How bad are the scars for arms?

I am pretty happy with most of my skin considering I lost 105 lbs. My arms are another story. I can't wear short sleeves at all. They really disgust me.

I am wondering how much of a scar is there to remove these bat wings? I have no clue cause I just decided to start thinking about this. Summer is coming and my arms are GROSS!

The answer is going to be slightly different for everyone. 

How are the scars from your WLS?  How did they heal?  Do you smoke?

If your scars from your WLS seem to have faded (regardless of their position) that will give you an indication of how other scars will heal.  If you smoke, your scars will appear darker than those of a non smoker.  Healing/results with plastic surgery will be completely different for a non smoker versus a smoker.

Most plastic surgeons for arms will make their cuts on the underside of the arm; therefore only noticeable when you raise your arms.  Also, do you have excess skin on your sides (where your bra band would hit)?  If so, your surgeon may recommend removing that as well, therefore adding a slight scar down your side.

The interesting thing about all the waivers I signed for my surgery, one of the consents I had to had sign off on was that surgery leaves scars.  I found it funny, in an obvious sort of way.  So at least you know there is going to be a scar, how it heals depends on what I mentioned.

I have scars from childhood that I can still see, but only I can see them because they are too faded to be obvious unless I point them out.  So consider that those types of scars you have too. 

I am checking into ps, who did you have do yours,  I had Dr. Schauer for my surgery, did you have your ps done at Cleve. Clinic? thank you for any info...Pat

You know the funny thing about Dr. Schauer... I had my surgery done in Pittsburgh (I've only been in CLE for almost 7 years).  My surgeon was Dr. Schauer's partner when he was still at UPMC in Pittsburgh.  Dr. Schauer was suppose to be my surgeon, however, because Dr. I had just left the practice to head the bariatric program at U of Minnesota, he did mine before he left - he took over Dr Schauers more difficult cases.  They both worked together in the same practice so I've met Dr. Schauer and really like his approach and was thrilled when the Clinic lured him to CLE.

Dr. Schauer is one of the best WLS surgeons in the country, that's not just my opinion, one of the medical journals ranked him there.

I am almost 6 weeks out from having my arms done.  So far the scars are looking pretty good.  My arms made me the most uncomfortable I hated them and hated wearing 3/4 length sleeves all the time.  At the gym I could feel them flapping when on the elliptical so gross.  You could barely see my scars from RNY so I am hoping these fade away also.  I have pictures on my profile of my arms and other procedures I had.  I am happiest about my arms I love them! 
Toni
PS: password is plastics and you have to be a friend but not all pictures are password/friend protected

 Hi ya,
I think this varies per person. My scars are awful...I am having them totally redone with more skin pulled on June 25. 

What I think happened with me is that I carried most of my obesity in my upper body. When I had the arm lift, my arms were still thicker. I had a TON Of skin to remove but they were still thick. I think the thickness of the arm weighed down on the fresh scars causing them to stretch. You can see this is my album. 

So, I had lipo on my arms to thin them out and get rid of the thickness. Now, on June 25, I am having way more skin pulled off and scars revised. I am very excited and hopeful. My scars did heal light but they are very wide which caused the arms to look bigger. 

This is just my opinion! Everyone is different.
Thanks!

I don't like my scars. There is NOTHING wrong with them and I healed great. I'm just very self concious of them and I have them covered up all the time when I'm at work. At home and on the weekends, I don't care so I wear short sleeves. No one at works knows I had an arm lift so I am purposely keeping them covered. You can see about 3 inches on each side from the back right above my elbow. They are only 3 months out and from what I hear they can take a year or more to fade to my skin color. I hope. Scars heal differently on different parts of our body. Even one incision can have different outcomes from one end to the other. Don't get me wrong, I dont' regret it at all. I just hate having to wear clothes that cover them up and it's hard to find clothes this time of the year that are 3/4 sleeves or that go to the elbow. I'm putting everything I know to help them stay moist and heal nicely plus I massage them religiously. They definitely look much better than the saggy skin I had for sure!

check out my pix. my scars are really nice and I dont mind that they show I wouls take scars anyday to flabby hanging skin. my PS says you have to substitite scars for skin.
none of my scars bothe me as long as they r not on my face
Susan

I agree with the previous posts in saying everyone heals differently. The scarring on my abdomen are not even visible from my RNY 5 years ago, yet the scars on my arms and breasts from BL/BA and Brachioplasty  2 years ago are pretty severe.  In some spots along my arms, the scars are thick, raised, and red BUT that being said I have no regrets.  My "bat wings" were so horrible!   The scars have faded, but I too am self conscience of them.  No one has ever asked me about the scarring, and my family thinks I'm crazy being so self conscience...I think the scars visible on my arms look like I've had bi-lateral elbow surgery...so I'm gonna go with that.

I generally heal well, so my arm scars are nice and thin and white, but I am still a little self-conscious about them because the incision line is higher on one than the other (necessary in order to cut out an existing scar on one arm) and in a couple of places the incision is not prefectly straight.  My mother says that *I* am the only one who notices it, but still.

I will take the scars over the 4 inches of hanging batwings any day, though!!!!!  I used to have pics of my arms (pre-op, around 1 week post-op, and then several months post op) but I knoestly cannot remember if I left them there when I deleted some pics a few months ago or not... but you can go look, LOL!  (Guess I should go look, too, huh...?!?)

Lora