POSTED UNDER Arm Lift REVIEWS
55 Yrs Old, 77 Lb Weight Loss, Fleur De Lis TT and Arm Lift - College Station, TX
ORIGINAL POST
I don't know if I would do these surgeries at the...
WORTH IT$4,300
I don't know if I would do these surgeries at the same time again! I am 7 days PO and honestly having more pain and issues with arm lift than extensive anchor TT. My PS had me in ace bandages on both arms to my finger tips. The wrap job was pretty bad on the hands and I couldn't even hold a cup or anything in order to eat. I took off the bottom ace wraps about 18 hrs PO so I could eat/drink and did not put them back on so that on day 3 when I went for my first follow up my right arm became very swollen including my hands and fingers. My PS was upset with me for taking off the wrAps and bound me back up (at least this time with a way to use my hands) and ordered that I keep my right arm elevated and wrapped for 72 hours. I did this and the swelling has gone down. My. Ingest problem is with the ace bandages. It's hard to get them wrapped back up either not too loose or too right and as my arm swells through the day my incision feels like IRS on fire (even though I am using Vaseline thickly and 4x4 pads. I eventually can't take it and have to in wrap my arms for a while and let them "breathe". I was told I had to wear the bandages until my next appointment on the 15th which is 15 days PO and it's getting so difficult to keep them wrapped because it feels like the ace bandages Re eating my arms up! On my own I ordered a compression garment made by marena and it should be here today or tomorrow. Hopefully that will help me get through until the 15th! I think I begin my Embrace scar therapy at that time. Later, perhaps tomorrow, I will show a close up do the incision which looks pretty bad. I guess that's normal at this stage of the game.
Finallyflatin2014's provider
Replies (21)
July 12, 2014
I'm 57yrs old and had my arm lift on May 1st. - 10weeks PO. My left arm was larger so the PS took a little more there. It's healed much better/faster than my right arm (I'm right handed, don't know if that has anything to do with it or not). I have some fairly significant nerve issues lower arm between wrist and elbow - resting arm on a table feels like a huge wad of something under my skin but I'm starting to feel the little tingling so I think they are coming back. I ordered a compression garment the PS suggested starting one week after surgery and I still wear it when I get home into comfy clothes and to bed at night. Overall I lost approx. 2lbs from each arm and from 17.5 to around 12 in my measuring. My incisions look great, still some redness below the armpit and I still have some indents just above the elbow, some discomfort still when sleeping especially if I end up sleeping on my right side. I didn't have the surgery to go sleeveless, I'd lost 65lbs from a 22W to a 16 Misses/L-XL top and wanted to be able to buy the size I fit in everywhere but the dang arms...It's an amazing and emotional time shopping when I no longer have to check out the sleeves of a top or jacket before I try it on. Good luck with your healing...It was the best $ I ever spent.
July 12, 2014
Thanks for sharing your experience. My arms are still tender and swollen, the incision looks better though! I also have those indentions. There is no problem at all in my lower arms, the tightness and pain only in the upper arm. My arms are not the same either, but my PS told me before my surgery when he was marking them that they were not. I had hoped they would be after surgery though! My right arm has a rounded pouch at the top, just in front of arm pit. My PS thinks it's too soon to know what the final outcome of that is...so we will see. I know what you mean. It's not so much about going sleeveless for me either. I had massive skin hanging after losing weight and it wasn't even hidden in 3/4 sleeves. It's not possible to hide that much loose skin. And like you, my clothes didn't fit because of my arms (and for me also massive loose skin on abdomen) I had to wear frumpy looking stuff that was boxy and loose just to accommodate those areas.
July 12, 2014
Oh, and congrats to you on your weight loss and making positive changes to your body image. We are never too old are we?
July 14, 2014
Hi. Thank you for sharing your story. I am a 16 days post loss and I too have a really weird sensation in my right low arm between wrist and elbow. Do you still have the sensation?
July 14, 2014
Thank you for sharing your story. It's very similar to mine. I too am having nerve issues on my right arm between my wrist and elbow. I am 16 days post loss. I am getting a bit freaked out : (. I hope the nerves wake up soon. Today my right armpit incision is open and really pink. I want to know how long it will take to close completely
July 14, 2014
Hi Rosie, yes I still have that sensation, is very irritating and sometimes hurts if I leave my arm on table for too long. He told me that it will take quite some time for it the nerves to repair themselves, some may never come back which is very normal for the type of surgery we had. I only had one problem with the armpit area, had a build-up of fat create a big lump that had to be opened/drained for a few days, (maybe 3 weeks ago) other than that that area healed very well.
July 14, 2014
I thought about it for a long time, being 57 and decided I had a lot of life to look forward to and I didn't want to be restricted in my clothing choices! I had a nice chat with my PS today at my 10 week apt and he was happy with the progress. I don't think we can expect perfection with this type of procedure...I just need to remind myself that I knew going into this he told me it could be 9-12 months for mother nature to work her magic...I can deal with a little pain and swelling...
July 25, 2014
And we are too darn young to wear frumpy clothes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So proud of you FFin2014 and also same to you, lovetoshop!! Time and healing...oh how my mother would have loved that surgery. She had to wear long sleeves ALL THE TIME. :-( It was rough. Mine aren't too bad, and problems with my face worse, so I'm going to deal with THAT before the arms...lol
July 12, 2014
Your arms look wonderful!!! I hope you are feeling less pain and discomfort, very soon all that will be a distant memory.
July 15, 2014
How's the pain today? I hope you are doing better. I can't imagine going through both procedures at the same time. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
July 15, 2014
It's getting better and the incision looks better. Icing them seems to help.
July 17, 2014
I am having this done in August - thanks for your info! I don't have much time to take off work. Do you work? If so, how long did you take off --?? Any advice?
July 17, 2014
I thought I could go back in 2 weeks, dumb me I never did ask the PS what he recommended. After my 2 week post appointment I still had too much swelling and needing to keep my arms elevated. My PS released me after 4 weeks to go back 1/2 days for a week then full-time. I am very happy I was able to take that time off...
July 23, 2014
No, I'm retired but I could not hVe gone back at 2 weeks I can tell you. Maybe half days at 3 weeks. I still have pain, swelling, abdominal spasms, burning pain in arms. This is much harder than I expected!
July 25, 2014
I'm not back at work as a PT after 3 weeks and wouldn't consider it. So TIRED. I don't want to do anything that could negatively affect the results, it's such a HUGE surgery. And my BB is not healed so that is somewhat of a worry...we shall see. xo
July 20, 2014
How did your post-op go on the 15th? Are you able to take ace bandages off for good?
Maybe you can use polysporin on arms and use maxi pads with tape,that's all i used,not even a compression garment. I know doctor's are different,but those bandages can cause more harm than good if it is cutting off the circulation. just a thought.
Wish you well.
July 23, 2014
He said I didn't have to wear the ace bandages and that eve thing looks fine. I still have a lot of burning nerve pain. I'm hAving more abdominal pain now, spasms? And my belly button looks awful. It's very red and tender. I'm going hours day, day after tomorrow for stitches out and hopefully to start scar therapy. I'll be 24 days post op and wow, I thought I'd be much farther along in my healing. I hope I don't have an infection but my belly button looks bizarre. It's triangular and has a big bulge of skin. Also I have bulges at the top of my vertical incision of my fleur de lis. It's been like that and I thought it would get better but in fact is WORSE! I'll post pics his weekend. I'll see what PS says Thursday.
July 23, 2014
wow that sounds painful. I am glad you see ps Thurs. What you are describing does not sound normal. I pray it isn't an infection. Do you think you have nerve damage? I think it could just be numbness.
I will check out your pics on the weekend.
Hang in there. I hope everything works out for the better. ;)
July 25, 2014
Hi finallyflatin 2014-- You sound like you've made a LOT of progress...but each surgery is different and it is impossible to predict. That stinks about abdominal spasms...perhaps he'll give you flexeril, which my doc did from day one for 10 days. I haven't had any spasms. Your arms really are a big deal and I am hoping you are now wearing elastic sleeves that compress without having to wrap and re-wrap the Ace bandages. Occupational therapists do lymphatic massages (PTs do, too.) Perhaps your PS will recommend that? The swelling is the killer. Hope this helps a wee bit. Carry on, each day is a little bit better. xox
UPDATED FROM Finallyflatin2014
1 month post
1 month post op
Scar therapy started on arms! I've lost 7 lbs since my procedures but it looks like 30 lbs! My belly is shrunken!!! I'm happy, happy, happy and finally I can say it was all worth it (it took 30 days!)
Replies (14)
July 31, 2014
Congrats on your weight loss and I'm so happy for you. Thank you for showing your arm progress! It looks like you are healing well. ((Hugs))
July 31, 2014
im so happy for you. you look AMAAAAZING! and believe it or not its going to get even better. dont worry to much about the arm pain. i still have pain along my incisions on my arms and its been a year as of May. i think it just takes a really long time for all those nerves to settle down.
August 1, 2014
Glad to hear your tt is going so well. Is everything healing well with that? It sounds like arms take a long while but yours look really good! Thanks for sharing! Not many ppl have had your type of tt. So happy for you.
August 1, 2014
WOW!! 7lbs? Your arms are healing nicely. :0) I am glad you are HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!!
30 days is great,i'm still waiting til December to see major transformation on my arms.
It's been 6 weeks and they have plateaued. No major difference in my eyes.
August 1, 2014
Hello there I am 55 years of age as well. I am having an arm lift on 11/18/2014. Thanks for posting I am having a breast reduction on 11/8/2014. There aren't as many postings on arm lifts which is why I I am posting my surgeries in each category. Thanks for sharing. I don't think I am 55 and I see so many doing surgeries in their 30's and 40's and I feel like I should have done this sooner. :0 I am in good health but it's nice to see others of like age. Thanks for your post!
Replies (12)