Why circumferential liposuction of the arms is so important.

The upper arms are a problem area for many patients.  The key factor in treatment of adipose (fat) tissue of the arms with liposuction is the elasticity of the skin.  Treating the fat of the arms and being left with loose hanging skin is a less than optimal outcome.  Patients also do not want the long scar that is present after skin excision (brachioplasty) which may not result in a fine line scar after healing.  Treating the entire upper arm circumferentially can often lead to better skin contraction resulting in more skin contraction and better results than focused treatment of the arms.  Most patients have more fat on the back of the arms with the arms at their sides.  Treating only the areas with the larger amount of the fat on the arms leads to uneven scar contraction leading to a poorer overall outcome.  By treating all the way around the arm, we are creating a uniform centripetal force of contraction around the arm leading to greater and more even skin contraction.  This also allows better contouring of the areas over the muscle groups of the arms, deltoids, biceps, and triceps, resulting in a more sculpted appearance of the arms.  I use four 3 mm incisions around the arms to allow for the circumferential treatment.  In some cases, this can convert some patients who were not candidates for liposuction of the arms before to possible candidates.