Arm Liposuction vs Loose Arm Skin Brachioplasty Lift

Loose upper arm skin is most often related to weight loss. If you were ever overweight, you more than likely developed heavy upper arms. To accommodate the increased volume of the upper arms, your skin stretched. After weight loss, skin often fails to tighten, and so it sags. The only way to improve this problem is through an arm lift, also called brachioplasty.

Not if your problem is due to loose skin. The only time liposuction is a better choice is when there is a lot of fat and the skin is tight. When the skin is loose, brachioplasty surgery is usually the best choice.

What is tumescent liposuction?
Tumescent liposuction of the arms using microcannulas provides excellent cosmetic results. The arms are one of the areas that consistently yield the highest level of patient satisfaction and happiness.

• Tumescent liposuction involves the injection of a standard IV solution containing a dilute solution of a painkiller (lidocaine) and a blood vessel constrictor (epinephrine). The IV solution helps to replace fluids lost during the procedure and the lidocaine reduces pain and the epinephrine reduces blood loss. Many plastic surgeons use this solution in combination with an anesthetic administered by an anesthesiologist. 

• Combining the low concentrations of lidocaine as a local anesthetic with low levels of general anesthetic allows for a safe, controlled manner of minimizing patient’s discomfort during liposuction surgery. 

• This is liposuction procedure is done in an a hospital outpatient surgery center for safety.

How long will I need to wear a garment after the liposuction procedure?
Usually about 6 weeks.

How much fat can be removed in the liposuction procedure?
This would need to be determined after consultation with your plastic surgeon emphasizing safety. Sometimes the plastic surgeon will request that a patient lose weight first in order to have the most ideal of results.

Incisions and Scars in Arm Lift

Scars are the greatest drawback of this operation. They will extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. This operation exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars). In general, those with very loose saggy skin are most likely to find this exchange worthwhile. Those with a small amount of looseness will probably not want the scars.