Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese patients take in their total body make overs. One residue of massive weight loss is the dreaded "bat-wings". You know what I'm talking about - that upper arm skin which hangs like bat wings if you spread your arms wide ready for flight. Wave your hand and the bat-wing waves too. For some after massive weight loss there is so much skin it's difficult to find shirts with sleeves that fit, and worse, it's embarrassing to wear sleeveless shirts.
What to do?
Exercise:
The first line of defense is to do weight or strength training during the phase of rapid weight loss. Many patients report satisfactory skin shrinkage of the upper arms when they've incorporated light exercise during weight loss. Bicep curls and tricep pulldowns are the best exercises for firming upper arms. Arm training takes minimal equipment (2 light dumbbells 3-5 lbs each) and limited space. It should be noted, the younger the patient and the fewer times they've seen significant weight change, the better chance they have of toning and shaping their arms with exercise. Now, that doesn't let older patients off the hook for doing exercise - it just gives a bit more encouragement for younger people who undergo weight loss surgery.
Liposuction:
The next, but not very plausible option is liposuction. Lipo is only appropriate when there is a lot of fat and the skin is tight. The lipo sucks out the fat and allows the skin to shrink. This isn't plausible for most WLS patients because they've already lost the fat leaving an empty balloon of upper arm skin.
Brachioplasty:
The last resort is the $5,000 arm lift called brachioplasty Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that eliminates excess skin from the upper arm.
Incisions and Scars in Arm Lift
Scars are the greatest drawback of this operation. They will extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. This operation exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars). In general, those with very loose saggy skin are most likely to find this exchange worthwhile. Those with a small amount of looseness will probably not want the scars.
Kaye Bailey © 2005 - All Rights Reserved
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
Spring is here and swimsuit weather is just around the... Read More
How to burn fat fast is a question that burns... Read More
Mistake 1: Not changing your calorie plan as you lose... Read More
"I am going to start a diet tomorrow". How many... Read More
"I'd love to lose weight, but I don't have the... Read More
If you are about to begin a diet, the number... Read More
On the market at any given time, there are hundreds... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
According to a recent survey by the National Health Institute,... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More
There are many subscriber programs available both online and in... Read More
Recently, I read an article from Japanese magazine that by... Read More
Dieters are often told ? drink water. Drink a minimum... Read More
There is no such thing as spot reducing. Any fat... Read More
If you have a protruding abdomen, loose skin as a... Read More
A startling fact is that carbohydrates are not responsible for... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
What are the best fad diets? It's a question I'm... Read More
I have put off writing a motivation article because of... Read More
Here are 4 diet tips we all need reminded of... Read More
Temporary weight loss is easy!You simply starve yourself on the... Read More
1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as... Read More
A new survey has found that heel pain caused by... Read More
We have such good weight loss intentions. We emotionally beat... Read More
If you've been pursuing a lighter, healthier version of yourself,... Read More
A typical breakfast consists of 3 or 4 strips of... Read More
Over the last twenty five years the most common questioned... Read More
Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
The rediscovery of the wealth of the wonder drug Hoodia... Read More
So you've decided that you're going to do it.You're sick... Read More
Experts say obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest health... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
In the battle to look good, there's a cosmetic treatment... Read More
Here are 4 diet tips we all need reminded of... Read More
Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
Diet drop out, a significant problem for all types of... Read More
Foods that are high in fiber and protein are the... Read More
The revolution is here. Weight Loss as we know it... Read More
All of our behavior results from the thoughts that preceded... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
Losing weight is a lifelong commitment. It takes patience and... Read More
I received a telephone call from a lady last week.... Read More
Plan to eat two to three hours and pack health... Read More
Low Carb diets have become as popular as apple pie... Read More
Adherence to diet for one year, not the specific diet... Read More
Here are a few free tips on losing weight that... Read More
It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet -... Read More
I believe that water not only helps with weight loss,... Read More
Cellulite is not a medical condition or an aesthetic mutiny... Read More
Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More
Getting Started on The Clean DietIf you want to lose... Read More
Two basic approaches to losing weight; one approach is correct... Read More
Put simply, your resting metabolic rate is the minimum number... Read More
This Article was originally Published in The July 2004 Issue... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
Many people want to lose a few of those annoying... Read More
Natural therapies uphold the importance of minerals, vitamins and herbs... Read More
The chemistry sounds very straightforward. Human body fat is a... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
Before you even think of taking diet pills to lose... Read More
Why We Start Diets on MondayThe biggest problem with any... Read More
Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass... Read More
Over the last twenty five years the most common questioned... Read More
As I was saying in my past articles, others have... Read More
Weight Loss |