Questions before my Arm Lift

Goodmorning everyone.

I have booked my arm lift for November 20th and had a few questions I was hoping someone could answer.  1.  How long did it take before you were able to sleep in a bed...do I need a lazyboy chair, or will the bed be ok?  2.  Were the incisions painful? (thinking of when you are actually able to lie down, can you lie on your side with your arm curled under you?  3.  Anyone have an arm lift over age 60?  If so, how did you find it looked after you were healed?  

I am 65 now and sometimes I think "what the heck are you doing...do you really need this arm lift?"  To be honest my arms are what have bothered me the most with all my weight loss.  I had a tummy tuck and breast lift last year and I thought afterwards maybe I should have forgone the breast lift and had my arms done instead.  That's me though, always second guessing decisions...big fault of mine.

Anyway, any tips or hints that you can send my way as to what to expect with the arm lift and how I can make it a better recovery would be greatly appreciated.

Have a nice day.

Take care...Linda

Linda:
  First, congrats on your weightloss!  I had my vsg from Dr. Alvarez in Mexico 5 yr ago this Dec. when I was 59 1/2 yr old.  It never even occurred to me during the weightloss how the hanging skin was going to affect me (mentally) AFTER I reached my goal.  I had never personally known of anyone who had any kind of plastic surgery so I had never given it a thought.  Till I realized how MUCH I hated my hanging arm skin each day when I lifted my arms to do my hair.  So my arms were the FIRST thing I had done.  Just realize you're exchanging SKIN for scars but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.  Most surgeons place the incisions where they're not going to be that noticeable unless you raise and stretch your arms.  In normal everyday life, no big deal - and my scars go below my elbow. 
As far as your questions?  I slept in a "single" bed from night one on my back with a pillow on each side of me to keep my arms elevated.  re: pain - - -When Dr. Alvarez send pain meds home with me he instructed me/us to take them according to instructions whether I felt I needed them or not, to "keep up - keep on the pain" which I did.  I have done that with all my surgeries.  The arms were one of my lowest pain surgeries.  You should have most/ALL everyday used articles, (kitchen and bath) on counters because you won't be able to lift for some time.  I think on about day 3-5 I started doing one of the exercises my sister did when she had a breast removed because of cancer.  My husband put a strip of masking tape on the wall with feet/inches on it and each time I walked past that area I'd stop and raise my arm up it trying to increase my reach each time.   Your next ??? .... I don't think you'll feel like lying on your side w/your arm curled so I'm going to say NO. 
My next surgery was breast lift (no implants because of cancer in the family) but I'm soooo happy with the lift; love my arms.  I always had big globs of FAT on my inner knees.  Had them removed.
Love love love looking at my shadow in the sliding glass door every morning.  I've had inner/outer thigh lift and 9/18 had a tummy tuck, butt lift and outer thigh revision (I had some bad thunder thighs).    I've spent lots of money (insurance did NOT cover anything) but I'm going to enjoy the rest of my life as a "normal" person.  Be it one day five years or 30 years. Any other questions, I'd be glad to help.  Barb (central Illinois)

Thanks Barb for all the great info.  I was 61 when I had my VSG.  I sure wish I had done it years ago, but way back when it was a scarey proposition.  Today there are so many advancements and I have not regretted any of it.  My upper thighs are a mess, quite ugly actually, but I think I can live with them as they are.  Capris and longer shorts cover them up perfectly.  I am not one to be in a bathing suit too often, and when I am, it is just family and close friends who see me so they understand.  My arms are my own personal problem.  Like you, I hated seeing them.  I am going to be so glad to have them done next month.  I would rather people stare at scars on my underarm than have them stare at that hanging skin, believe me.  I will be proud to show my scars...it's my story and I am proud of what I have done to make me healthier.  I too am self pay...it sure ain't cheap...but thankfully I had a home I could borrow on so that worked out fine for me.  I was leary to spend so much money on myself, didn't feel I was worth it...but my family were so supportive and told me to go for it, I was worth every penny, and if it made me feel better that's all that mattered. Hence the tummy tuck and breast lift last year.  That went tremendously well, I couldn't have asked for better. Now it's onto the next adventure.  You mentioned I wouldn't be able to lift for some time.  How long until you can resume your normal activities.  I was just thinking that I live in snow country...and I shovel...oh boy...wonder when I will be able to do that...not to mention reach up to clean off a car of snow???  Thanks again for all your comments, I appreciate you taking the time to write.  If I have any further questions, I will let you know.
Take care...Linda

re: how long till you can shovel snow, clean the snow off your car:  I did not keep a diary of any of my surgeries so this is "our" (my husband and me) memory/suggestion:  Everyone heals differently BUT you don't want to pop a stitch shoveling and lifting.  I've read for most p.s. at least 6 weeks before going back to the gym and I'd say shoveling snow qualifies as that.  As far as cleaning off your car, again think "are the stitches pretty well healed yet?"  Gentle, gentle, gentle. and of course it depends on how much snow you're brushing off the car.  If you're alone and this is a big concern, I'd say check with your doctor.
 

Hi Linda,
I had my arms done and a breast lift at the same time.

I slept in a bed from the first night ....mostly sitting up the first night (I had a drain under each arm .. And they were tucked into my bandages, so I didn't try to lay or roll toward my side.

I don't remember the pain being too bad. I do remember that there were days when my arms felt very heavy.

I bought some of those flexible reusable ice packs and I would mold them on the incisions and use an ace bandage to hold them in place for about 30 minutes each evening.

I wore long sleeved cozy undershirts (got them at Ross) under my clothes for a few weeks. I didn't buy any special compression garments.

I was 52 when I had it done. Then had my tummy tuck 7 months ago at age 53.

Hi
I was 57 when I had my arms done, slept in bed first night home, I had ALOT
Of PS n the arms was the easiest with thighs being the worst
Good luck to u
Susan
You r never told to make yourself feel good

Hi.  I had my arms done 3 years ago when I was 57.  My incision goes from about an inch below by elbow up my arm and down my side about 6 inches - now all you see is a thin white line.  I pretty much stayed in bed the first few days with my arms up on pillows.  I needed help the first 24 hours because I went home with ace bandages wrapped around my arms - including my elbows.  After 24 hours (per the doctor's instruction) my sister cut the bandages off.  I've had about everything lifted and for me (everyone is different) this was the hardest recovery.  I went back to work 2 and 1/2 weeks after the surgery.  My arms would swell by the end of the day for several months and for the first three months while the nerves were healing I would get these sharp little pains that only lasted a second.  Would I do it over again - in a heartbeat.