has anyone had very bad results on upper arms after lipo?

I had smart lipo on my upper arms a year ago and it was a waste of time and money. My upper arms look worse than they did before the lipo.. I call myself cottage cheese arms. I really don't know what to do about it.

I had smartlipe on my arms to tighten them up not to reduce in size....since I was another part of my body done. Sent home with ace bandages on my arms for compression garment...not only impossible to rewrap it left lines on my arms. Now one year later lumps, pits and the scar which is aprox one inch long are all visible on the backs of my arms. My arms look like lumps of mashed potatoes. Someone actually asked me if I was in a accident. Now I have paid $1200 for Accent XL treatments and $1500 for Exillis treatments (going for number 3 this week and actually think I see improvement finally) and Fraxel resurfacing. I have spent as much trying to undo the damage the smartlipo did and the smartlipo cost and of course it still looks much worse then it started out looking. If I had large arms I think I would go for the old type of arm surgery with a good plastic surgeon who can leave an incision that is barely visible on my underarm from armpit to elbow knowing with time the scar could become almost invisible rather then risk the lumpy, pitting horrible results you might end up with the so called "smartlipo" on a part of your body that is always visible you already wear long sleeves all the time. SMARTLIPO is last resort for arms.....I am so ashamed of my arms since smartlipo....beachgirl that never wears a bathingsuit or even a sundress anymore :-( I hope the last 2 exllis treatments smooth me down to semi normal...will keep you posted.

Certainly do NOT do lipo it will deflate your arms even more with hanging skin. I HATE my arms too and they are lumpy and sagging after lipo from a 5 star doctor in NYC. My arms (just measured are 12.5") After my research the arms brachio seems the only solution, and Im not doing it. There is also a mini lift for the top 6"which is pulled up, tucked and then drawn under ur armpit. The arms are a sensitive area and the after scars of both surgeries look ropey and are it appears difficult to get a nice thin incision line. The lipo will NOT help but make it worse. Just like a ballon with the contents removed. If skin is your issue this isn't the solution- a full surgical arm lift is. Ive decided to just deal with this and it makes me very upset on a daily basis. I decided to go sleeveless when Im in a place no one knows me to TRY and get over the extreme self loathing. I also went to the beach this weekend and wore a swim suit. It takes so much energy to always hide. I do buy only 3/4 sleeved blouses. My arms are from genetics rather than weight loss. I wish you all the best and believe me I understand your pain and trauma. Let me know your thoughts MZD.

I am a 28year old female and I live in Arizona and I have been considering lipo on my upper arms, I was 215 pounds and I now weigh 179 my arms messure about 13 inches, I have lose skin only on the upper part of my arms and after reading many comments, I am so undecided on what to do, I am very unhappy about my arms and I would hate making them worse by adding more lose skin to them, my weight goal is 140 but these arms make me so miserable does any one have any advice? please help

I think u should do this after the Summer.

Also-- pain scale: 1-10? How long did it last? And how bad was bruising/swelling and how long did that last? What did they look like a few weeks post op?

Crap. Same dr.! He did a breast reduction for me when I was 20 and it changed my life. I'm thinking of doing upper arm lipo-- my arms are heavier than rest of me-- they are currently about 15in diameter--perhaps it came with the big breasts territory? Anyway... Im 32.. He was definitely going on today about doing it sooner than later with regard to skin elasticity. How much did you have taken off(what did your arms measure then v. Now)? I'm a bit freaked out now.... Almost 20 years between our ages... I would hope my elasticity would be a little better? :(. Yup. Proper freaked out now.

Dr Alan Mataraso.

Can you say what dr. It was in NYC?? I'm thinking of going to one who uses manhattan eye ear etc....

I was in my early 50's when I have both arm lipoid. Never saw such a disaster. I was beyond painful for months and had message done weekly. The pain was so bad that the very thought of an arm lift strikes horror in my soul. My arms are now recovered and are wavy and flabby beyond words. There is no skin retraction after a certain age. I am average but heredity gave me big arms. Now I am beyond miserable. Never wearing sleeveless or showing any upper arms. Too humiliating. Plus I went to one of the top PS in NYC@ Manhattan Ear, Nose Throat hospital. Home to the big boy PS's. I am a mess. At least before they were firm. Now they just sag and it is gross. I came on site to see if maybe they're was a miracle for me.

hi everyone!!!! i just had my procedure yesterday. this morning i woke with soaked bandages and a bit of aching in the arms. i switched out my bandages. I would love to shower but am worried it may disrupt something. i go to the gym, but my Doc told me to hold out on arms weights for a week or two, BUT I dont want sagging skin or lumpiness. I think soft massaging is a good idea. I have those rope thingys for strength building I might slowly ease into to.
Thank you all for the comments its like we have a little lipo-fam : )

of course the last comment I read about the lumps and will they go away is the answer i was seeking. but thank you for all the great info -the responses definitely appeased some anxiety. I'm having the surgery on in ten days and worried over and over about two things: the lumps and if it will make a big enough difference? =/ i think i can deal with everything else i've read. i've waited too long to whine about some pain now. any info about lumps and i'd be appreciative. nervous about recovery too - self employed can't afford too much work off although I sit in a desk all day. but my brain abilities is essential for my work! lol can't be dopey. I plan to rest 1.5 days after the surgery. then short 3 hour work day. then back to full time after that. thanks MMM

I guess I need to update how is my situation now, i am on 10 weeks post surgery. The skin tightening that i worried about was actually going better and better, of cause still have a bit of loose skin but it is better than what i expected. My concern for now is the uneven skin on my left arm as I still have some hard lumps, will the hard lumps go away then the skin get smoother?

My arms were quite big before, they were 17.5minches on each side and now down to 14 inches with the compression garment on, they are actually a lot smaller than before. I had some loose skin on my arms and now is even looser, the shape isn't nice when the garment is off. My arms are still sore and swollen so they are still in the healing process. Definiatly I will head back to the gym in a week time. Glad to know that your arms are looking good!! I am hoping for that too.