Will I feel pain during the procedure?

No sharp pain. You're given oral anti-anxiety medication when you arrive, which makes the experience extremely tolerable, and our customized tumescent technique thoroughly numbs the treatment area beforehand. Most patients describe feeling pressure and movement, but stay calm and comfortable throughout.

What does the “full liposuction suite” actually include?

We use ultrasound-assisted liposuction to help liquefy fat for smoother extraction, followed by power-assisted liposuction for gentle, efficient fat removal, and finish with Renuvion skin tightening to help your skin contract smoothly around your new contour.

How long is recovery?

Most patients return to work within two days and to full activity within seven days. Most patients are bikini ready in three months or less, though entry sites continue to fade for a full year.

Am I a good candidate?

Good candidates have localized, stubborn fat that hasn't responded to diet and exercise, are in reasonably good overall health, and have realistic expectations about the degree of change achievable through fat removal. Skin elasticity in the treatment area is also assessed, since it affects how well skin retracts afterward.

Why is it called “Ballerina Arms”?

The name reflects the goal of the technique: long, elegant, defined arms, rather than simply smaller ones. It's a specific aesthetic outcome that requires arm-specific technique and proportion, not a generic liposuction approach applied to a smaller area.

How is this different from general awake liposuction?

The core technology and comfort measures are the same as our broader awake liposuction protocol, but Ballerina Arms is refined specifically around the arm's anatomy and the elegant, defined aesthetic patients are looking for in this area.

No sharp pain. You're given oral anti-anxiety medication on arrival, and our customized tumescent technique thoroughly numbs the treatment area beforehand, keeping the experience calm and comfortable throughout.

How long is recovery?

Most patients return to work within two days and to full activity within seven days, with most seeing their final contour within three months.

Do I need to travel to see you for this?

Many patients do travel specifically for this technique, though it's available to local patients as well. If you're traveling for treatment, our team can help you plan your visit around your procedure and follow-up needs.

Ballerina Arms | ICON Anti-Aging & Aesthetics

Q: Will I have visible scars?

We place entry sites in hidden, natural creases whenever possible. These sites shrink dramatically as they heal — down to as little as a two-millimeter dot by the twelve-month mark — and are barely noticeable at that stage.

Ballerina Arms is our signature take on awake arm liposuction — the same customized tumescent technique, oral anti-anxiety medication for comfort, and full liposuction suite used across our body contouring work, refined specifically around the arm's unique anatomy. It's become one of our most requested treatments, and patients travel from across the country specifically for it.

Why Arms Deserve Their Own Approach

The upper arm isn't just a smaller version of the abdomen or thighs — it has its own proportions, its own skin quality considerations, and its own aesthetic goal: long, lean, defined lines rather than simple volume reduction. Treating arms well means understanding this anatomy specifically, not applying a generic body contouring approach to a smaller area.

The Ballerina Arms Process

The process follows the same trusted approach as our broader awake liposuction protocol: a customized tumescent technique for thorough, comfortable numbing, oral anti-anxiety medication on arrival to keep the experience calm and easy, and our full liposuction suite — ultrasound-assisted and power-assisted liposuction, followed by Renuvion skin tightening — to remove fat precisely while supporting the skin's ability to contract smoothly around your new arm contour.

Entry sites are placed discreetly and shrink dramatically as they heal, down to as little as a two-millimeter dot by the twelve-month mark.

Why It's Become a Destination Treatment

The name "Ballerina Arms" reflects the goal: long, elegant, defined arms — not simply smaller ones. Achieving that specific look requires real precision and an eye for arm-specific proportion, which is part of why patients travel from across the country specifically for this technique rather than seeking arm liposuction closer to home.

What to Expect

Consultation. We assess your arm's specific fat distribution and skin quality to confirm candidacy and build your personalized plan.

Procedure day. After your comfort medication and customized tumescent solution take effect, we perform the full liposuction suite through discreetly placed entry sites.

Recovery. Most patients return to work within two days and to full activity within seven days, with a compression garment supporting healing and skin retraction.

Results. Most patients see their final, defined contour within three months, with entry sites continuing to fade for a full year.

Ballerina Arms

Why Arms Deserve Their Own Approach

The Ballerina Arms Process

Why It's Become a Destination Treatment

What to Expect

Frequently Asked Questions