How to get rid of flabby arms?

Question

I used to have triceps, now I have wings of saggy arm flab that won't go away. I've been trying to tone this area for months with no results, and I'm now considering taking more drastic action. I'd prefer a non-surgical option but am open to whatever will work. Please help!

Caner Kacmaz, MD · Answer

I would like to see your pictures to give you the best recommendation but to give you a general idea, I recommend an arm lift operation for saggy arms. It's a surgical treatment for excess fat and skin on the upper portion of the arms. During the surgery, I tighten, lift, and smooth the skin and tissues of the arms for a more sculpted shape. In addition, I remove fat deposits that arent responsive to exercise.  I hope this information helps.

Richard Zienowicz, MD · Answer

Depending on the content of your arm i.e. fat v.s. Skin, surgery could be your best option. Non-invasive procedures are extremely minimal and have extremely minimal results. If you’re looking for a significant change, liposuction and brachioplasty may be the right choice for you. The best thing to do would be to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon in person who can review your medical history and work with your specific situation.

David Stoker, MD · Answer

Flabby arms may be caused by excess fat, loose skin or small muscles.  Your best options for treatments include weight loss from dieting and muscle building from exercise.  Liposuction is effective for fat removal and arm lifts (with scars) are the only effective option for skin removal.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Without pictures and a thorough physical examination, your question is difficult answer. However, I would suggest to continue exercising and dieting for another 4 to 6 months.If you do not have your desired arm results,  I would then suggest considering arm surgery.  In my plastic surgery practice, there are four types of arms.Type 1 patients have a mild amount of arm fat. Typically, these patients are best treated with arm liposuction. Type 2 patients have a moderate amount of arm skin and fat. This excess arm skin and fat extends from the armpit approximately 4 to 6 inches down the arm. Typically, these patients are best treated with an arm lift with arm liposuction. This type of arm lift is called a modified or mini-arm lift. Type 3 patients have a moderate amount of arm skin and fat from the armpit to the elbow. Typically, these patients are best treated with arm liposuction and excision of arm skin and fat from the armpit to the elbow. Type 4 patients have moderate to severe amount of arm skin and fat from the armpit to the wrist.  Typically, these patients are best treated with arm and forearm liposuction. At the same surgery, this is followed by excision of upper arms and forearm skin and fat.  This is accomplished through an incision from the armpit to the elbow to the wrist.

Richard J. Bruneteau, MD · Answer

Flabby
upper arm tissue can represent a significant aesthetic deformity that can
adversely impact self-esteem and self-image. Without being able to perform a
physical examination it’s virtually impossible to make a specific treatment
recommendation. When this situation arises, several treatment options exist
which can improve upper arm aesthetics. These include liposuction, mini
brachioplasty and full brachioplasty. The procedure chosen is dependent upon
the patient’s aesthetic goals and specific anatomic findings.

In
some cases, liposuction may be a viable alternative. When this procedure is
utilized, scarring is minimal and results are usually excellent. Unfortunately,
this procedure is only effective when fat is present and skin is relatively
tight.

When
excess skin is confined to the upper arm in the area of the axilla, a mini
brachioplasty may be effective. This procedure utilizes an incision in the
upper arm which is transversely oriented and well hidden. The procedure is
helpful when patients have minimal excess upper arm skin and is associated with
excellent results.

Unfortunately,
the vast majority of patients who have had significant weight loss require more
extensive procedures. In most cases, this involves a full brachioplasty with an
incision that extends from elbow to axilla. This procedure addresses excess
skin in the vertical and transverse dimensions. In most cases, results are
excellent, but occasionally adverse scarring can be a problem.

When
significant excess skin is present laser tightening and other non- surgical
treatments aren’t effective. For this reason, patients who have significant arm
skin sag should consult a board certified plastic surgeon who can formulate an
appropriate treatment plan.

John J. Edney, MD · Answer

Your description of wings of saggy arm flap suggests that you will need a brachioplasty (arm lift) to satisfactorily treat your condition.  Unfortunately there are no nonsurgical options to tighten skin that is as loose as you have described.  Arm lift surgery popularity has increased dramatically over the years. The demand for this procedure has increased more than 800% since 1997.  This is the greatest percent change of any of the commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures  Much of the increase in popularity is due to the growing number of patients who undergo massive weight loss.  In performing this procedure an incision is made on the inside of the arm extending from the elbow into the armpit.  Sometimes it is necessary to extend the incision further into the armpit and sometimes past it.  Utilizing this incision excess skin is removed and the wound is closed.  It is very important to position the scar properly so that it is concealed as much as possible.  A well-placed incision should result in a scar that is only visible when the arms are raised.  This operation is normally performed as an outpatient.  It is very important for the surgeon to discuss the resultant scar thoroughly with the patient preoperatively.  Very commonly this scar takes a longer time to undergo the full healing and maturation process.  Maturation refers to the process whereby the scar becomes less apparent.  Brachioplasty scars commonly take up to 2 years to fully mature.  Be sure to consult a surgeon board certified by the American Board of plastic surgery who has extensive experience in body contouring.  Good luck

John Zavell, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are not finding success in contouring your arms despite weight training, physical activity, and weight stability, then you will most likely need an arm lift. The arm lift provides the most contouring of any procedure on the arms, especially when described as "wings of saggy arm flab".  Non-surgical devices can cause small amounts of arm tightening, but cannot correct the "wings of flab".  Liposuction would only make the sagging tissues thinner but the tissue would still sag.  Brachioplasty is your best option.

Raj S. Ambay, MD · Answer

There are many causes for flabby arms. If one has flabby arms, the best indicator of the treatment would be the elasticity of the skin. If the skin has good elasticity, then Lipo suction alone may be the answer. If not, then an arm lift to resect the excess skin is best. However, the best indication for an arm lift, and the most gratifying are those who have lost a lot of weight. The skin is usually flabby and overstretched. It is simple and effective to remove the skin that has been stretched past its capacity. No Liposuction, or other noninvasive modalitiy will help the skin become more firm around the arms. The length and type of the incision will vary depending upon the location and the amount of fat in the arms. The cost will also vary by geographic locale. Most will run anywhere from $3500-$7000. I would advise you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to have treatment recommendations specific to your concerns.

Darryl J. Hodgkinson, MD, FACS, FRCSC (retired) · Answer

With aging, weight loss and weight gain arm skin sags.The embarrassment increases in summer where wearing sleeveless dresses becomes an issue and comfort a concern.Arm skin is quite thin and doesn't respond well to non surgical tighteningIf fat accumulation is the main concern then liposuction might be the answer.An experienced body contour plastic surgeon may direct you to an arm lift or armplasty which involves an excision in the inner aspect of the upper arm reasonably well hidden but this requires about a two hour surgical operation and healing of a long scar.In time scars fade but this may be your only option.

Gary M. Brownstein, MD (retired) · Answer

Flabby arms may occurs based on a variety of reasons. Frequently, the “flab” is excess skin and maybe some fat. Some patients may exhibit excess fat.

	The “fix” for the problem is related to understanding what is the problem’s cause.

	For example, if the cause is excess skin, maybe as a result of weight loss or aging, then the treatment is excision. This type of procedure is know as a brachioplasty. Removing the fat when the problem is excess skin will not help the situation.

	On the other hand if the problem is excess fat, the procedures aimed at removing the fat, such as liposuction, should be helpful.
	The problem may occur when, after removing the excess fat, there remains an excess of skin. Under these circumstances, a combination of liposuction and skin excision may provide the best solution.

	Appropriate consultation will help diagnose the problem and therefore the treatment as well.

How to get rid of flabby arms?

Answers (10)