Still an extreme amount of skin after arm lift and tummy tuck. How can I treat this? (Photo)

Question

Used to be 322 pounds now I’m weighing 170 and just wanted to do a complete skin removal. Had an arm left breast argumentation with implants tummy tuck I’m just really not happy with my arms. I still feel the skin is having an extremely low have definitely reached out to my surgeon have had interaction with him, but he keeps telling me I have to wait in a whole year. I’ve seen some people have a great arm lifts and I guess that’s just my question. I’m 46 black Latino woman had surgery in Miami

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your significant weight loss! It's an incredible achievement, and I understand your desire to address any concerns you have about excess skin.

Every patient's healing process is different, and waiting for a certain amount of time before undergoing additional surgeries like an arm lift is not uncommon. Your surgeon might want to ensure that your body has fully healed from the previous procedures before proceeding with another one.

If you are still dissatisfied after discussing your concerns with your surgeon and waiting the recommended period, you may seek a second opinion from another board-certified plastic surgeon.

I hope this helps,
best of luck !

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Lati77, thank you for your question regarding an extreme amount of skin after your arm lift and tummy tuck and how you can treat these areas.  Thank you for your history and your pictures.  Congratulations on your weight loss.  Amazing accomplishment!  Great job!  Regarding your arms, you will need an arm lift, arm reduction, or brachioplasty revision.  During your revision, you absolutely must have arm liposuction.  Arm liposuction will remove your remaining excess arm fat.  You can have the arm skin removed during that same surgery or even at a later surgery (for the best results).  Also, your arm lift scar needs to be revised.  The new arm lift incision should be made about 1 mm above your current arm lift incision and extend to your elbow.  Using this arm lift technique of arm liposuction and surgical resection of excess arm skin and fat, your waddle of excess arm skin and fat should be permanently eliminated.  There is no need to wait one year after your arm lift surgery.  I suggest waiting at least two or three months from your original arm lift surgery before a second arm surgery is planned.  However, waiting an entire year has no benefit.  Therefore, I vote for revision arm surgery to include arm liposuction.  I hope I have answered your question regarding an extreme amount of skin and fat left over after an arm lift and tummy tuck.  Good luck.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You definitely need a revision of the arm lift to include skin and fat and can be done at anytime.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

Congratulations for the change of your body through losing weight. 
Your arms have developed a relapse of saggy skin because of your tissues being very heavy. To prevent that issue I perform liposuction 360 of the arms to reduce the volume and weight and the braquioplasty associated. 
So you need a thorough liposuction and re-do completely the Braquioplasty and I would make the scar a bit lower, otherwise the arms will be perpetually saggy and thick. 
Be encouraged. 
Dr. Cárdenas

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

Congrats on your weight loss! Generally speaking-it's best to arrive at ideal weight prior to body contouring procedures. Based on your photos it appears that you would would benefit from a revision arm lift to remove the additional excess skin. I suggest that you seek an experienced Board Certified PS

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss! You didn't mention how long it had been since your surgery, but based on the submitted photos it does appear you could have improved results with a revision. I've included a video on plastic surgery after major weight loss that I hope you find helpful.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

I would suggest first considering liposuction to remove the excess fat. Once the fat is removed, then the excess skin can be added. Using radiofrequency treatment like Renuvion at the same time as the liposuction might tighten your skin. You do need to be at least 6 months out from your first surgery.

Nancy de Kleer, MD, FRCSC (Plast) · Answer

Often a year is required before re-operating to allow the soft tissue to heal and the scars to settle.
In your case, I don’t agree that a year is needed to have a second procedure to remove more skin because it is clear what needs to be done - more skin can be removed for an improved shape.  If the tissues are all healing well you could go ahead as early as 6-9 months post op. Ultimately it will be based on your surgeon’s assessment of the situation, so I recommend you keep in touch with them through your follow up visits and book surgery when you can.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Thanks for posted postop photos but need before the surgery photos to see the degree of deformity. Only round 2 brachioplasty can improve results. Did you use a clinic setting over private practice ? Best to virtual consult with…. Expect round 2 to be from $10,000+

Still an extreme amount of skin after arm lift and tummy tuck. How can I treat this? (Photo)

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