Question:
What to do about flabby upper arms?

6 months post op, -88 pounds, upper arms are so flabby. Been working out and muscles are growing, but everything else just hanging there. Any advice?    — Laura B. (posted on April 24, 2003)

April 24, 2003
Great question! I have the same problem. I am wondering the same thing. I hope surgery is not the answer. I'v had enough of doctors for awhile. Eagerly awaiting a response same as you.
   — susan P.

April 24, 2003
Someone at a support group meeting I went to last week said to religiously use a skin firming cream twice a day. I have used it for 2 weeks now and I have noticed a difference.
   — Shannon H.

April 24, 2003
If you have REAL hanging skin, as in your arm waves twice, have several inches of loose skin that's stretched out with little to no elasticity left, then there isn't going to be much you can do. Your skin WILL bounce back some, how much depends on your skins elasticity. I've been doing the skin firming lotions and what was recommended to me as "the thing" for toning - working out in the pool with water weights. But when you have real hanging skin problems its a choice of either living with it or having that excess skin removed.
   — Shelly S.

April 25, 2003
The extra skin on my upper arms has become my kid's new favorite "toy". They both take great joy in making it waggle. I've threatened to sell advertising space on it! Seriously, I find elbow length sleeves to be a real life saver. I avoided buying them too snug for a while but then figured out that making them snug was sort of like a control panty is on my belly -- it held it in and made it appear firmer. Seriously, mine is not so bad that I want to undergo an arm lift to correct it so I just concentrate on the good things - like seeing my toes peeking out of my sandals, walking by a mirror and not cringing, walking without losing my breath after a few steps. Kind of puts the whole arm wag thing in perspective for me. Best of Luck.
   — Pam S.

April 26, 2003
Pam Stewart, your post cracked me up because I can relate. Only thing is, it's my pannus that is a toy and it isn't children who play. My Chihuahua puppy loves to dig. I think his discovery that he loved to paw at mommy's jiggly tummy came when I was about 4 months post-op (he's 1 month older than my surgery). He loves it more now that it is even jigglier. When we sit in the recliner together he tries to burrough (sp?) his way into me. Pedro is a nutty little canine anyway. In fact as I type this I see that he just ran off with daddy's pj's. :o As for the jiggle of the arms, I am praying for insurance approval on a scheduled brachioplasty and TT on June 30th! I have muscle but then it rapidly drops off to skin, lots of skin. - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -123lbs.
   — Anna L.