Comparing Armpit Lifts and Liposuction

The arms can be a stubborn trouble area for many people. From loose, flabby skin to bulky arms post-pregnancy that won't shrink, underarm fat poses a significant nuisance that is difficult to address.

Many patients turn to traditional methods like liposuction or arm lifts, but these surgeries are quite invasive and come with a slew of risks. 

If you want to avoid pain, hardness, and swelling for several months, arm lifts and liposuction may not be your ideal choices for sculpting flabby arms. But don't worry; at the end of this article, we'll share a worthwhile and safer treatment to consider.

If you have a pair of "bat wings" hanging from underneath your arms, it's likely because you have loose skin, excess fat, or both. 

The armpit lift, a variation of the brachioplasty (arm lift), contours the upper arm for a youthful appearance. It removes excess fat and loose skin with a scalpel and drapes the remaining skin to create a tighter surface.

Arm liposuction is effective in treating excess fat but will not be able to do much about significant loose skin. 

You may need both procedures to address loose skin and excess fat on your upper arms. 

That said, determining the correct procedure depends on the cause of your arm fat, your surgeon's opinion, and more.

You may wonder if there's a better choice than these traditional arm sculpting procedures. And there is. Read more below to find out.

Comparing Armpit Lifts and Liposuction

A brachioplasty, also known as an armpit lift, involves an incision from just above the elbow to the axilla (underarm) to remove excess fat and loose skin. 

After either using liposuction to remove fat or cutting it out directly, internal sutures tighten the surrounding tissue. Skin is then pulled taut to tighten and smooth the arms.

Arm liposuction thins the upper arms by suctioning the fat with a cannula. As mentioned before, it is ineffective in treating loose skin.

Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is essential when determining which procedure is most suitable for you. 

Armpit lifts are more invasive than liposuction overall and tend to require general anesthesia. 

Aspect	Arm Liposuction	Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
Procedure Type	Removes excess fat from the arms through suction	Removes excess skin and fat from the arms
Ideal Candidates	Individuals with localized fat deposits in the arms	Individuals with significant excess skin and fat in the arms
Incisions	Small incisions made for the insertion of a cannula	Longer incisions typically made along the inner arm
Anesthesia	Usually performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia	General anesthesia is typically used
Recovery Time	Shorter recovery time compared to brachioplasty	Longer recovery time; may require more downtime

The Causes of Sagging Arm Skin

Sagging arm skin can be caused by too much armpit fat. Other factors such as your age, weight fluctuations, muscle tone, and genetics can influence how your upper arms look.

Factors that contribute to saggy upper arms:

• Your age: Skin loses its elasticity as we age, and collagen production decreases. This causes the skin to appear less firm and supple over time.

• Weight fluctuations: Rapid weight gain causes the skin to stretch. If you undergo significant weight loss afterward, the over-stretched skin may not return to its original state.

• Genetics: Genetics are responsible for how much fat is distributed on your arms, muscle tone, and skin laxity. 

• Lack of muscle tone: Weak muscle due to a lack of exercise will affect the appearance of the upper arms.

Diet and exercise can counteract these issues. But, if the fat deposits on your upper arms resist a healthier lifestyle, an arm liposuction procedure may be suitable. 

The same goes for arm lift procedures if excess skin and fat haven't decreased.

Why Arm Lipo and Armpit Lifts Aren't The Optimal Choices

These procedures have earned their positions as recommended, traditional choices for cosmetic surgery designed to reduce arm fat and tighten skin.

Advancements in cosmetic surgery have made several factors, such as the techniques used, the use of general anesthesia, and extensive recovery times, unnecessary regarding the potential risks they can pose.

Arm Lift and Arm Liposuction Risks:

• General anesthesia: Although infrequent, adverse effects from the anesthetic can include allergic reactions, tremors, numbness, and seizures.

• Fat embolism: An improper liposuction technique can cause fat to escape into the blood vessels, causing blockage.

• Unsatisfactory results: Removing fat irregularly can make your arms look dimpled, lumpy, or even looser than before.

• Nerve damage: Damage to major nerves in the arm will cause motor deficiencies.

AirSculpt® Armpit Contouring in San Jose

AirSculpt® procedures can remove fat and excess skin from your upper arm without many of the risks found in traditional forms of plastic surgery.

Armpit and Underarm AirSculpt® is a minimally invasive procedure that removes fat and tightens skin without scalpels, stitches, needles, or general anesthesia.

Benefits of the AirSculpt® fat removal process include the following:

• The surgeon operates a high-speed mechanical cannula that spins at thousands of rounds per minute to remove fat from the upper arm precisely.

• The procedure creates tiny incisions using a biopsy punch to make a perfectly symmetrical two-millimeter opening for eliminating fat.

• You can assess your results in real time because we do not use general anesthesia throughout the entire process.

• Recovery time for an AirSculpt® is shorter than traditional liposuction.

• The downtime after an AirSculpt® procedure is an average of 48 hours.

AirSculpt® Can Also Tighten Loose Skin

Traditional forms of armpit liposuction cannot tighten the skin, but you can choose an AirSculpt® + procedure to tighten the surrounding skin while removing excess fat.

AirSculpt® + uses the Renuvion device to tighten arm skin using the same incision used for fat removal. 

The Renuvion wand emits helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to heat the tissues under the skin, stimulating instant skin contraction.

Schedule a Consultation with our San Jose Body Contouring Experts

Our armpit fat removal technology is equipped to deliver optimal results without invasive surgical techniques.

For more information on how we can help you, schedule a consultation with our San Jose body contouring experts or the AirSculpt center nearest you today.