when to consider brachio???
Hello everyone. I am a little over 3 months post op from a VSG and have lost approx 60 lbs so far. I want to lose another 90 lbs to get to my ultimate goal.
My question is this-Do I have to wait until I get to goal to get brachioplasty done? I knew from the beginning that I would eventually have to have my arms done - they are horrible. They are getting less fat as I lose weight, but more and more floppy -yuck!!!!
It's like someone else said in another post, I am fitting into smaller tops but the arms are too tight or don't fit at all.
Is there a drawback to having it done now before I have lost all the weight? Will the surgery results not be as good?
Thank you all in advance for any feedback/info!
My question is this-Do I have to wait until I get to goal to get brachioplasty done? I knew from the beginning that I would eventually have to have my arms done - they are horrible. They are getting less fat as I lose weight, but more and more floppy -yuck!!!!
It's like someone else said in another post, I am fitting into smaller tops but the arms are too tight or don't fit at all.
Is there a drawback to having it done now before I have lost all the weight? Will the surgery results not be as good?
Thank you all in advance for any feedback/info!
MY RNY 5-5-09 
Life is Good
I think the surgery will be easier and less expensive if you wait. Unless they are getting in your way of losing weight, you might what to stick with longer sleeve shirts (I know it isnt easy, I live in Texas too!). I think waiting until 12-18 months out from your WLS is most people's minium. I waited 18 months for my LBL.
And I have to say, until you get to goal you really dont know what things are going to look like. My arms look alot better at goal. There was a phase when they were the thing I hated most.
And I have to say, until you get to goal you really dont know what things are going to look like. My arms look alot better at goal. There was a phase when they were the thing I hated most.
Missy
The closer you are to your goal the better for brachioplasty. If there is little remaining excess fat of the arms or if your are near your goal but your arms are nearly or completely "deflated" (devoid of excess fat) then you're ready to proceed. If you have some excess fat but are still near your goal, then you can have some mild to moderate lipo of the arms and then the brachio at the same time....
...I say mild to moderate b/c I will not do "circumferential lipo" at the same time as a brachioplasty b/c I want to avoid damaging (even temoprarily) too much of the lymphpatic system to minimize longterm swelling.
It also depends on how you carry your weight. If you don't carry a lot in your arms and are a bit away from your goal, then you might be a candidate for that sooner rather than later.
Hope this helps!
W. John Suber, MD
Foothills Plastic Surgery, LLC
Greenville, SC
...I say mild to moderate b/c I will not do "circumferential lipo" at the same time as a brachioplasty b/c I want to avoid damaging (even temoprarily) too much of the lymphpatic system to minimize longterm swelling.
It also depends on how you carry your weight. If you don't carry a lot in your arms and are a bit away from your goal, then you might be a candidate for that sooner rather than later.
Hope this helps!
W. John Suber, MD
Foothills Plastic Surgery, LLC
Greenville, SC
Thank you everyone for your responses! It helped to put things in perspective and be realistic. I know in my head that I need to just wait and see how things go, it just gets so frustrating shopping for clothes.
Misseye-actually the heat doesn't bother me too much, I am usually cold whenever I am inside anywhere and will wear long sleeves or bring a light jacket to be comfortable. I don't mind wearing long sleeves at all. The problem I have been having lately is that when I try on large or xl tops-the sleeves are cut smaller than the larger sizes so they don't fit comfortably or at all. It really stinks because the top will fit everywhere else but the upper sleeves. I had to buy a couple of tops last week for events I had to go to and had a difficult time and ended up frustrated with the whole process.
I will wait and see how things settle with my arms since I don't want to end up having a revision or less than acceptable outcome. I want my arms to end up looking super!
Thank you again everyone for all of the insight!!
Misseye-actually the heat doesn't bother me too much, I am usually cold whenever I am inside anywhere and will wear long sleeves or bring a light jacket to be comfortable. I don't mind wearing long sleeves at all. The problem I have been having lately is that when I try on large or xl tops-the sleeves are cut smaller than the larger sizes so they don't fit comfortably or at all. It really stinks because the top will fit everywhere else but the upper sleeves. I had to buy a couple of tops last week for events I had to go to and had a difficult time and ended up frustrated with the whole process.
I will wait and see how things settle with my arms since I don't want to end up having a revision or less than acceptable outcome. I want my arms to end up looking super!
Thank you again everyone for all of the insight!!
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