X Post - Suitability of Brachioplasty/lipo for Large Arms

Hi everyone. As I get close to goal, I've been hanging out here as I begin to think about plastic surgery.  I have not yet consulted with a surgeon,  am just looking for your experience and general thoughts about whether an arm lift with lipo would be suitable for so done like me.  Even when I've been thin and very fit (with lots of strengthening work) I've had very fat arms - top and bottom portions.  Bat wings are worse now that I'm getting close to goal, but I've really lost very little arm fat. 

I know that at best, arm lifts can have less than optimal results, so with my added problems, I don't know that I would even be a good candidate. It's always bothered me a great deal, so would love to hear from those of you who know something about this.

Linda

Hi!

A good plastic surgeon would be the best bet for determining if you are  good candidate for this surgery, after an in-person exam.  From your description, though, it certainly sounds like you would be.

I had the arm lift done, with lipo, almost three months ago.   If I can be totally honest with it - my arms still hurt!  They feel like they are bruised and tender to the touch - but they have a great shape now :)   I think it is the lipo that made them so tender.  My scars are still very red,and because I had an opening twice on my right armpit (as recently as a few weeks ago) - and a small one in my left armpit - my armpits have big red scars.     However.... despite all of this, I am SO GLAD I had it done.  The tradeoff of the pain and scar for having that excess skin removed was worth it.  Completely!  Plus, I know things will look so much better in a year...

That is the thing with arm lifts...  more than most other surgeries - you are going to be left with a pretty serious scar in a fairly "public" place.  At least until it lightens up.  Some people are unhappy with the scar, not realizing ahead of time how prominent it is going to be.   It's important to talk to your surgeon about scar placement, because surgeons have different ideas about what is ideal.  My scar is only visible if I lift my arms up like I'm being arrested - and hopefully that won't be happening anytime soon.  LOL!   They cannot be seen from behind.  Some scars on some patients can be seen from behind, even with their arms at their sides, but they are less visible from the front even with their arms raised.

I've heard and read many people say that the arm lift was their easiest plastic surgery, so don't let my experience scare you.   I tend to be a medical weirdo.  Plus I had a skin yeast infection in my pits, and the wounds re-opening, etc.  So my recovery wasn't the greatest.  Compare that to my extended anchor tummy tuck four weeks ago, and I barely had any pain from that at all after I got home from the hospital.  So...see, I'm not normal.  ;)   

Good luck with your decision!   If your arms really bother you, it can be a life-changing surgery... so long as you would prefer a scar to the arm flap.    I was so used to covering up my arms due to the fat and skin that I figured if my scars were terrible and I had to keep covering them up due to that, it wasn't a big deal - plus it would be easier to get clothes to fit!  WIth that idea in mind, the idea of getting an arm lift seemed like the obvious choice for me.

i had arm lift at 4/11/13.

What a pain, i could not even imagine that arm lift is very painful.

truly, i cannot say as of now i am very happy, I did it,

i also have opening in my both armpits, very painful and slow healing, no infection.

But I am very much in pain whole day, sorry do not want to scare you, but be ready this surgery is very uncomfortable, you will have very limited motion with you arms and recovery will take minimum 6 weeks.

i wished I knew it before, maybe I did not do it.

but we are all different, I wish you speedy and complications free recovery.

I did used very skilled board certified surgeon, I had Tt, breast lift, but my arms surgery is worst one.

Alla

I had an arm lift and TT done at the same time. I found the arm lift to be a much easier surgery than the TT. My arms were somewhat tender and sore but nothing very painful about them. I say go for it. My arms are shaped so nicely now I don't even care much about the scars. In time they will fade and I will be one happy girl with no bat wings......they made me feel and look like I was still fat and I wasn't....with all that extra skin jiggling around. I love my arm lift!!! I had it done March 26th and I'm still healing to some degree.

Good luck,

Kathy