Arm lift surgery after 75 pounds lost!

Hey!

I wanted to share a bit of my story and post some pictures from my arm lift surgery I had last week. When I was doing my research for surgery, I didn't find a ton of info, so I wanted to put more out there. I'd also love to serve as a resource to anyone with questions, so please feel free to ask me anything.

Over the past 2+ years, I've lost just over 75 pounds! I've been so happy with my body, except for the skin that sagged from my upper arms. Most of my body has handled the weight loss really well, but I was beyond certain that there was nothing I could do myself to fix my arms.

I had surgery on December 2, 2015. Recovery is going well so far! I'm off my pain meds except for at nighttime. I haven't had any pain, just tightness and swelling.

I'll leave some pictures here, and maybe put more when my scars are healed a little more.

From the back, before surgery @ 132 pounds
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From the side, July before surgery vs December 6 (4 days post-op); both @ 135 pounds
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My arm at 185 pounds vs after surgery at 135 pounds
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Post-op collage (Ignore my silly faces! I'm not photogenic!):
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Replies

  • natajane
    natajane Posts: 295 Member
    Thanks for sharing, you've gotten a really good result so quickly!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    Thank you! I think so, too!
  • Cathscottage
    Cathscottage Posts: 75 Member
    If you are not happy with your arms by all means get something done. I think you and your arms are perfectly fine but it boils down to how you feel in your temple.
  • brb2008
    brb2008 Posts: 406 Member
    I will very likely get the same surgery. My arms are so large there's no way this skin is making it! Do you mind sharing the total cost and your general location?
  • 100df
    100df Posts: 668 Member
    Thank you for sharing! Your arms look amazing and it's only been a few days. They will get better and better! I'm already having terrible issues with skin. Surgery to deal with it is in my future.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    If you are not happy with your arms by all means get something done. I think you and your arms are perfectly fine but it boils down to how you feel in your temple.

    Ummm...she had it done.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    brb2008 wrote: »
    I will very likely get the same surgery. My arms are so large there's no way this skin is making it! Do you mind sharing the total cost and your general location?

    I'm in Dallas, Texas and it was right at $4600. Let me know if you ever have questions about it as you get closer to it :)
  • bakemma
    bakemma Posts: 161 Member
    Thank you for shearing this. I've thought about this before and there isn't must info out there. Thanks for sharing your story and progress.
  • gorgeousgwen
    gorgeousgwen Posts: 5 Member
    You look fab ❤️
  • vixtris
    vixtris Posts: 688 Member
    Nice progress! I hope when you are all healed up you are satisfied and perhaps share your results here. I feel as if I will need to have my arms done, if I can afford it. Like you, everywhere else seems to be tightening up fairly well, but my arms droop :/
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    bakemma wrote: »
    Thank you for shearing this. I've thought about this before and there isn't must info out there. Thanks for sharing your story and progress.

    I know! I couldn't find much, and finally just called a surgeon near me. It was nice to actually talk to him and see what the process was. I highly suggest a consultation if you're interested!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    vixtris wrote: »
    Nice progress! I hope when you are all healed up you are satisfied and perhaps share your results here. I feel as if I will need to have my arms done, if I can afford it. Like you, everywhere else seems to be tightening up fairly well, but my arms droop :/

    I will! I'm taking notes and lots of photos along the way!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    Here's another one from today:

    e3o8kgiz8eir.jpg
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Wow. Thanks for sharing. Not a bad price really.
  • SMKing75
    SMKing75 Posts: 84 Member
    Your arms look amazing! I have lost 90lbs and I would LOVE to get my arms done. But, I still weight 189lbs so I doubt any surgeon will touch me yet.
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    You look great! I would love to have this done. My sister had hers done a couple years ago. When I was making the rounds of plastic surgeons before I had my tummy tuck, I asked one & he said it would be about $7,000, so you got a good price as well. I like how your scars are tucked in rather than the center of the back of your arm. My sister's ended up more visible & she's had perfect strangers ask about them which is so incredibly rude. Still, I'd rather have visible scars than my floppy arms.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Good job. Your arms look beautiful!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    SMKing75 wrote: »
    Your arms look amazing! I have lost 90lbs and I would LOVE to get my arms done. But, I still weight 189lbs so I doubt any surgeon will touch me yet.

    You'd be surprised. But, I would definitely wait until you reach your goal weight before having it done for best results! My surgeon requires his patients to be at a steady weight for at least 3 months before surgery. Thank you, and congrats to you! 90 pounds is incredible!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    RodaRose wrote: »
    Good job. Your arms look beautiful!

    Thank you!!
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    amyk0202 wrote: »
    You look great! I would love to have this done. My sister had hers done a couple years ago. When I was making the rounds of plastic surgeons before I had my tummy tuck, I asked one & he said it would be about $7,000, so you got a good price as well. I like how your scars are tucked in rather than the center of the back of your arm. My sister's ended up more visible & she's had perfect strangers ask about them which is so incredibly rude. Still, I'd rather have visible scars than my floppy arms.

    Thank you! I have a great feeling about my scars. They already look so thin and nice. I don't think they'll be very visible at all in a few months! The scars in my armpits are a little off putting right now, but hopefully they heal nicely, too! I agree... scars are better than the skin. Mine was so repulsive to me :( So happy now!
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,985 Member
    Looks good!

    My only pet peeve with surgery is that they manipulate words to make it sound more appealing. It's really not an "arm lift" but "skin reduction" surgery. Now granted "arm lift" sounds less scary, but still just like a "tummy tuck" and a "face lift", excess skin is just being removed in most cases. Semantics I know, but I guess I'm used to using correct terminology due to many words being deceptive to women when it comes personal improvement.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png
  • 100df
    100df Posts: 668 Member
    There's no "semantics" issue if you read the informed consent form that's required when you have surgery. Along with what the surgeon tells you, the consent form makes it clear what the surgery entails.
  • ald783
    ald783 Posts: 688 Member
    You look great! I had an arm lift and tummy tuck in March and even with the scars, it was a great decision for me also. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!
  • holla18
    holla18 Posts: 60 Member

    It looks very nice

    Do you mind telling me how much this cost and how long the recovery period was?

    I am considering getting my tummy skin removed after I lose another 20-30 pounds ( currently up to 43 lost) in the summer.
  • LisaPrust
    LisaPrust Posts: 93 Member
    Beautifully Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing the pix & info!! Congratulations
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    ald783 wrote: »
    You look great! I had an arm lift and tummy tuck in March and even with the scars, it was a great decision for me also. Good luck with the rest of your recovery!

    Thank you!! Congrats with yours :) My scars look so great even one week out! I can't wait to see how they heal.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,985 Member
    susan100df wrote: »
    There's no "semantics" issue if you read the informed consent form that's required when you have surgery. Along with what the surgeon tells you, the consent form makes it clear what the surgery entails.
    Sorry, but there's very little to do with actually "lifting" since that would entail manipulating attachment points of the tendons. It's excess skin removal that's the process. It's just not marketed that way.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    holla18 wrote: »
    It looks very nice

    Do you mind telling me how much this cost and how long the recovery period was?

    I am considering getting my tummy skin removed after I lose another 20-30 pounds ( currently up to 43 lost) in the summer.

    Thank you :)! Mine was $4600. Today is day 8 post-op and I feel great. My first few days were a blur, lots of pain meds and couldn't do much for myself at all. I was able to take a shower alone after 6 days, which seems awesome to me! I can pretty much do anything now, except exercise which is killing me! I was able to chop veggies last night and I can reach up almost fully extended now. It'll be another week or so before I'm totally back to normal.
  • Cortneyrenee04
    Cortneyrenee04 Posts: 1,117 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    susan100df wrote: »
    There's no "semantics" issue if you read the informed consent form that's required when you have surgery. Along with what the surgeon tells you, the consent form makes it clear what the surgery entails.
    Sorry, but there's very little to do with actually "lifting" since that would entail manipulating attachment points of the tendons. It's excess skin removal that's the process. It's just not marketed that way.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    Let's just call it bilateral brachioplasty, then. :)
  • Val8less
    Val8less Posts: 107 Member
    WAy to go!...You look awesome...and Thanks for sharing!
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