Cosmetic Question: I have heavy arms but is arm liposuction a good idea? I am told it will leave loose, irregular skin.
Cosmetic Answer: You are right to be concerned. The skin on the under surface of the arm is thin. Excessive liposuction here can leave sagging skin. Also, the thin skin in this area may not hide the track marks of the liposuction cannulas.
This does not mean arm liposuction is not right for you, because using small cannulas and going all the way around the arm can often reduce a bulky arm without sagging or visible marks.
This information will help you decide if arm liposuction may be right for you:
- Are there stretch marks on the skin of your arms? If so, you have a high risk of sagging skin after arm liposuction. Stretch marks mean that the skin that has lost its strength and elasticity.
- Have you lost weight in your arms? Liposuction may actually make things worse, removing more fat will make arms even looser.
- Is the problem your shoulder area? Some women cannot fit into jackets and blouses with sleeves because of arm fat in this area. This is a great area for liposuction. The skin is thick and results are almost always good to excellent.
- Are your arms chubby and you want skinny arms? Not a good idea, removing enough fat to make a chubby arm skinny will definitely leave loose skin.
- Is your skin good, no stretch marks, no weight loss and you just want them appropriately smaller? A small cannula liposuction done all around the arm may be exactly right for you.
- Word of warning: arm liposuction should be conservative. It is disappointing if you don’t see all the result you want, but removing too much is worse. Once too much fat is removed or visible track marks have appeared, correction is difficult or even impossible.
Can local anesthesia be used for arm liposuction? Yes.
If it is just your arms, I can do this with local anesthesia and sedation by mouth in our office.
If you want several areas of liposuction done at the same time and the arms are just one of these areas, I do the surgery in an accredited out-patient surgery center. If done at the surgery center, you can usually choose local anesthesia or general anesthesia for liposuction of multiple areas.
Just give us a call (404.941-3200) and let us help you!