Autologous fat transfer is an increasingly common practice in plastic surgery and can apply to any part of the body. When applied to the arms, the sagging “bat wings” condition experienced as a complication of aging and weight loss is eliminated and patients are left with rejuvenated, tight skin on their arms. Autologous fat transfers operate by harvesting spare adipose tissue (body fat) from a patient, processing it, and then placing it into a targeted site. It has had success in processes like breast augmentation and facial rejuvenation, and its application to limb enhancement carries similar successful results.

As we age, our skin naturally loses its elasticity and can sag, as well as form wrinkles, fine lines, and other blemishes. Sagging skin can also result from rapid weight loss, and this is increasingly common as GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) rise in popularity. Despite the wisdom that comes with age and the personal achievement of weight loss, this sagging skin is an annoyance to many patients and weighs on their minds as an embarrassing feature.

Dr. Andrew Wolin has been serving the Scottsdale area as a trusted and deeply knowledgeable plastic surgeon since 1985, and his almost 40 years of experience have given him the knowledge necessary to give patients the results they are looking for. If your arms are causing you unnecessary embarrassment or inconvenience, do not wait to take action. Make an appointment with Dr. Wolin to plan how you can eliminate your sagging arm skin today. If you have any other questions or would prefer to speak to one of our team members directly, we encourage you to call us at (480) 945-8440.

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About Fat Transfer

Increasing numbers of doctors see autologous fat as the ideal filler material because of its biocompatibility, ready availability, and minimal recovery time. ⁽¹⁾ These methods have been successfully applied to arm rejuvenation procedures to eliminate the baggy, flappy skin that emerges as a result of age, weight loss, muscle loss, and more.

While they are natural body features, the “bat wings” that hang below the arms (typically below the triceps) are seen by many patients as an ugly feature. By harvesting fat from a donor site — normally the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks — Dr. Wolin can supplement the tissue underneath the arms’ skin. This creates an increased surface area that the skin has to compensate for and results in a tighter, toned appearance.

While other treatments like injections are available, fat transfers have shown success in maintaining long-term results while also minimizing the necessary recovery time. ⁽²⁾ This is partially due to the employment of a patient’s fat as the filler medium. Because the fat comes from the body, the immune system does not identify the placed filler as a foreign entity that it needs to fight off. Rather, healing focuses on incorporating the fat into the surrounding tissue and sealing the incisions. This has shown to be extremely beneficial for patients whose reconstruction comes after burns or trauma as infections in the site are significantly reduced. ⁽²⁾

Dr. Wolin’s experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery has given him knowledge in many different procedures, and fat transfers are some of the most common he performs. Undergoing a transfer to the arms at his Scottsdale practice means you receive quality patient care and a precisely planned procedure that ensures successful results. Take the next step toward better-looking arms by scheduling your consultation today.

Benefits

Undergoing a fat transfer is one of the best ways to improve the appearance of your arms, and doing so can boost your happiness, confidence, and self-esteem. However, Dr. Wolin’s patients also experience benefits like:

Candidates

Fat transfers to the arms are available for patients with excess arm skin that they wish to correct. Patients who respond best to their treatment are those who have reasonable expectations about the outcomes, are between the ages of 18 and 65, do not smoke, and are comfortable with the procedure. It is also important that patients have enough fat to spare. This does not mean having a high BMI, but patients who are very lean or underweight may have complications from the removal and over-harvesting of body fat. Ultimately, we encourage all individuals to proceed with planning their procedure by meeting with Dr. Wolin. Candidacy and planning will be discussed in-depth at this initial appointment.

Personal Consultation

When you meet with Dr. Wolin, you will discuss your goals for your fat transfer. He will also examine the appearance of your arms and may take photographs for reference. Skin elasticity and the circumference of your arms will also be measured to help Dr. Wolin formulate natural-looking and proportionate results. Additionally, you will also discuss your medical history and current health status to reduce the risk of any complications during the procedure and your recovery.

Some patients have concerns about their arms appearing “too large” or “too muscular” as a result of their procedure. Depending on the intensity of the sagging skin, this may emerge if your procedure only incorporates a fat transfer. Depending on your case, Dr. Wolin may recommend incorporating an arm lift (Brachioplasty) into your treatment plan to reduce the amount of loose skin. This will allow the fat transfer to not only be more effective but have more natural-looking and proportionate results as well.

Preparation

Dr. Wolin will provide you with preparation instructions that are specific to your case. You can expect to receive prescriptions for pain medications and antibiotics to assist in your recovery, and we recommend getting these filled before the day of your procedure. Patients are normally placed under general anesthesia for fat transfer procedures, so you will likely be required to fast for a period beforehand to maximize the effect of the anesthetic medications. We also recommend taking some nutritional supplements and consuming a healthy diet to provide your body with the nutrients it requires for healing.

Procedure

Fat transfers, regardless of donor or receiving sites, all go through three phases.

Harvesting

The first step in fat transfer procedures is harvesting fat. An incision is made at the donor site and a tumescent solution of lidocaine, saline, and ephedrine is injected into the body. This helps to minimize pain and bleeding during the procedure. Dr. Wolin will employ liposuction techniques to harvest the adipose tissue from the subcutaneous layer. This will either be done with large syringes or with a vacuum-powered cannula. ⁽¹⁾ Once the planned amount of fat has been harvested, Dr. Wolin will send it to be processed and your incisions will be treated.

Processing

The long-term viability of the fat graft and its acceptance by the surrounding tissues rely on this step. Once harvested from the body, the donor fat is sent to be processed. This will be done via sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation, or a combination of these methods. ⁽¹⁾ The goal of processing the adipose tissue is to separate the fat and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) from the other compounds and impurities found in the body. Any other materials may cause complications in healing and alter the results of the procedure. ⁽¹⁾ Once the tissue has been processed, it will be returned to Dr. Wolin to be injected into your arms.

Placement

The last step of the fat transfer process is placement. The fat previously removed from the donor site will be placed into syringes after it has been prepared. Each syringe will have the specific amount necessary for each injection site. This will all be planned by Dr. Wolin following your consultation. Once the necessary marks have been made on your arms, Dr. Wolin will sterilize your skin and begin filling the area with supplementary filler fat.

It is common for multiple injection sites to be chosen to ensure an even distribution of fat underneath the skin. Similar to a facial fat transfer, it is possible that the fat may swell and pool beneath the skin. If so, Dr. Wolin will smooth this out to create the desired appearance. Once all of the necessary injections have been placed, Dr. Wolin will make a final evaluation to ensure symmetry and a natural appearance in your arms. Once the desired results have been achieved and you are in a stable condition, you will be released from our care and can begin your recovery.

Recovery & Results

All fat transfers will result in some soreness, swelling, and redness in the first few days after the procedure. We recommend that you ice the treatment areas and wear a compression garment. You must use your arms as little as possible in (at least) the first few weeks. Minor activities like eating, brushing your teeth, tying shoes, etc. are acceptable, but we ask that you do these carefully. Please avoid strenuous activities like exercise as your arms recover. Once your swelling has dissipated, you will immediately notice fuller, younger-looking arms and feel your confidence and happiness increase.

Other Necessary or Complementary Procedures

If your skin sag is more significant, then Dr. Wolin may need to perform an arm lift (brachioplasty). This procedure removes some of the excess skin, similar to a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), so that less fat is required to fill the tissue and create the desired look. If there are other conditions you would like to correct, please explore the other fat transfers and various breast enhancement, facial rejuvenation, rhinoplasty, and body contouring procedures offered by Dr. Wolin.

Cost of Fat Transfer to the Arms in Scottsdale

The total cost of your procedure will depend on your unique treatment plan and any other procedures that need to be incorporated. The best way to get an idea of what your fat transfer will entail is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wolin. Here, you can discuss what measures will need to be taken and receive an accurate cost estimate. If you have any further questions about prices or financing, please feel free to call our Scottsdale office at (480) 945-8440.

References

1. Shauly O, Gould DJ, Ghavami A. Fat Grafting: Basic Science, Techniques, and Patient Management. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2022;10(3):e3987. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000003987
2. Deptula P, Block T, Tanabe K, Kulber D. Autologous Fat Grafting in the Upper Extremity: Defining New Indications. Plastic and reconstructive surgery Global open. 2022;10(8):e4469-e4469. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000004469