Arm Contouring Surgery By on February 07, 2013

The upper arms are a constant and common source of frustration for many of our Houston plastic surgery patients. Both men and women alike struggle with flabby upper arms. The natural aging process, genetics, weight gain, and even weight loss can cause fat and loose, hanging skin to accumulate in the upper arms. Even regular exercise cannot improve the appearance of loose, hanging skin. While such exercise can help improve muscle tone within the upper arms, it often does little to eliminate excess fat deposits.

If you are bothered by any of these issues, you may benefit from arm lift surgery:

The appearance of loose, hanging skin from the upper arms
Weakened tissues of the arms
Localized deposits of fat

Am I a Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery?

Through arm lift surgery, we can significantly improve the appearance of the upper arms. By removing excess skin and fat through arm lift surgery, patients can achieve a more toned, proportionate appearance to the upper arms. After undergoing arm lift surgery, patients will be able to wear sleeveless clothing with confidence. If you are in good health, are close to your optimal weight, and suffer from loose, hanging skin and isolated areas of fat in the upper arms, you are likely a good candidate for arm lift surgery.

Arm Lift Techniques

When determining the most suitable arm lift technique for each individual patient, Dr. Azita Madjidi considers the patient’s needs and goals as well as his or her unique contours. For our patients in Houston, arm lift treatment options include:

Liposuction: Patients who are struggling with stubborn fat on the upper arms, but are at their ideal body weight with minimal amounts of hanging skin, may benefit from liposuction. For our patients in Houston, liposuction is effective at removing stubborn isolated areas of fat deposits from many areas of the body, including the upper arms, abdomen, thighs, flanks, and buttocks. Liposuction of the upper arms is performed using a thin tube-like device called a cannula to suction out fat cells. After liposuction, the skin of the upper arms will appear smoother and have a more toned appearance.
Minimal incision arm lift: Patients who have a small amount of loose, hanging skin typically qualify for minimal incision arm lift, in which the incision is limited to the underarm region. Through this technique, fatty tissues are usually removed through direct excision and liposuction. Once all of the fatty tissues have been removed, the skin is then pulled taut and sutured back into place. A benefit of this technique is that the scarring is hidden under the arm.
Traditional arm lift: Traditional arm lift is usually recommended for patients who have a large amount of loose, hanging skin from the upper arms. Typical traditional arm lift patients have lost a substantial amount of weight and are left with hanging skin from the upper arms. Through traditional arm lift, excess fat and skin between the underarm and elbow are removed. An incision is made on the underside of the upper arm, extending down to the elbow. Once the fatty tissues and excess skin have been removed, the skin is pulled taut and sutured closed. The result of traditional arm lift is a more defined and toned contour to the upper arms.