Personal Pity Party

I feel your pain, although my scars are flat and fading I'm not happy with the size of my arms. Both arms are still jiggly and are alot larger at the elbow than the top. I voiced this to my surgeon and he said to "start lifting weights" which is not the answer I wanted to hear. I'm just 4 weeks out so my arms are still swollen but I can already tell I'm not going to be happy the way the turned out. I haven't used any oils or creams on my scars they seem to be fading nicely without it.

WOW - he told you lift weights already?  Did he say why he thought this would help with the swelling??

Glad your scars are fading already.....

He did say lift weights and also said to hold my stomach muscles in until I felt them burn, I was complaining that he didn't take enough skin off of my arms and stomach and this is what he said. I'm beginning to think I chose the wrong surgeon.

I'm scared to lift weights this soon, I'm just a month post op. I did mop my kitchen and laundry room today and my arms aren't even sore. I'm happy with my scars but still wanted more skin removed.

The first time I vacuumed after my arms were done I didn't feel it when doing it but the next morning I did!

I tend to err on the side of being cautious...I don't want to split a seam...
I'm exactly 6 weeks out and am not lifting anything too heavy. I'm going to start my upper body work out with weights again next week but will start with low weights.

I know what you mean about feeling you chose the wrong surgeon.  There are some GREAT things about the one I had do my arms but I should have listened to my gut.  Actually I believe he is a VERY VERY good surgeon but he's just too conservative for me.  My gut told me so and I should have listened.  Lesson learned!

Best wishes to you
Ruth

I haven't went back to the gym yet but I did sweep and mop Friday, watered my flowers, swept the pool, feed the horses, washed and folded clothes, loaded the dishwasher and I wasn't sore Saturday but I thought I would be. I will probably go back to the  gym in 2 weeks that way I'll be 6 weeks out by then.

My gut told me the same thing but he was closer to me (60 miles one way) than the Dr that I really wanted to use. My friend Daphnee had also used him for her panniculectomy and he removed 50 lbs from her so I trusted that he would remove all he could from me too. The surgeon that I really liked wouldn't do a LBL on me so that was one of the reasons I didn't use her too.I saw 3 different surgeons before I decided.

I actually told him not to be conservative that I couldn't afford to have a revision so take all he could the first time and he told me he would. I will take new pictures of my arms and show you but I need a new battery in my camera and keep forgetting to buy one.
Debi

Ruth ,
I know alot on here will disagree, BUT THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY ,ok, go to makemeheal and get the cpmpression made just for the arms...  wear it if it isnt to late and massage those arms every night (the scar with vitamin e lotion,,,Buy the one from Walmart or whereever that is the cheap SUAVE lotion that has vitamin E( MAKE SURE IT HAS VIT E ),,,,,USE It and the compression arms that you wear until the scar is flat.   MASSAGE MASSAGE MASSAGE 
My surgeon ALWAYS makes us wear compression for weeks ,months ...If you think about it , it makes since..  After surgery the skin has to bind back to muscle etc and if isnt held in place and made to lie flat , IT WONT ..
MY TT scars , thigh lift scars. the incision is as flat as can be..
AGAIN my opinion only and i am going for arms in Dec and they send you home with am arm compression garment which i will wear as long as it takes..
I also know activity and use of them before your supposed to will make for a bad healing as well and be sure to take 1000 VIT C everyday and do lots of protein during your healing process along with major water ..
Hope it works out ok for you
Hugs
shirl

Funny mention "make me heal" I was there yesterday looking at the compression garment for the arm.  I wrapped myself in the ace bandages again this morning mainly so the silicone gel strips will stay on.  I used them on my boobs and am thrilled with how flat the boob incisions are but I can't get them to stay on my arms.  We use our arms so much that they keep rubbing off and don't adhere to where the elbow bends...yadda yadda yadda.

I'm going to invent something that we can where on the arms that will help everyone who has the brachioplasty and revisions in the future. 

I just hope it is not too late for me and that what I start doing now will cause the incision to lie flat.

Thanks!
Ruth