Arm Rejuvenation

Patients are often seen by me quite frustrated and seeking a solution to help them improve the size, contour and volume of their arms. This is a problem that is extremely disturbing to patients and I can appreciate why; it is difficult to wear clothing which reveals the arms, patients are very self conscious of shape and size, and it is uncomfortable. I know how this bothers patients and there is a solution to this and it is arm contouring surgery, also known as brachioplasty, something I do very well and can help you with.

Patients present with a desire for better, thinner, shapelier and more proportioned contour to the arms. The arms may just be really fat or have fatty accumulations in unusual areas. Or, there may be loose and hanging skin (“bat wings”) that can occur after weight loss or just with aging. It is mostly localized to the upper inner arms, but can also be present in other areas such as sagging in the armpit or along the side of the chest. Still other patients may have some degree of both fat and loose skin. The anatomy of concern here is just basically that of excess fat or excess skin or both to differing degrees. The relationships among the amount of excess skin, skin elasticity, and excess fat is what determines the surgical intervention. I will coordinate these features of your anatomy with your expectations, formulate a plan with you, and guide you through this. Arm definition is created by careful liposuction combined, if indicated, with skin removal, and there are a number of different techniques that I must apply exactly to your precise anatomic features and to what you see, in order for us to achieve your best possible result. Surgery involves a light general anesthetic, performed where I do surgery, which is in a hospital setting. The surgery is safe and predictable. There is a very mild swelling after surgery. There are all dissolvable stitches, with return to work in as little as 3-5 days, and to some physical exercise in the first week. The surgical procedure and results in arm rejuvenation depends on your anatomy and can range from liposuction alone to liposuction combined with skin excision and an incision for some distance on the upper inner arm. The categories of surgical arm rejuvenation that I offer in my practice are:

• Liposuction alone. This is usually in the upper inner arm. If you have good skin tone and mostly just excess fat, then I can remove the fat, and your skin shrinks down around this new reduced fatty framework. This is often possible, and long incisions are not needed.
• Liposuction with Arm Lift. This is where there is a significant amount of excess skin and/or poor skin elasticity. Here liposuction is performed first (there usually is some excess fat present), then an incision is designed as short as possible, but for some length between the elbow and armpit, to remove the excess skin and mold and shape the arms and tighten up the armpit that was drooping.
• Designer Arm Liposuction. This is performing liposuction in other areas of the arm where fat may accumulate, such as the forearms, at the armpit crease in front and/or back, or over the upper outer arm (deltoid). All these can be treated artistically and safely.
• Crêpe Loose Arm Skin. This can be treated by Thermage. Please see the section on this.

I have great expertise in liposuction and arm lifts for arm rejuvenation procedures and have performed many of these operations over the years, and very natural results. I spend a great deal of time discussing your anatomy, listening to your expectations, and interpreting for you what your anatomy and tissues will allow me to do in a safe and predictable way. In addition, I consider your body as a whole and I build a system into all body contouring surgeries that, initially, allows you to recover much quicker and, secondly, it serves to preserve your surgical results. This system includes a special diet, special attention to blood clotting, vitamins, supplements, special garments, skin products, physical training and knowing what to avoid. Together, all of this allows me to create results that are consistently very beautiful, quick to heal, exceptionally natural, and with minimal incisions. I am delighted to surgically provide you with such a profound yet natural body image change, and ones that has consistently so pleased my patients and changed their lives.

Please also review the article on Liposuction in my Articles Section of the website.

For before and after images of this procedure click here

Please call or contact the office for any further information or to schedule an appointment.