Question:
Those that have had their arms done.

I deperately need to have my arms done. I will have to self pay, but they are bad. How long did you miss work, and what were the restrictions after.    — Gail O. (posted on April 20, 2004)

April 20, 2004
i had my arms done 6 weeks ago- the left one feels pretty much normal, the right (i am right handed) is taking a little longer- you will be pretty uncomfortable for the first few weeks, and i was not allowed to lift anything over 5 lbs, but i was back at work after about a week and a half- they are still sore and mildly swollen and really bother me at the end of the day, but every day they are a little better and i think it will be worth it- good luck- open rny 6/2/03 236/125 post tt and brachioplasty
   — Jannie N.

April 20, 2004
I had to self pay, $3,000. It was very easy. I was back to work by myself, home daycare, by the 3rd week.I really could have been on my own the second week but my husband did all the lifting for me. I had to wrap both arms for six weeks and while it was bothersome it was not painful. It was tight but very little pain.
   — Tawnda C.

April 20, 2004
I was a self pay also. I was off work for a week. I wore a compression garment on my arms for a month. I wasn't allowed to lift, pull or push anything that weighed more then 10 pounds for 6 weeks. My surgeons cost was $1800 for liposuction of the upper arms (done in August) and $1800 for the removal of the excess skin (done in June). The surgery center was $1000 and the anesthesia was $800.
   — Patty H.

April 20, 2004
Different surgeons have different protocols. I had my brachioplasty done three years ago. I woke up in the Recovery Room with soft bulky gauze dressings in place, but had no discomfort and even wondered if he had done the rather extensive armlift that had been planned. I had complete range-of-motion of my arms immediately after surgery....just a little ackward with the bulkiness of the dressings. Those dressings were removed three days post-op, and a few Steri-strips remained in place. I never wore any compression garments, and had no lifting or movement restrictions...no drains and no external sutures. I was back to work in a full-time office position in 10 days post-panniculectomy/brachioplasty, and did fine. My incisions, from armpit to elbow, are now just white lines that are not visible unless I raise my arms above my head. The incision lines are still numb to touch, but I never even think about that....it's a small price to pay in order to have all that hanging skin gone forever :-) My insurance paid for my panniculectomy and brachioplasty, but my plastic surgeon's fee for the brachioplasty would have been $3000. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

April 20, 2004
I had my arms done March 1, 2004. I had the incision from elbow to my breasts and had the excess skin removed at my bra line. I was out of work a week, but I basically can work from home. I think it took about three weeks for my incision to close fully. (I had a hole in the left underarm.) I was told no lifting, no pulling, no pushing. I'm now pretty much normal. There are the occasional shooting pain and its still a bit hard to reach over my head, but no complications.
   — Lisa N M.