Arm Lifts Popularity Grow; More Women Undergoing Plastic Surgery To Get Michelle Obama’s Arms

Ever since she set foot in the White House, America's first lady Michelle Obama has amazed more than one with her flawless fashion (that sky-rocketed designer Jason Wu's career after inauguration in 2009), her poise, her grace and most recently her bangs. But she's always made headlines for her amazingly toned arms (no, really, have you seen them?).

That's why we're not surprised that when the American Society of Plastic Surgery released its latest cosmetic and reconstructive surgery statistics, 15,457 patients, 98% of them women, spent a total of $61 million to have liposuction on their arms or "brachioplasty", a surgery that involves making an incision from the armpit to the elbow, usually along the back of the arm to remove excess skin and fat.

The number of procedures went up 4,378% since 2000, when only about 300 women opted for it.

Doctors do not really point a single reason for the increase, but indicated that women "are paying closer attention to the arms of female celebrities" such as Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore, Kelly Ripa, and, of course, Michelle Obama, wining the prize for "most admired arms".

Plastic surgeons emphasized that diet and exercise should be a part of a woman's plan to tone her triceps, but that for many, getting the look they want proves impossible by those methods alone.

But don't be alarmed, although, yes, many women opted for this procedure because it's the easy way, many did it because they were the subject of dramatic weight-loss cases, leaving them with sagging skin that can't be tightened with push-ups or dumbbells.

"People who are true candidates for the operation have so much extra skin that it's almost a disability", Doctor David Reath, recognized plastic surgeon and chairman of the public education committee for the society, said. "Carrying around that burden can put a dent in someone's new, healthy lifestyle" he added.

If you're just a little overweight and looking at surgery as an easy way to tone, you're probably out of luck, said Dr. Paul Carniol, clinical professor at New Jersey Medical School and a plastic surgeon in private practice in Summit, N.J. to Daily News.

"If it's someone 20 to 30 pounds overweight who wants the surgery, I actually discourage them," Carniol said. "This operation leaves a visible scar, and most people can tighten up their arms with diet and exercise."

So let's follow Michelle Obama's full example, and get those incredible arms the way she does: exercising. After all, we still have some time before summer!