Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Loose skin on arms



Recommended Posts

Hey all! I just got my date for surgery yesterday. I will be going to the loser bench on 2/8/16. When they called me with my date I was thinking "it is really happening!!" Now I know it is crazy but my thoughts keep going to my arms. I have always had large arms. I am wondering how many people have plastics on arms?

I already have a saggy belly and I am really not worried about that area having loose skin because spanks will help with that. I am.so.worried about my arms.

Also, I am curious if there is any relationship between stretch marks prior to surgery and how much loose skin you have after?

Thanks in advance!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have always had large arms, but after I gained tons of weight they just got huge.

I have to remind all docs/nurses to use the largest blood pressure cuff or they'll get a false high reading. That being said, I have lost almost 4 inches off of each upper arm. There is definitely hanging skin/fat still, but I'm also developing my muscles and I am pretty sure I can wait a few years after hitting goal to assess how bad they really look. And I usually don't wear anything sleeveless so it won't be the end of the world if I just keep wearing cap/short sleeves to camouflage the wobbly upper arms.

I've still got a ways to go, but I feel SO MUCH BETTER and the arm thing doesn't bother me nearly as much now as when I started. I think we all tend to obsess over the little things that we are just sure will be awful in the early days - saggy cheeks, wrinkly belly, batwings - but this is such an involved process and your whole world is changing so much, that in my case, I'm no longer really that worried. I'll deal with it if it gets bad enough to bother me, but so far, I'm thrilled overall and I know it may still get better even years down the road.

I think that my upper arms and the wrinkly part of my neck are the two places I mind the most, but we'll see once I hit goal how much they really bother me. I've seen the surgery required for reducing upper arms, and I am not sure I'd want to go to that extreme but it really is going to be a waiting game to see how I feel in the end.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

New Day Ahead - I think loose skin is a worry for everyone. Look at it this way, your arms will be a lot smaller after you lose the weight. You can do exercises to tone the underlying muscle, but a lot is going to depend on your age, amount of weight you need to lose, genes, etc. Once you lose weight you will feel better, move more, do more, etc......a little loose skin isn't going to keep you down. From reading the boards, plastic surgeons usually require you to be at your goal weight for at least a year before they will consider doing plastic surgery. I'm not at goal, but if my loose skin bothers me I will likely look into a plastic surgery consult. :)

Best of luck to you on your journey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My arms are the area of most concern for me. I'm a bit over one year out from surgery and lost 160lbs. My arms are small now, but saggy and if I have any plastics, my arms will be where I have it first. My surgeon said to wait until 18months out of surgery before I make a final decision. I want to wear sleeveless tops and will feel better if I have the arms fixed, so summer surgery here I come!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My arms are horrible! It's the one thing I want plastics on! I have lost 100 lbs and they are "smaller" but still big. ????

attachicon.gif ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1451450136.366854.jpg

And you are probably the only person who notices!

You look great!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've already transitioned to the regular-sized blood pressure cuff.

Some extra skin on my arms is well worth getting my life back.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My arms are horrible! It's the one thing I want plastics on! I have lost 100 lbs and they are "smaller" but still big. ????

attachicon.gif ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1451450136.366854.jpg

And you are probably the only person who notices!

You look great!

Thanks! I notice the most probably because I could probably fit into a Large shirt except for the arms and have to get Xl or Xxl

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think you are right, a little loose skin will be worth getting my life back. I think the only time it will really both me is in the summer and being in tanks etc. I already have wings so it probably won't be too bad.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My arms are already holding me back from wearing smaller sizes, like everything fits but my arms are still too big. I will probably have plastics on them at some point, but I have a little hope for them.

I have noticed this month they are tightening up a little. I purposely slowed my weight loss down a little because I was dropping too quickly and getting super flabby really fast, now that my skin has caught up, I am going to speed my weight loss up again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×