New surgery to combat arm flab

[TexasStooge]

By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA ABC 8

Getting buff arms seems so easy for the guys.

But for the girls, exercise and diet often doesn't affect the flab.

"I think I like the winter season better because I can wear long sleeves and cover it up," said Tricia Heiser, an arm lift patient.

Heiser, 34, disguised her large arms beneath long sleeves as did Helene Levin.

"Like I said, whenever I'd move it, they'd jiggle," said Levin.

After dropping some pounds, they both vowed to lose their bat wings too.

"I wanted arms like an athletic, young female really," added Levin.

They're not alone.

Six years ago, 338 people got arm lifts in the United States, according to statistics. Last year, nearly 12,000 were done.

Not long ago, the only surgery to remedy the sagging left an unseemly scar down the arm.

Now, there a new way to get shapely arms, without the seam of a scar.

Surgeons create a small incision in the armpit - liposuction the upper arm - then pull the excess skin towards the underarm.

"Sometimes you're taking 2 or 3 inches of skin off and you're just hiding it in the armpit crease. That's an inner arm tuck. An invisible arm lift," said Dr. Rod Rohrich, a U.T. Southwestern plastic surgeon.

Dr. Rod Rohrich says patients can see a 50 - 70 percent decrease in their arm's size with the invisible arm lift.

Before and after photos show the difference.

Even in super close-up, the scar is barely visible.

"I want to wear strapless dresses and spaghetti straps and bathing suits and feel comfortable," Heiser said.

For the first time in years, she is looking forward to summer.

And Levin is putting the cover-ups away, taking out short sleeves and enjoying a different sort of arm lift.

For more information on the invisible armlift, contact the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center on 214 648-8495 or click on The Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/w ... 49d79.html

[Janice]

I want it.....

[HurricaneGirl]

Try doing some reverse push ups. Sit down with your legs out straight out in front of you, then lift yourself up and down. It really works those tricep muscles in the back of your arms.

[Janice]

Thanks, I will definately try it.

[HurricaneGirl]

Good old fashioned push ups work too.