
physical examination it’s hard to make a recommendation. In patients with good
skin tone, liposuction might also represent a treatment option, but this is
unusual in massive weight loss patients.

                  Consultation
with a board certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon should be
able to guide you in the right direction. 

Dear Kristy:

Based on your pictures, I would suggest liposuction and an arm lift to be performed at the same time.  You have excess skin and fat that goes down to the elbow and I do not think that liposuction alone would give you arms that you would be proud of.  I would therefore suggest you undergo a brachioplasty.

Thank you,
J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS

Arm lift surgery and arm liposuction are very different surgeries and are performed for different reasons. Arm liposuction can be done if you have arm skin with good elasticity so that after your fat is removed your skin will shrink around your remaining tissues. If you have poor elasticity then your skin will hang more after fat is removed. Your pictures are definitely not conclusive. You will need to be examined by a Board certified Plastic Surgeon who has experience in body contouring surgeries. In the meantime keep your biceps, triceps and deltoid muscles toned.