BACKGROUND: The contour of the arm is determined by muscular shape and volume. Liposuction in this area is challenging due to the difficulties of achieving symmetry and the high risk of contour irregularities due to fat structures in the region. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe a new technique to achieve muscular definition in the arm. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2011, a total of 651 arm-sculpting procedures were performed in consecutive patients. Patients with body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2) and/or severe skin laxity were excluded. Fat grafting was performed in the deltoid area in selected cases. The areas of fat extraction and grafting were specific to gender: in men, an athletic, muscular look was preferred, whereas in women, a slimmer and less-defined shape was desired. RESULTS: Of the 651 patients, 158 were men (24.3%) and 493 were women (75.7%). Most patients (98.3%) were satisfied with the results in arm dynamic definition. All patients underwent other body contouring procedures at the time of arm enhancement. Complications (n = 21) included 1 soft tissue abscess in the posterior arm, 2 unilateral hematomas, and 3 unilateral seromas that required puncture, along with 15 cases of minor asymmetry. Transitory hardening of the skin of the posterior arm was frequent (n = 104) due to superficial fat extraction, but all cases resolved within 6 months. CONCLUSION: The authors were able to achieve natural results with this new procedure in arm contouring. The technique is safe and effective with reproducible results when performed through multilayer fragmentation and liposuction with an anatomical extraction. Fat grafting can be performed for contouring with no additional complications.
BACKGROUND: The contour of the arm is determined by muscular shape and volume. Liposuction in this area is challenging due to the difficulties of achieving symmetry and the high risk of contour irregularities due to fat structures in the region. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe a new technique to achieve muscular definition in the arm. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2011, a total of 651 arm-sculpting procedures were performed in consecutive patients. Patients with body mass index (BMI) >30 kg/m(2) and/or severe skin laxity were excluded. Fat grafting was performed in the deltoid area in selected cases. The areas of fat extraction and grafting were specific to gender: in men, an athletic, muscular look was preferred, whereas in women, a slimmer and less-defined shape was desired. RESULTS: Of the 651 patients, 158 were men (24.3%) and 493 were women (75.7%). Most patients (98.3%) were satisfied with the results in arm dynamic definition. All patients underwent other body contouring procedures at the time of arm enhancement. Complications (n = 21) included 1 soft tissue abscess in the posterior arm, 2 unilateral hematomas, and 3 unilateral seromas that required puncture, along with 15 cases of minor asymmetry. Transitory hardening of the skin of the posterior arm was frequent (n = 104) due to superficial fat extraction, but all cases resolved within 6 months. CONCLUSION: The authors were able to achieve natural results with this new procedure in arm contouring. The technique is safe and effective with reproducible results when performed through multilayer fragmentation and liposuction with an anatomical extraction. Fat grafting can be performed for contouring with no additional complications.