Finding a customized arm line through liposuction instead of exercise
Hello, this is Dr. Yongseung Seo at Lesarts Plastic Surgery.
Many people struggle with areas of fat
that do not respond easily to effort alone,
no matter how disciplined their lifestyle may be.
Among these areas, the arms are
notoriously difficult to slim,
and often the last to change,
making them a common concern
for many women.
Even with consistent dieting and exercise,
stubborn upper arm fat often remains.
As a result, the arms may appear thicker,
and the upper body as a whole
can look heavier and unbalanced,
causing ongoing frustration.
Liposuction addresses these resistant areas
by selectively removing fat
and carefully designing body lines,
making it an effective option
for concerns unresolved by diet alone.
Today, we will review a case
of upper body liposuction in a patient
who wished to reduce bulky upper arms,
create straighter arm lines,
and achieve sharper shoulder definition.
Through this case, we will explore
a customized approach that enhances
overall upper body balance and proportion.
[Patient profile]
Female, early 20s
Height : 161 cm
Weight : 53.1 kg
BMI : 20.5 kg/m²
Body fat percentage : 35.8%
※ Results may vary even among patients with similar physical profiles.
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction preoperative assessment
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction preoperative assessment
[Preoperative body assessment for arm liposuction]
The patient’s primary concern
was that the upper arms appeared
disproportionately thick
compared to the forearms.
Despite consistent weight management,
excess fat remained along
the back and outer areas
of the upper arms,
creating the impression
of a bulkier upper body overall.
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction preoperative assessment
Although the patient showed
pronounced left–right asymmetry,
this was determined to stem
from underlying skeletal asymmetry,
making correction difficult.
Instead, ultrasound evaluation revealed
significant fat accumulation
in the posterior upper arm,
measuring 15 mm on the right
and 16 mm on the left.
Shoulder muscle thickness measured
16 mm on the right
and 14 mm on the left,
which, although slightly limited,
was considered sufficient
to achieve a near right-angle shoulder line.
[Arm liposuction design for line improvement]
Because the upper arms were thicker
relative to the forearms,
we focused on maximally removing fat
from the posterior upper arm,
commonly referred to
as the “jacket fat” area.
However, excessive suction
just above the elbow
could make the forearms
appear relatively bulkier,
so fat in this area
was intentionally preserved.
As the patient desired
a straight, refined arm line,
a small amount of fat
was left along the muscle boundaries
and triceps tendon area,
to create a smooth,
slender, and delicate contour.
[Before and after comparison of arm liposuction]
Photographed five months postoperatively
under identical lighting and conditions
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction (Dr. Yongseung Seo) before and after comparison – front view
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction (Dr. Yongseung Seo) before and after comparison – back view
Before arm liposuction,
when viewed from the front and back,
the outer portion of the arms
protruded outward,
making the arms appear thick
and the overall build look larger.
Through liposuction,
the displaced posterior upper arm fat
(known as “jacket fat”) was refined,
while fat along the outer arm
was removed as much as possible,
and a small amount of fat
was intentionally preserved
along the shoulder muscle boundary.
This approach allowed the arms
to transform into smooth, straight lines,
without indentations or bulges.
In particular, by correcting arm thickness
and overall contour,
the patient’s physique appears
significantly smaller and more refined.
As anticipated before surgery,
the shoulder line is not perfectly angular,
but it was shaped close
to a right-angle contour,
creating a noticeably slimmer
and more delicate overall impression.
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction (Dr. Yongseung Seo) before and after comparison – 45 degree view
Lesarts Plastic Surgery – arm liposuction (Dr. Yongseung Seo) before and after comparison – side view
When viewed from the side,
the previously bulky upper arm
appears noticeably refined,
bringing its thickness closer
to that of the elbow area,
and transforming into a longer,
slimmer arm shape
that falls closer
to a straight line.
In cases like this,
where concerns involve proportion
as well as overall thickness,
simply removing all fat
is not the solution.
Preserving fat where needed
while highlighting the body’s strengths
to create beautiful, balanced lines
is what leads to
higher postoperative satisfaction.
For this reason,
through precise preoperative consultation,
a detailed surgical plan
aligned with the patient’s goals
and a safe, accurate procedure
aimed at achieving results
as close as possible
to the expected outcome
are considered
the most important factors.
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