{"id":18103,"date":"2021-01-25T21:55:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T05:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=18103"},"modified":"2024-01-18T14:40:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-18T22:40:50","slug":"arm-lift-gave-me-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/arm-lift-gave-me-confidence","title":{"rendered":"My Arm Lift Made Me More Confident in Who I Am"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p><em>Our annual<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/most-worth-it?utm_source=RSNews&amp;utm_medium=RealSelf&amp;utm_campaign=RSNews_Articles\"><em>Most Worth It list<\/em><\/a><em> recognizes the most-loved aesthetic procedures&mdash;from noninvasive tweaks to the gold standard in surgery&mdash;as chosen by RealSelf community members like you. This story highlights one or more of the 44 Most Worth It honorees for 2022; you can see the full list and learn more about patients&rsquo; favorite procedures<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/most-worth-it?utm_source=RSNews&amp;utm_medium=RealSelf&amp;utm_campaign=RSNews_Articles\"><em>here<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p><p><em>Chelsea is a 28-year-old woman living in Phoenix who, after significant weight loss, underwent brachioplasty (aka an arm lift) two years ago, in combination with a tummy tuck, and says it gave her newfound confidence. This is her story, as told to Gabby Shacknai, edited for length and clarity.<\/em><\/p><center><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CCM3Kh0BP7b\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CCM3Kh0BP7b\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CCM3Kh0BP7b\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A post shared by Chelsea Hebting | Health Coach (@chelseab.fitness)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><div id=\"doctorCTA_shortcode\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><div style=\"color: rgba(0,0,0,.5);margin-bottom:10px;\"><small>Interested in arm lift?<\/small><\/div><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/drsearch?keyword=arm+lift\" style=\"padding: 15px;margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 1.75rem;width: 300px;max-width: 100%;\">Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div><p>Just over two years ago, when I was 26, I was finishing what had been a four-and-a-half-year weight-loss and fitness journey. At my heaviest, I was 224 pounds, and even before losing weight, my biggest concern was, <em>What if I have all this <\/em><em>loose skin<\/em><em>? What am I going to do about it?<\/em> Sure enough, after losing more than 100 pounds, I really didn&rsquo;t know what to do with all my extra skin. I was a hairstylist at the time, and it was hard to shampoo a client with excess skin kind of hanging in their face. I was confident in who I was, but it was still an insecurity.<\/p><p>I had actually met [Gilbert, Arizona&ndash;based] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/dr\/josh-olson-gilbert-az\">Dr. Josh Olson<\/a>, my plastic surgeon, at an open house a few years earlier, at the beginning of my weight-loss journey. At that time, I didn&rsquo;t have plastic surgery on my mind, but after following Dr. Olson and different plastic surgeons for years, I realized that I needed to have [the excess sagging skin] taken care of. Before I even hit my 100-pound mark, I was sure about what I would need to do after.&nbsp;<\/p><p><em>Related:<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/news\/thinking-about-arm-liposuction\"><em>Thinking About Arm Liposuction? You Might Need This Procedure Too<\/em><\/a><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"my-arm-lift-surgery\"><strong>My <\/strong><strong>arm lift surgery<\/strong><\/h2><p>I knew my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/surgical\/arm-lift\">arm lift<\/a> surgery was going to be extensive. I was really tired of holding on to all that extra arm skin and wanted to get rid of it, to see all the muscle I&rsquo;d built. I had a lot of loose skin in my bra line, so some surgeons would have done a complete back lift, but because I had been doing heavy lifting with weights and working as a hairstylist, I didn&rsquo;t have any loose skin across my back. The only way to get rid of the bra-area fat deposits would be to extend the upper arm lift a lot further down, which is exactly what we did. Most people&rsquo;s [incisions] go to the armpit, but mine were elbow to underarm and down the side.<\/p><p>I had extra skin on my stomach too, so I knew that I wanted to have both an arm lift and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/surgical\/tummy-tuck\">tummy tuck<\/a> done, and, during my initial consultation, I talked to Dr. Olson about whether I should do the surgical procedures separately or at the same time. I have a very high pain tolerance, and I felt okay doing both at the same time, to get them out of the way, as did Dr. Olson.<\/p><center><blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B2QiIjQBHgP\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"13\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B2QiIjQBHgP\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewbox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\"> View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B2QiIjQBHgP\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A post shared by Chelsea Hebting | Health Coach (@chelseab.fitness)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/center><div class=\"newsletter-signup\" id=\"newsletterForm\">\n    <h2 class=\"newsletter-signup__heading\" id=\"unlock-a-world-of-modern-beauty\">Unlock a world of modern beauty<\/h2>\n    <p class=\"newsletter-signup__text\">Stay up-to-date on trending news, popular procedures, and exclusive content.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"newsletter-signup__wrapper\">\n        <input class=\"newsletter-signup__input\" type=\"email\" id=\"newsletterEmail\" placeholder=\"Enter your email\">\n        <button class=\"newsletter-signup__button button\" onclick=\"submitEmail()\">SUBSCRIBE<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"newsletter-signup__small\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By subscribing, you accept our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/real_self_privacy_policy.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Privacy Policy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/terms-of-service\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Terms of Service<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and agree to receive marketing emails.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n    <div id=\"newsletter-message\" class=\"newsletter-signup__message\"><\/div>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-my-arm-lift-recovery-and-results\"><strong>My arm lift recovery and results<\/strong><\/h2><p>My healing process could have been a little bit easier if I&rsquo;d done the tummy tuck and arm lift procedures separately, since I couldn&rsquo;t really move my arms or use my core, but I didn&rsquo;t really have a hard time at all. Four days after surgery, I was out and about, looking at houses with my parents. Nine days later, I was driving. I took pain medication for about a day and a half, but after that, I decided to go a more natural route and used essential oils and vitamin supplements. Overall, I didn&rsquo;t feel like the pain was that bad. I did take the full four weeks off from hairstyling and strenuous activities so my sutures wouldn&rsquo;t open, but the whole last week, I was antsy to get back to work.&nbsp;<\/p><p>I&rsquo;ve been extremely happy. I have zero regrets, and I&rsquo;m super thankful for my results every day. Everybody feels differently, but I think my scars [came out] great, and most people don&rsquo;t notice them. The placement of the arm lift scar is underneath the arm, where a shirt seam would be, so that was helpful too. A little over a year ago, I went to Disneyland and took a picture with my niece where we had our hands in the air&mdash;and even though it was only about a year out from my surgery, I looked at my arms and realized I could hardly even see the scar. I actually circled it and put it on my Instagram, and people said they would never know it was there unless I said something. I still make sure that I put a ton of sunscreen on my scars, because they&rsquo;re only two years old and I don&rsquo;t want them to burn, especially living in Arizona. But living in this climate and being in a swimsuit all summer, I definitely felt way more confident after the surgery.<\/p><p>Through losing weight, I really found a love of weightlifting, and the surgery just made it so much easier to lift weights and not have the extra skin on my arms. I ended up getting my personal-training certification and started a small health-coaching program, so I do a little bit of health coaching on the side, and my arm lift definitely played a role in being able to do that. You know, the scale doesn&rsquo;t tell the whole story, and pictures and measurements are key, so with that skin out of the way, it&rsquo;s nice to actually be able to see the progress I make in the gym as I build muscle. Having these skin removal cosmetic surgeries has allowed me to be more confident in who I am, especially in my profession, as I do help other people.<\/p><div id=\"doctorCTA_shortcode\" style=\"text-align:center;\"><div style=\"color: rgba(0,0,0,.5);margin-bottom:10px;\"><small>Interested in arm lift?<\/small><\/div><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realself.com\/drsearch?keyword=arm+lift\" style=\"padding: 15px;margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 1.75rem;width: 300px;max-width: 100%;\">Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div><p>I&rsquo;ve been super open from the very beginning of my journey. After I lost all my weight, I did a complete photo shoot, in leggings and a sports bra, showing all the loose skin. Years ago, there was this big stigma around plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, but I was so confident in my decision and knew I was doing it for myself, and I really didn&rsquo;t care what people thought. I think being transparent about it can help others and open their eyes if they&rsquo;re having the same issues and concerns. It&rsquo;s not vain to want to remove excess skin so that you can fully enjoy life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chelsea underwent an arm lift two years ago, in combination with a tummy tuck, and says it gave her newfound confidence. Learn about her story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134,"featured_media":27204,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9072],"tags":[18470,15138,18450],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.0 (Yoast SEO v23.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>My Arm Lift Experience and Results | RealSelf News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chelsea underwent an arm lift two years ago, in combination with a tummy tuck, and says it gave her newfound confidence. 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