Best procedure for arm fat removal aside from plastics?

Question

What is the best procedure aside from the actual plastic surgery for arm fat? I have almost 3 inches of it hanging from my upper arms.

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank-you for your question.
Non invasive treatment, such as Coolsculpting are attractive because there is no down time or recovery, yet I do not think that you will achieve your desired goals without surgery.CAST Liposuction combined with minibrachioplasty produces excellent upper arm contourLiposuction for upper arm contouring can produce excellent results in individuals with good skin laxity. I recommend the Circumferential para-Axillary Superficial Tumescent (CAST) technique for upper arm contouring. The use of tumescent anesthesia, micro cannula, and meticulous post operative care maximizes skin retraction and can give excellent improvement. If there is skin laxity, a brachioplasty may be required to tighten the skin. The minibrachioplasty is ideal for correcting the loose skin in the upper third of the inner arm. An ellipse of skin is removed from the axilla (arm pit) and the thin skin of the upper inner arm is advanced and tightened. The scar generally heals well and is well hidden, allowing you to wear short sleeves and sleeveless blouses. A photo of areas would be helpful. I would recommend an in person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon well versed in body contouring.
Best wishes, Andrew Lyos MD, FACS

Ryan E. Austin, MD · Answer

There are multiple ways to address excess fat in the arms. These range from coolsculpting, to liposuction, to surgical arm lift. If you have 3" of fat, you may be disappointed with the results of non-surgical options, as these are typically only successful for people with smaller deposits of fat. Seek out a consultation with a local plastic surgeon to figure out which options may be feasible for you!

Janet Turkle, MD · Answer

Hello,Thanks for your question. If you have three inches of skin and fat hanging from your arms, the best option is brachioplasty (arm lift). Other options such as CoolSculpting, laser skin tightening or liposuction will not give you optimal results. An exam is needed to make a specific recommendation. Good luck.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If you have loose skin, an arm lift to remove that excess skin is usually a better alternative than liposuction or BodyTite. Schedule an in-office consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in arm lifts and discuss the pros and cons of a brachioplasty.  He or she may want to opt for the non-invasive treatment first; and if the improvement is only minimal, perform the arm lift.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Without photos and physical exam- it's impossible to answer your question accurately. Generally speaking if a patient has excess fat in that area- liposuction may be indicated. However, if a patient has -both excess fat and skin- then a Brachioplasty would be indicated.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

Hard to give an opinion without a picture, but you might be a candidate for CoolSculpting for fat removal. Good luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

For best results with circumferential areas like the arms, I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Francesco Campanile, MD · Answer

For upper arm fat removal, liposuction is likely your best option. However, if some of the droopiness in your upper arms is due to lax skin, then you'd be a better candidate for an arm lift. I suggest scheduling a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who can give you an in-person evaluation and work with you to develop a treatment plan that will help you meet your personal goals. Best of luck to you.

Donato A. Viggiano, MD · Answer

Excess fat in any area is best treated with liposuction.  There are non-surgical treatments for spot fat reduction (for example, cooling the fat) but the results are much more subtle.  Neither treatment addresses the excess skin and either one can result in the skin sagging more since the contents are reduced but the covering skin is not.  Removing the excess fat with liposuction and the excess skin with surgical removal (a brachioplasty) is likely your best choice recognizing that it requires surgery and leaves an unattractive scar in the armpit and down the inside of the arm.
  
If you are adamant about not having surgery, than consider the fat cooling treatment.  Please realize that it alone will not do all that you likely will need for the optimal improvement (ie, your skin will sag).

Manelic Mejia Lopez, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and the information provided.
Arm lift is the best option if you have loose skin. 
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that:
Reduces excess sagging skin that droops downwardTightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper armReduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
I would recommend you to make a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to determinate the best option for you either liposuction or arm lift.  
  
Best Wishes.

Best procedure for arm fat removal aside from plastics?

Answers (15)

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