Bye Bye, Batwings: Procedures Reduce Sagging Arm Skin

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- For many women, getting rid of sagging skin under the arm is an ongoing battle.

They're sometimes called "batwings" - and no matter what you do, they are tough to get rid of.

TV 10-55's Katie McGee reports on two non-invasive techniques to tighten up our arms.

Thermage is a technique that uses heat to tighten to skin.

"It's a way of creating deep heating into the deep dermis and into the fat under the skin," said Dr. Everett Lautin, aesthetic physician. "It remodels collagen...it stimulates blood supply. It creates new collagen, new blood vessels."

Dr. Lautin said the increased production of collagen is what tightens the skin. The procedure takes about 45 minutes and requires several passes over the treated area. With each pass, the heat builds. It can be a bit painful, but Dr. Lautin said this is the key.

"The body reacts to injury by remodeling collagen, so you want to create a very controlled injury," he said. "We want t he patient to have significant discomfort, but not significant pain."

A less painful procedure known as EPAT, is a form of acoustic wave therapy.

"It's a very abrupt build up in pressure...[the procedure] stretches the skin, stretches the collagen...and that causes remodeling and tightening."

The EPAT procedure takes a few minutes, but requires an average of six to eight visits to get the desired result. Thermage typically needs one application.

The procedures aren't covered by insurance. Thermage will cost you $3500 for the one-time procedure, and the EPAT will require $300 per treatment.