If you have unwanted upper arm fat and lax skin, you’re not alone. Sometimes called “bat wings,” this cosmetic concern is one of the most common issues our patients want to correct at Burgess Plastic Surgery.
As we age, our skin loses elasticity, and we tend to carry more excess weight. If you’ve tried to tone this area before, you know it can be challenging. Fortunately, there are solutions to give you more contour.
1. Use Targeted Exercises to Reduce Upper Arm Skin Laxity
Muscle mass decreases by approximately 3% to 8% per decade after age 30. A lack of skeletal muscle can contribute to loose or flabby-looking upper arms. Women are especially prone to this upper body muscle loss.
Strength-building exercises that target your triceps, including push-ups, dips, and overhead lifts, can tone the back of your arms. These exercises are also beneficial for preserving your mobility as you age.
However, bat wings won’t always go away with exercise since one of the major contributors is often skin laxity. That’s when cosmetic treatments can help.
2. Reduce Upper Arm Skin Laxity with ThermiSmooth®, ThermiTight®, or Secret™RF
If you have mild to moderate skin laxity, you could benefit from a minimally invasive treatment like ThermiSmooth or ThermiTight. These devices uses radiofrequency technology to stimulate collagen remodeling and improve skin elasticity with little to no downtime. Combined with arm exercises, these can help you improve your upper arms.
In addition to the Thermi® treatments, the Secret™RF is another treatement that utilizes radiofrequency technology with microneedling to stimuate collagen to improve skin elasticity. The ultrafine needles deliver radiofrequency energy to gently heat the skin to simulate new collagen and elastin. The Secret™RF device is an FDA approved device for treating facial and abdominal laxity, however, when treating upper arms it is considered an off-label FDA use.
3. Tone and Tighten Your Arms With a Lift
You might have more severe skin laxity if you’ve had several weight fluctuations or recently dropped significant pounds. In this case, ThermiSmooth, ThermiTight, Secret™RF or exercises may not be enough to tone your upper arms. That’s where an arm lift (brachioplasty) comes in.
Our board-certified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr. Elisa Burgess, has used this surgical technique to great effect. During your arm lift, Dr. Burgess will use liposuction and excess skin removal to give your arms a slim, contoured appearance.
Banish Your Bat Wings at Burgess Plastic Surgery
At Burgess Plastic Surgery in Lake Oswego, Oregon, we pride ourselves on delivering aesthetic results that help our patients feel comfortable and confident in their own skin. If you want to reduce excess arm fat or skin laxity, our Portland-area practice has a solution. Call 503-699-6464 to find out how our providers can help you achieve your cosmetic goals.
