Question:
Everything is shrinking except my arms?

Ok, here's the deal. I'm 3 months post-op and down almost 90 pounds. Everything is getting smaller, except my arms. Not that I'm expecting them to disappear overnight, but I'm noticing a lot of excess skin and it makes finding shirts that fit my arms, look too big on my body. I'm actually physically uncomfortable and self-conscious about it. Did anyone else have this problem and manage to figure out ways to tone them up so that they don't have to buy shirts 3 sizes too big just for their arms? Also, tips for tummy toning would be greatly appreciated also! Thanks!    — [Anonymous] (posted on December 14, 2001)

December 14, 2001
At 3 months I had the biggest bat wings, but now at nearly 5 months they are much smaller. I thin our weight loss is similiar, hopefully the skin shrinkage will occur too.
   — bob-haller

December 14, 2001
Two words: LONG SLEEVES. They cover up a lot of arm-shape sins and tend to be roomier than t-shirts. I've lost a lot of inches in my upper arms (see my measurement charts) but they are still jiggly and don't look great in t-shirts. Hopefully by the time t-shirt weather rolls around, I'll be looking a lot better!! Almost 3 months out and down 73 pounds. :-)
   — Julia M.

December 15, 2001
I am now one year post op and my arms are still a problem, but much, much better than at three months post. My arms were one of the last places to shrink. I think certain parts of your body tend to shrink later than others. I'm still very self consious of my batwings, but have lost a total of six inches in each. Have you actually measured? I know I kept measuring and even when I noticed a loss of inches, it still seemed that I hadn't lost anything there when I looked in the mirror. It takes a while for the brain to catch up. You are still fairly early post-op. Give yourself a chance. It'll eventually get better. BTW, I have been weight training since about a month and a half post-op. I can't say that it makes a difference in making them look smaller, but it does tone the muscle under the fat, so when the fat does finally come off, you will have toned muscles and your arms will look better. Good luck, Maria
   — Maria H.

December 15, 2001
met someone who had rny surgery almost a year ago - her doctor told her to go to a burn unit and donate her "batwings" - the burn unit would gladly accept the extra skin and she would surely be happy to get rid of it...plus the burn unit pays for all of it and handles all the paperwork.
   — Lisa J.