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

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

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.

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.

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.

If liposuction is recommended, then do that first. Then 6 months later, have the lift. Otherwise, your arms will not be as tight with both done at the same time.

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.