Is Liposuction Really That Scary?

One look at the pages of any magazine would show virtually nothing but tank tops, halters, and mock neck sweaters. For those who wish to be in vogue, there is literally nowhere to run for cover if saggy arms are what plague you. Don’t worry, there are solutions!

“It is certainly not an optical illusion that women often find that no matter how much time they spend at the gym working out their triceps only to be left with the same excess fat or loose skin,” says Dr. Anthony Youn a Michigan board certified plastic surgeon. Women are especially prone to visible upper-arm fat and the skin laxity that occurs as a result of gravity’s taking a toll. This is because unlike men, they have an extra layer of body fat located just beneath the skin. Nowhere is this more obvious than on the upper arms. No matter how well toned or defined the muscles of the triceps are, that definition will often be at least partially obscured by a tendency toward excess skin or fat in the area. This is especially true as we get older or in women who have gained and lost weight repeatedly.

What Is The Batwing Procedure?

As it’s name suggests, the batwing procedure is aimed at tightening loose, hanging flesh of the upper arm that resembles the wingspan of the nocturnal creature from which it derives its name. A well-hidden incision is made from the top of the underarm to several inches above the elbow, and excess flesh and fat are removed, as well as muscles in the area tightened if necessary. The batwing procedure takes about an hour and a half, and is performed as on an out-patient basis at a hospital or surgeon’s office surgical suite.

“The underarm is not a particularly sensitive area,” reports Dr. Youn, “and there is little or no pain associated with the procedure. And because the surgical site is located above the heart, there is often little swelling or bruising. At worst, the procedure entails a few days of soreness that is easily controlled with medication. Patients can usually resume normal activities and return to work in about a week, at which time stitches are removed.” Many of the patients who opt for the batwing procedure are older or have lost a good deal of weight, which results in sagging skin, but the procedure is in no way limited in terms of age. “Anyone,” says Dr. Youn, “can find herself with problem upper arms that she wishes corrected.”

And the results are astonishing! “Think about it,” says Dr. Youn, “so much of fashion today revolves around wearing short sleeves or sleeveless clothes. I’ve had patients who have always worn long sleeves even in the sweltering heat of a city summer who, for the first time, feel comfortable wearing a tee shirt or a retro 70′s look tank top or halter or a high fashion strapless evening dress. It’s very liberating and terrific for their self-image.”

As with all reduction-oriented plastic surgery, including tummy tuck and breast reduction, the trade-off for slimmer, firmer, more youthful looking upper arms is that there will always be a scar where the incision is made. “However,” reports Dr. Youn, “the bat wing procedure’s scar is on the inside of the arm, where it is almost unnoticeable, and, because there is rich blood supply to the upper arm, tends to heal very well — ultimately becoming a thin, white line.”

The batwing procedure is designed for those with excess fat and loose, hanging skin of the upper arm. For patients whose problem is solely excess fat, this group would include those who are usually under 45 and who have not gained or lost large amounts of weight, a second option is liposuction of the upper arms.

Upper-Arm Liposuction

“Liposuction of the upper arm is a remarkably easy procedure,” says Dr. Youn, “because often the removal of a small amount of fat — around 100 cc’s — makes all the difference.” Unlike liposuction of a larger area of the body, such as the thigh, buttocks or abdomen, liposuction of the upper arms is a very quick, often painless procedure that entails little recovery time. A small (approximately one quarter inch) incision is made at the elbow or in the armpit (or both, depending upon the size of the problem area) and the excess fat is suctioned out. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with sedation on an out -patient basis. Following surgery, the upper arms are wrapped in ace bandages for a few days to minimize any swelling or bruising which is often minimal. Patients can return to work in a few days and to all normal activities, including exercise, within two weeks.

“Neither the batwing procedure nor liposuction of the upper arm area is designed to take the place of a regular fitness routine,” says Dr. Youn. “They are created to best accentuate the results of working out. Both procedures represent a tremendous leap forward in cosmetic surgery because they, like a host of new and revised aesthetic body surgery procedures, embody the notion of finally being able to look as good as one feels.”

The Liposuction Alternative

If both of those options sound a little too scary or the arm liposuction cost is too prohibitive, don’t worry! There are easy ways around it that will leave you looking great and feeling confident!

Tres Sleek shapewear was created to slim and streamline bulges and ripples and with proper size selection all of the products achieve that goal. The arm shapewear collection is available in two styles, the Pleine, and the De Quart; two colors, black and copper nude, with three additional colors, chocolate, bone and navy, launching later in 2009. The line also comes in a variety of sizes ranging from Small-4X.

The newest addition to the Tres Sleek family, the Veston, is a modification of the classic “shrug” which incorporates a bolero-style jacket with the built-in compression of the Pleine and the De Quart sleeves. This garment combines shapewear with outerwear so women can have coverage over sleeveless tops and strapless dresses. The Veston is currently available in full length and three quarter length sleeves, and range from sizes Small to 2X.

These fabulous products are available on tressleek.com starting at only $26.95.