Today, Dr. Ekstrom and I find ourselves in beautiful South Dakota with a few hundred of our closest Hamster friends. Does the word “Sturgis” ring a bell? For motorcycle enthusiasts, it certainly should! The legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held annually since 1938, draws nearly half a million riders, fans, and curious onlookers to the Black Hills each August. It is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world, originally started by a group of Indian Motorcycle riders and the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club.

For almost forty years, I’ve attended this event—most years riding one of my bikes from the Bay Area to Spearfish, South Dakota, with a group of Hamsters in our iconic yellow shirts. Our trips are legendary: hotels booked six months in advance, chase cars hauling luggage, and scenic routes that skip freeways in favor of winding paths through our country’s most majestic National Parks. No two years are exactly the same, but the camaraderie, laughter, and shared love for motorcycles remain constant.

If you have not heard of Hamsters USA, we are a brotherhood of custom motorcyclists, membership by invitation only, many of whom are successful professionals and business leaders, united by our shared passion for custom motorcycles, riding and giving back. Despite the quirky name, the Hamsters are deeply committed to philanthropy, especially when it comes to helping children.

Tonight marks the highlight of Hamster week: the annual dinner at the Holiday Inn in Spearfish. It’s more than just a gathering—it’s a tradition rooted in generosity. During this dinner, the Hamsters hold a spirited auction, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for LifeScape (formerly Children’s Care) in Rapid City to support children with disabilities in western South Dakota. In 2024, Hamsters USA raised $371,700, pushing their cumulative total over $5 million in 19 years.

This year is especially meaningful for me. Many of you may remember the story of my iconic yellow chopper. It has been a treasured part of my riding history—but tonight, it will be auctioned off, with 100% of the proceeds going to benefit South Dakota’s children. It’s a bittersweet moment, but one that encapsulates what the Hamsters are all about: passion, fellowship, and paying it forward.

So here’s to the open road, old friends, and making a difference—one ride at a time.

With Arlen Ness, the builder of my Ness chopper (and my matching muscle car in the background) in 2000! Both are adorned by little Hamsters as part of the paint scheme.

With Arlen on a more formal occasion, in my garage, with a few of my other bikes.

Dr. Ekstrom and I at the Hamster dinner last year with our South Dakota Hamster friends, Scott and Susan Peterson, Scott Lister and Mike Bayne.

Let’s continue this week’s article with a quiz:
Who is the best candidate for brachioplasty?
A. Someone with toned arms who wants more definition
B. Someone with excess skin on the upper arms
C. A bodybuilder seeking larger biceps
D. Anyone with arm pain
E. Patients under 25 only

✔ Correct answer: B Someone with excess skin on the upper arms

With nearly 40 years of experience in plastic surgery, I’ve helped many patients concerned about the appearance of flabby upper arms—what we often call the “bat wing” deformity. This condition, typically caused by aging, weight loss, or a genetic tendency toward loose skin, can be frustrating and impossible to improve with exercise alone.

Brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery, is a highly effective solution for patients struggling with significant upper arm laxity. Ideal candidates are individuals who are in good health, at a stable weight, and have excess skin and soft tissue along the upper arms. It is important that candidates do not smoke, as smoking can impair healing and increase complication risks. Brachioplasty is not ideal for patients who are significantly overweight or have poor skin elasticity without enough redundant tissue to remove.

The standard procedure involves an incision along the inner upper arm—from the armpit to just above the elbow—to remove excess skin and fat, then tightening the remaining tissue for a firmer, more youthful contour. In cases with fatty excess as well, a liposuction can be combined with the brachioplasty.

For patients whose primary concern is fat excess without significant skin excess, liposuction alone may achieve a satisfying result. When mild to moderate skin laxity exists, combining liposuction with Renuvion (J-Plasma)—a technology that tightens skin with radiofrequency energy and helium plasma—can yield impressive results with minimal scarring.

Healing from a brachioplasty typically takes 1 to 2 months for light activities, with full recovery in 4 to 6 months and a year for the scars to fade! Compression garments are worn postoperatively to support healing. One tradeoff to consider is scarring: while scars usually fade over time, they can be noticeable, especially in sleeveless clothing. We do everything possible to place incisions in less visible areas and offer scar treatments during recovery.
Historically, brachioplasty has evolved dramatically—from aggressive skin resections with large scars to today’s more refined techniques offering smoother contours and improved patient satisfaction. Long-term results are typically excellent, especially when patients maintain a stable weight and stay active.

If flabby arms are keeping you from wearing what you love or feeling confident, brachioplasty may be the solution you’ve been seeking.

This female in her early 50’s lost about 150 pounds after gastric sleeve surgery. She had a mastopexy, abdominoplasty, brachioplasty with Dr. Ekstrom’s trademark J-incision below the axilla to address the skin spilling out above her bra. (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom of Orange County Plastic Surgery in beautiful Corona Del Mar.)

Female in her 40’s with inner arm laxity and minor adiposity but not significant enough to warrant a brachioplasty. She is shown here before and after a liposuction procedure by Dr. Ekstrom with Renuvion skin tightening – Renuvion, also know as J-Plasma, is a minimally invasive skin tightening procedure that uses a combination of helium plasma and radiofrequency energy to stimulate collagen production and contract the skin from beneath the surface. (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom of Orange County Plastic Surgery in beautiful Corona Del Mar.)

Interested in improving your arms?

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