As a marathon runner today, Julie never imagined her first step.
In this new mile of her life, she looks back at where she’s been and how her recent arm lift sets the course for what comes next.
How it started
“In 2015, I was leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. He was an alcoholic. I was overweight and extremely stressed. I knew I needed to deal with the stress in healthy ways,” Julie says.
She started running.
“I couldn’t even run a mile at first,” she recalls. “I started running between telephone poles, and I soon could comfortably run three miles. Then it became a 5K, and I kept going. After that, it was a 10K, a half marathon, and a whole marathon in 2016.”
Julie lost about 60 pounds in six months when she started running and eating a healthy diet.
“After losing so much weight, I had all this loose arm skin, which is also a family trait,” she says. “The chafing and discomfort really hurt, and it would take a week to heal – only to start back up again with every new run. Despite my accomplishments, I could only focus on these bat wings.”
“From the moment I walked in the door, I instantly felt comfortable,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel overwhelmed or embarrassed that I was in a plastic surgery office. No one is there to judge anyone, and it’s so warm and welcoming there.”
“I hated my arms, and it was almost embarrassing to take photos. But I knew this skin wasn’t my fault,” says Julie. “The Plastic + Hand team listened to my concerns and made me feel confident I was in the right place, and I signed up for surgery that day.”
Incredible results
Before surgery, Julie’s arms were about 19 inches around at the widest part.
Five weeks after her arm lift, they were 14 inches around, already down five inches per arm.
“After surgery, I was shocked to see my arm definition,” says Julie. “I was so overpowered by all this extra skin and fat that I had. It was such an awesome aha moment to know it was just skin preventing me from seeing all my hard work.”
She is also excited about summer.
“I’ve always dreaded wearing tank tops,” Julie says. “For the first time in my life, I can’t wait.”
The road ahead
If Julie saw herself today in 2015, she would do a double take.
“It would be unbelievable because of the life I had,” she says. “I wasn’t who I am now.”
Julie has a map in her office. It has pins in all the states she has run a race.
“I want to run a marathon in all 50 states,” she says. “Traveling around the country may take a long time, but I want to see what this body can do.”
“I want to run a marathon in all 50 states,” she says. “Traveling around the country may take a long time, but I want to see what this body can do.”
-Julie
Are you thinking about an arm lift?
“My advice to anyone considering an arm lift is to find a way to do it,” says Julie. “You’ll know the right time to do this for yourself.”
Our Plastic + Hand team has the most qualified arm lift surgeons in Maine. If you’re thinking about an arm lift (brachioplasty) to remove excess skin and correct sagging of the upper arms (especially after weight loss), rely on the leaders of plastic surgery in Portland, Maine.
It’s time to discover the results you’ll love. The first step begins here. Call us at 207-775-3446 or submit this request form to schedule your consultation with our Patient Care Coordinator today.
