$15,000 uust to lose my batwings?

AND I can't raise my arms for 5 weeks? How do you function without raising your arms?? From abcnews.com... New Cosmetic Surgery Firms Flabby Arms April 4, 2006 -- Tricia Heiser, 34, lost more than 80 pounds two years ago. Although she worked out with a personal trainer daily and slimmed down from a size 1X blouse to a medium, her flabby arms remained a source of embarrassment. "I want to wear strapless dresses and spaghetti straps and bathing suits and feel comfortable," she said. "I think I like the winter season better because I can wear long sleeves and cover it up. But when summer comes around, you usually don't have a choice." Heiser's problem is not uncommon. No matter how hard they work out, thousands of American women suffer from drooping arms, particularly in their 40s and 50s, when skin loses its elasticity. Not so long ago, the only surgery available to remedy sagging arms left an unseemly scar on a woman's arm. Thanks to new technology, that's no longer the case. Cosmetic surgeons say they're seeing a dramatic increase in the number of requests for arm lifts, the procedure designed to relieve drooping arms. Between 1997 and 2005, the number of arm lifts performed in the United States increased by 533 percent. Lawrence Reed has performed these state-of-the-art arm lifts. He operated on Heiser. After creating a small incision in both of a patient's arms, Reed first removes all fat from the arms through liposuction. In Heiser's case, he removed nearly a pound of fat from each arm. He then pulls the excess skin up toward the shoulder and closes the wound deep inside the armpit so that it's virtually invisible after it heals. The surgery usually takes 90 minutes and costs anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000. The patient cannot raise her arms for at least five weeks after the surgery. Reed said after Heiser's surgery: "She could definitely wear short sleeves, very short sleeves in just a week or so." Six months to eight months after the surgery, Reed said he expected Heiser's arms to become even firmer and more youthful in appearance. Unlike years past, Heiser said she's looking forward to wearing summer clothes this year. "I always go to the beach for a week each summer, so that will be more exciting. I'll enjoy my beach pictures more I think this year than any other year ... with my new arms."

I think it would be cheaper just to develop a complete lack of shame. I wore sleaveless and spaghetti straps at 350 lbs and I plan on doing it now, batwings and all. lol You don't have to wory about this anyway. I've seen your profile, you have great arms!

Thank you, Christine! Nah, they're floppy, but the hell with it. If it's hot enough, I'll go no-sleeve." It seems that whatever little shame I had pre-op is now gone. I'd much rather have my legs lifted. Most of my weight was from the hips down, and everything puddled around my knees. And boobies! I'd rather have THEM back. Poor, sad little Thelma and Louise! Bette

Just so you know Bette is this funny in person too. She just never stops. And just for the record, Bette looks great and its hard to believe that anything is flabby under her clothes. She is such a tiny little thing. Bette, you need them to update your picture next to your profile. Bree

"Tiny little thing"? ME?? That's the first time I've heard those three words refrring to me. Have you been licking hallucinogenic toads again? Seriously, though, thank you for the flattery. Bette PS: newer pics are still in the camera.

Hey there Bette, I agree with Christine, the hell with that, I would rather have the flab. Thats too much money for me to ever come up with. I would love to have the perfect body, but there really is no such thing. I am grateful I have lost what I have and feel great. That to me is just to excessive. You look absolutely fantastic by the way, and you have been my hero since I started on this board. Thanks for always being there with your straight to the point insight. I appreciate it alot. Take care and thanks for the information. Hugs KimC

Hey Bette! I agree as well. Just trying to fill in my "Batwings" with as much muscle as I can. If they don't like what they see they can just turn away. Besides, when they see me in my "Speedo" at the beach their eyes will be too full of tears of laughter to see my arms anyway! Take Care, Julio

Hey Julio! Love your new "hunky" photo! Towanda

Well on June 14th, I am going to have my batwings removed as they are "keeping me grounded" My arms hurt when I try to raise them and it is so unsightly. I am paying less than 4,000, and I will have the scar, but it can be diminished with scar revision at a later date. I looked into several other options, and some of them depends on how much your batwings flap(if you know what I mean). It is so sad that insurance does not cover the reconstructive end of this surgery, we should start to lobby for that! Thanks BlkNectar

I don't fault anyone who wants the surgery, don't get me wrong. But FIFTEEN grand just for arms is staggering! It makes 4 seem like a bargain. Bette Who wishes there was a little icon I could use - something like a little, foul-mouthed broad. Mad + jump + dance + haha, maybe?