Question:
Has anyone NOT had batwings after loosing so much weight? What....

were your secrets to success? I will be having surgery on Sept. 11th. I have started my protien drinks now, and already drink about a gallon of water a day, don't drink or smoke, and would love to prevent batwings... So if you have any advice I would love to hear it. AND, I have looked in the library, but have not seen this question.. THANKS SO MUCH!    — Chandra M. (posted on August 27, 2001)

August 26, 2001
Good question, I've wondered the same thing myself. My arms aren't thin by any stretch of the imagination, but they aren't huge or extremely flabby so I'm hoping that with weight loss and exercise, this is one area that will tone up relatively easily. Now, if only I could say that about my belly, and big 'ol butt...
   — Donna L.

August 26, 2001
I guess it depends what you start with. I started at 250 lbs., with a 44.5 BMI, and some pretty big arms. My bat wings are not bad, certainly not bad enough for surgery. Yeah, the kids like to play with them, and when I do pectoral exercises at the gym, my daughter makes bird sounds like I am flying - but really, they're not bad! I work out regularly and have since about 4-5 months out. I don't think the gym has done anything for the bat wings, but it gave me some nice muscle on top of them. You can see my arms pretty well in my after pictures at http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Kate/kate.html
   — kateseidel

August 27, 2001
MY PCP SUGGESTED GETTING A 2 POUND WEIGHT AND EXERCISING MY BACK ARM MUSCLES ANYTIME I THINK ABOUT IT. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A SURGERY DATE, BUT THIS DOES SEEM TO HELP,
   — PETIE B.

August 27, 2001
Age seems to be the biggest factor in determining how much lose skin you will have...and size, of course. In your 20's and 30's, your skin has alot of elasticity and tightens up again after weight loss so that you may not need surgery. Mine did, anyway. When I lost close to 100 pounds at the age of 42, the skin in my arms tightened up again so that there were no bat wings. I looked fine. could even wear a bikini. No such luck at 51. The elasticity seems to be completely gone and I will need cosmetic surgery in all the normal places. Darn. If you are 40 or younger, I would really advise you to exercise...do work with weights to tone up your arms and make them really curvy and sexey. Get a personal trainer to help you if you don't have one yet. Even a personal trainer 3 x a week for a year or however long it takes to get your entire body completely toned and looking movie star gorgeous, is only a fraction of the cost of plastic surgery.
   — Anne G.

August 27, 2001
Genetics. It's in the genes whether or not you will have sagging skin. This is my unscientific, educated guess. My girlfriend and I both started out at the same weight. I exercised with weights 5 times a week at a gym, she did NO exercise. Her skin shrunk up beautifully, mine did not. Mine was still so excessive that I did need reconstructive surgery. Here's her picture: ..... http://www.mywls.com/People/diane_s_story/diane_s_story.html. Good luck to you...
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 28, 2001
I just turned 40 and I had my surgery 3 months ago (Open RNY). Ive lost a total of approx.60 lbs with another 25-30 to go. When I started to gain weight it seemed most of it was in my upper body. So I had big arms to begin with. Well after a 60 pound loss my arms are much smaller, I could probably get away with wearing a tank top, but I do have bat wings not horrible but they are definitely there. I havent worked out in the gym yet, but im sure working with weights will help a little. I wont do the plastic surgery on them. Not worth the horrible scars Ive heard about.
   — [Anonymous]