Why You May Have More Fat Under One Armpit Than The Other

Fat in and around the armpits, also known as axillary fat, is the collection of fat separate from the rest of the breast. The fat commonly forms a small pouch under the armpit.

Do not be alarmed about the appearance of armpit fat. It has nothing to do with your breast size or body frame. Stubborn pockets of fat can remain in areas that are noticeably slimmer than before. Do not get frustrated if your body has slimmed down but there are still fat pockets under your armpits. 

Why Do I Have More Fat Under One Arm?

It is even typical for women to have extra fat under one armpit, which is not something that you should be alarmed about, either. That is because our genetics dictate where fat builds up, and you might just be naturally prone to fat developing under one arm.

Many women complain that armpit fat spills outside of their bra or swimsuit. To counteract this issue, they wear attire that covers up their armpits and avoid tight clothing.

For example, they avoid wearing tank tops or buying lingerie with thinner straps. Picking a swimsuit also becomes difficult, and wearing tight tops is practically unfeasible.

Nonetheless, the treatment for armpit fat removal is relatively quick and easy, with little downtime.

Armpit Fat Causes That May Be Affecting You

Armpit fat is a common concern for many. It can occur from a combination of factors, such as genetics, hormonal changes, and lifestyle habits. Here's a list of some common armpit fat causes:

• Genetics

• Hormonal Changes

• Lack of Exercise

• Improper Diet

• Age

• Muscle Tone

• Posture

• Breast Size

• Stress and Cortisol Levels

Losing Weight Helps With Armpit Fat

Weight loss to reduce armpit fat rolls involves a combination of diet and exercise. Here's a comprehensive approach to help you achieve this:

Commit to a Healthy Diet

• Caloric Deficit:  Reduce your daily calories while increasing your physical activity.

• Nutrient-rich foods: Prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. These provide essential nutrients without excess calories.

• Portion Control: Be stricter with portion sizes to avoid eating too much. Eat high-volume foods with less calories.

• Limit Processed Foods: Eat less processed foods, sugary snacks, and beverages. These often contain empty calories and contribute to weight gain.

• Stay Hydrated: Sometimes thirst is mistaken for hunger, so drink enough water throughout the day.

• Avoid Late-Night Snacking: Eat your last meal for the day at least a few hours before bedtime to allow for proper digestion.

Exercises for Armpit and Underarm Fat

Engage in regular cardio activities like jogging, brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Do at least 120 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week for excess fat loss.

Add strength training exercises to build lean muscle mass. Focus on the chest, back, and shoulder muscles to help tone the armpit area.  

• Push-Ups 

• Dumbbell Flyes 

• Back Exercises Like Pull-Downs

Armpit Liposuction: An Outdated Approach to Armpit Fat

Armpit liposuction is an invasive procedure often requiring patients to be under general anesthesia. Treating both armpits can take up to 45 minutes to an hour, with patients going home the same day.

Recovery should be relatively quick, but there are some guidelines that you should follow. Patients should rest for about 48 hours and not lift anything heavy for about four weeks. Bending your elbows, however, should not be a problem as long as no strenuous activity is involved.

During recovery, you will provided with a compression garment to reduce swelling and bruising. For a proper recovery, you should wear it for four to six weeks.

It would also help to take certain medications and supplements to reduce post-operative bruising. Your healthcare provider will prescribe these medications and the regime.

If you follow the post-op advice, you should be able to return to your usual routine after a week.

Arm Lifts

Another procedure designed to reduce upper arm fat is the arm lift, also known as a Brachioplasty. 

The arm lift is a surgery for those who have loose or flabby skin in the underarm area. It is an invasive form of surgery that uses a scalpel to remove the loose skin that causes your armpit to bulge. In cases where deemed necessary, fat can be removed with liposuction as well.

The average arm lift procedure takes about two hours to complete. The procedure uses general anesthesia and will require that you wear a compression garment during recovery. Regarding your recovery, you will have to halt upper body lifting exercises for four to six weeks.

An Exclusive Procedure To Reduce Armpit Fat and Tighten Skin

Patients who want to undergo a safe and precise form of armpit fat removal tend to pick AirSculpt® due to its precision-engineered technology.

Armpit and Underarm AirSculpt® does not use scalpels, needles, stitches, or general anesthesia to reduce stubborn fat, making it a comfortable process for all patients.

Our advanced cannula is designed to simultaneously remove fat and even help tighten loose skin surrounding the underarm. The procedure can be performed in as little as 45 minutes, with patients always remaining awake. 

Thanks to the mechanical precision of this approach, results are far more accurate than manual liposuction. Patients with more fat under one armpit can finally achieve a balanced, proportional look.

Patients needing extra skin tightening can receive AirSculpt+, a revolutionary alternative to armpit lifts, which tightens the treated area without making any new entry points. This element drastically reduces downtime compared with excision procedures. Patients can return to work in just one to two days after sculpting their armpit region.

To get started and learn more about AirSculpt® armpit fat removal, call our Washington, D.C., body contouring office to schedule your free consultation. 

Those not in the nation's capital can find the body sculpting center nearest them to find out more.