Arm Liposuction

Arm liposuction is a procedure that sculpts the upper arms, providing a slimmer and more toned appearance. The upper arms are one of the more exposed parts of the body– whether you want to wear short sleeves on a hot day or feel more confident in your favourite dress, the last thing you need is to feel self-conscious about your physique. Arm liposuction can grant you the freedom to feel comfortable and attractive in any kind of clothing. By removing excess fat, the procedure can also help highlight the muscular definition that you work hard for in the gym. Liposuction, in general, only requires incisions of a couple of centimetres, so you will not have to worry about noticeable scarring. Surgeons are also careful to place the incisions in more discreet locations.

If you are prone to gaining and storing fat in this area of the body, you can find your long-lasting liposuction solution at Harley Surgery with several locations in London, Birmingham, Manchester. When you schedule a consultation at one of our practices, you will speak with Dr Riccardo Frati, an internationally recognised expert in the field of minimally invasive cosmetic surgery. To get started today, call Dr. Frati’s office closest to you, or use our contact form to learn more about what liposuction can accomplish for you:

About Excess Arm Fat and Liposuction

Many people refer to flabby arms as having a “bat wing” appearance since the weight of excess fat can cause the skin to droop downward. It can be a major hit to one’s self-esteem. Excess arm fat can accumulate for a number of different reasons and be extremely difficult to get rid of with standard exercise or diet. Many studies have shown that the development of subcutaneous fat in this area can be linked to hormonal fluctuations, changes in body composition with age, and natural body shape- particularly, the “apple” shape. Even in young adults, MRI research has confirmed that the body fat percentage within the arms is much higher than within the thigh region. ⁽¹⁾ For those who want to trim their body to appear more aesthetically pleasing, liposuction allows patients to attain their ideal shape with minimal downtime when compared with other cosmetic surgical procedures. Dr Frati makes one tiny incision within the inside of each arm, gaining access to the fat pockets just under the skin. He can then strategically slip a handheld instrument called a cannula to suction the fat away.

What is VASER Liposuction?

With VASER (vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance) liposuction, Dr Frati can further enhance the effectiveness of liposuction by introducing ultrasound waves prior to suctioning the targeted pockets of fat. During the procedure, he can insert the VASER probe to administer this vibration-like energy to separate the fat from surrounding fibrous tissue with ease and break it down, allowing the suction cannula to harvest a higher concentration of fat and less blood. With more precise fat breakdown, Dr Frati can even leave behind thin deposits of fat to accentuate muscle definition, especially in the abdomen. Patients who undergo VASER as part of their liposuction protocol can expect to have less bruising during their recovery period, helping to eliminate overall discomfort. ⁽²⁾

Candidates

If you are close to your ideal weight, in decent health, and feel that you have stubborn “bat wing” upper arms, you could be a great candidate for arm liposuction. Prospective patients should have realistic expectations for their results and be willing to temporarily quit smoking or using nicotine products to heal well. It is also important to keep in mind that any type of liposuction will not result in significant weight loss. These procedures are meant to address and eliminate fat deposits for aesthetic improvements only. Finally, the best candidates have taut, young skin that will retract nicely once Dr Frati removes these deposits.

Personal Consultation

A consultation with Dr Frati will help you decide if arm liposuction is right for you or not. During this first appointment with him, he will evaluate the skin and fat composition of your upper arms, assess your medical history, and provide you with more in-depth information about the nature of the procedure. You will have a chance to ask your prepared questions about liposuction, and Dr Frati will be sure to give you complete answers to help you make an informed decision. He may go over the next steps for preparation, which include blood tests. At Harley Surgery, we strive to provide patients with a comfortable experience, and Dr Frati will make every effort to thoroughly understand and listen to your treatment goals.

To learn more about the consultation process and to schedule yours today, you can request one online.

Preparation

Dr Frati will go over the necessary information regarding preparation during your consultation meeting to ensure you are in good health and to avoid complications. Before your procedure, he will:

Since Dr Frati usually performs liposuction on an outpatient basis, you should make arrangements for someone to pick you up after you have been discharged. Regardless of whether you receive general anaesthesia or not, you will not be able to drive home.

Arm Liposuction Procedure Steps

Your arm liposuction procedure will begin with the proper administration of anaesthesia. Depending on the extent of your procedure, you may only require local anaesthesia and sedation, or you may require general anaesthesia for complete comfort. Dr Frati begins the procedure by making a tiny incision within the inside of the arm so that he can inject tumescent fluid, a compound solution of saline, epinephrine, and lidocaine to prepare the fat for removal, limit bleeding, and ensure your tissues are properly desensitised. With VASER, he will insert the slim probe within the tiny incision, allowing it to emit its vibrational energy throughout the fat tissue within the arm.

Dr Frati will effectively emulsify these fat deposits to enhance the effectiveness of the suction portion of the procedure. VASER can provide a mild skin-tightening effect and promote collagen tissue contraction under the skin that will help create more natural-looking contours. Within the same incision, he will insert the cannula to eliminate the emulsified fat while preserving dense fibrous tissues. Dr Frati can customise your procedure to promote a more muscular look or simply slim down the arm. Once he finishes with the sculpting portion of the procedure, he will place fine sutures to protect each incision.

Recovery and Results

We will closely monitor you before discharging you to go home to complete your recovery. Those who undergo large-volume liposuction with VASER may need to stay one day in the hospital, but arm liposuction tends to be less intense and allows patients to leave on the same day. Dr Frati will advise you to wear a prescription compression garment that will apply gentle pressure over the entirety of your upper arm. The garment is meant to help your skin heal to your newly contoured arms and to limit swelling and bruising as much as possible.

Though you may have some soreness, Dr Frati will inform you about what medications you can take, or he can provide you with prescription medications. Most patients are comfortable enough to go back to work within just a few days. You may need to wait at least 1 month before resuming upper body workouts to keep swelling at bay during your recovery.

Read Dr. Frati’s blog for more information about procedures at Harley Surgery.

Cost of Arm Liposuction

The cost of your arm liposuction procedure will mostly depend on the chosen method of anaesthesia, if you undergo VASER or not, the extent of the fat removal, and a few other surgical factors Dr Frati will determine. At Harley Surgery, we want to be transparent with our pricing, which is why we will give you a total estimate for your unique plan at the time of your consultation. To find out if you may benefit from arm liposuction or another body-sculpting procedure, contact one of our four office locations, where you will get to speak with Dr Frati about your dream body goals:

You can also inquire about our services with our contact form, and we will answer your questions concerning any available specials and our open dates and times for your consultation appointment.

We also have a variety of non-surgical cosmetic rejuvenation options if you want to avoid taking extensive healing downtime. Regardless of your treatment, Harley Surgery aims to provide excellent results with safety in mind.

References

1. Yamauchi J, Kurihara T, Yoshikawa M, Taguchi S, Hashimoto T. Specific characterization of regional storage fat in upper and lower limbs of young healthy adults. SpringerPlus. 2015;4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1181-6
2. Ruff PG, Garcia O, Nykiel M, Galanis CJ. Consensus-based Recommendations for Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy at Resonance Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery Global open. 2023;11(7):e5110-e5110. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000005110