After Massive Weight Loss My Arms Need Help, am I an Arm Lift Candidate? (photo)

asked 3 months ago by 108200anon in UK
Latest answer by Vaishali Doolabh, MD
Question viewed 254 times
Tags: stretch marks, after weight loss, candidate, massive weight loss

Hi, my skin was damaged after gaining and loosing about 140lb 10 years. I have stretch marks down my upper arms and the skin is loose, causing it to ripple when I flex my arms. Please let me know if you think an arm lift would help improve the appearnace of my upper arms, specifically: would it remove the loose skin present and any of the stretch marks? Thanks.

6 answers to After Massive Weight Loss My Arms Need Help, am I an Arm Lift Candidate? (photo)

Arm lifting helps you look as thin as your weight loss has made you

Your photographs sugest that you have extra loose skin as happens with the deflation effect of large weight loss. Removing the sagging skin will help unveil nicely toned, underlying muscles that may otherwise go unnoticed. Sometimes tightening stretch marks make them less noticeable-unfortunately there are no other good longterm solutions for stretch marks. Good luck!

Vaishali Doolabh, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Arm Lift Benefits After Massive Weight Loss

The skin changes you describe and show in your photo are common after large shifts in body weight. The skin's elastic fibers are stretched beyond their capacity and break like an uncoiled spring. This results in stretch marks and skin that wil not spring back after volume removal. An arm lift is the only procedure that eliminates the "bat wing" pattern of skin. With well designed incisions the scars can be placed along the back side of the arm, the... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Armlift is the procedure of choice for loose arm skin

Your skin looks unusually good considering that your weight has changed 140lb. What I see in your pictures is skin that looks very thin and 'empty' when you pull on it, however it is difficult to see what it would look like without you pulling on it except in pic #3 where you actually look really good. Thus, consider what would look better on your. The existing skin or a line scar running the length of your arm. If I was to go by picture #3 alone, I would advise... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

After massive weight loss, am I a good arm lift or brachioplasty candidate?

Congratulations on your weight loss!! Yes, I think you would be an excellent candidate for an armlift or "brachioplasty". Based on the history and photos you provided, I would suggest a "longitudinal brachioplasty". This surgery removes upper arm skin and fat. Typically, one line is drawn from the armpit to the elbow and another line is drawn at the six o'clock position of the upper arm. These 2 lines are joined at the armpit and the... more

J. Timothy Katzen, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Candidacy

From your photos you do appear to be a good candidate for a brachioplasty or arm lift. You actually have less excess skin than I would predict with a weight loss of your magnitude. You should be aware, however, that the scars from this surgery can be problematic. Discuss the procedure with a BC plastic surgeon.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Arm Lifting Candidate?

Thank you for the question and pictures. You should be very proud of your significant weight loss; unfortunately, patients who have lost this much weight tend to have “loose skin” that is a constant reminder of where they have been. I think you may be an excellent candidate for arm lifting surgery. Arm lifting is an great procedure to improve the contour of the arms and remove redundant skin and adipose tissue; the downside is a relatively... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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