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

I can see that brachioplasty is in my future , mismatched arms



Recommended Posts

The truth is I am only 6 weeks out on Monday but from the start of my process and now the sleeve I have already lost 65 lbs. I am an older lady and I can already tell that my arms are gonna look like crap on a cracker. Since these are harder to hide in the summer in Texas the arms will probably be the first things I attend to down the road. One odd thing I have noticed about myself and I noticed it before surgery is that my left arm is heavier and fatter than my right arm, to me its an obvious difference. I have a couple questions I would like to ask from some of the Plastics veterans.

1. Do I need to wait until I have reached all of my goals to have brachioplasty?

2. Since I only plan on doing this procedure, what can I expect to pay for just this surgery?

3. Do any of you know any surgeons local to San Antonio or Austin that have great feedback on this type of thing.

Any suggestion and info is always appreciated.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1. Do I need to wait until I have reached all of my goals to have brachioplasty?

Technically no, but if you aren't within 15% of goal when you have plastics done you're wasting your money. The goal is to be able to cut off all the extra skin and to suck out a little extra fat, but when you're not at goal yet, the fat can't quite get sucked out as much and the skin you're cutting off will ultimately just end up saggy again when you lose weight. I had a brachioplasty and loved the results, but I waited until I was close to goal for all of my procedures because otherwise it's mostly pointless.

2. Since I only plan on doing this procedure, what can I expect to pay for just this surgery?

I paid $8K.

3. Do any of you know any surgeons local to San Antonio or Austin that have great feedback on this type of thing.

Nope, but shop around. I really liked my plastic surgeon and while initially I only wanted new boobs, I ended up with all kinds of stuff done because he was very good and he was very nice. When you're ready for plastics, it will be a very fun time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I haven't had plastics. But I had one consultation with a top plastics MD in my area who does many plastic surgeries on both bariatric and non-bariatric patients.

He said he will operate on bariatric patients ONLY AFTER they have maintained stably their weight loss. He said the body continues to change after weight loss, and he wants all those changes to be over before he cuts anything.

Certainly, some people have plastics before that. I've also heard of some plastic surgeons who require an 18-month period of stable weight maintenance before surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The recommendation is to maintain your weight for about 12 months prior to any skin removal surgery to allow the chance for your skin to bounce back on its own as much as possible.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Haven't had my arms done...maybe next year. I just had a TT 2 months ago and not thrilled with the results but of course it's a little better. BUT, I had a boob lift done 3 years ago and my boobs were totally mismatched!!! They removed 150 grams of tissue from one, and 9 from the other to get them to match! So it happens....who knows why. I did have a consultation for the arm surgery and it was only 4500 Euros (about $5000 USD) here in the Netherlands. But like the others said, you need to wait. Good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm scheduled to have my brachioplasty next Thursday 4/21 along with a breast lift and removing the side fat where my bra strap lays.

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

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 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

    ×