Will my arms still look big if I get an arm lift & liposuction?

Question

Aftet losing a substantial amount of weight, I have a decent amount of loose skin on my arms, which I’ve decided to address with an arm lift. I’ve always had bigger arms, so I assumed I would add arm lipo to the arm lift to ensure the best result. During a consultation with a local plastic surgeon, I was told they do not do arm liposuction with arm lifts as the process makes the arm swollen/it makes it harder to get the arm lift as tight as possible. I’m worried my arms will still look big?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding the combination of an arm lift and liposuction. First, congratulations on your significant weight loss! Based on your concerns, I believe combining liposuction with your arm lift would likely give you the best aesthetic results, particularly if you have some residual fat along with your loose skin.

Liposuction allows for more precise contouring by removing fat that the arm lift alone won’t address. Without it, your arms may still look fuller than desired, even after removing the excess skin. While it’s true that liposuction can cause temporary swelling, this is generally well-managed with compression garments and appropriate postoperative care, and it should not interfere with achieving a tighter lift.

Your surgeon’s hesitation to combine liposuction with an arm lift may be due to their specific technique or concerns about healing. However, in my practice, I almost always combine liposuction with brachioplasty unless the patient has no significant fat. If you’re worried about your arms looking too large after surgery, I’d recommend consulting with another experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who frequently performs this combination.

The goal is to ensure your arms are slimmer and well-contoured, leaving you feeling confident about your results.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!  Liposuction can cause post-operative swelling.  This could lead to pulling on the incisional area.  We would love to sit down with you and discuss your concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Liposuction is often done in conjunction with arm lifts in order to get the best contour.  I encourage you to visit with a few board certified plastic surgeons for consultations to determine what is recommended for you.  I've included a video on this procedure that I hope you find helpful.

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

This is sometimes true if the amount of liposuction is excessive or the amount of subcutaneous tissue (fat) in the arm is excessive. However, many surgeons routinely perform liposuction during a brachioplasty to effectively improve results and better contour the arms. It really just depends on the ratio of skin to fat in the arms.

Kristopher Hamwi, MD · Answer

I find that liposuction adds a great benefit to brachioplasties. For many patients shrinking the arm is an important component to getting the result they desire. I also find that liposuction actually loosens the skin so that I can remove more of it that was originally planed. In the video below I show this on a patient during a surgery.

Will my arms still look big if I get an arm lift & liposuction?

Answers (6)

Answer: Depends on Physical Exam

Answer: Depends on Physical Exam

Answer: Liposuction with brachioplasty

Answer: Liposuction with brachioplasty

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Everything you need to know about Arm Lift

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Will my arms still look big if I get an arm lift & liposuction?

Answers (6)

Answer: Depends on Physical Exam

Answer: Depends on Physical Exam

Answer: Liposuction with brachioplasty

Answer: Liposuction with brachioplasty

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Arm Lift

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