Brachiolasty and Augmentation with a lift done last Friday

Hi everyone,
Last Friday I had my surgery.  Everything seems to have gone well.  My chest doesn't really hurt much at all but the arms is another story.  Every time I ask my doctor a question I dont seem to get an answer from him.  I ask how long I have to keep them bandaged He replies we'll wait and see.  I ask how long I have to keep the surgery bra on 2 weeks or 3 and he replies stop reading things and I'll let you know.  Well excuse me I just paid you $14,000 how about you tell me the answers to my questions.  Unreal      So my main question is anyone who has had the brachioplasty done...How long till the tightness starts to fade away?  I'm getting the stitches out next Friday and if it wasn't for these ace bandages on my arms I actually could deal with everything else.  The bandages bother me the most.  Except for showering he said they should be on at all times.  Anything I can do or is there anything else I could use in place of these dang ace badages?  They are not even on super tight but still they make me want to rip my skin off   Any suggestions or thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated.

TY TY
Chris

Hi
I can totally relate.  I just had the brachioplasty done 3 weeks ago tomorrow.  I had to wear the ACE bandages for the first 2 weeks post-op......they drove me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!  
Things are still numb, swollen and tight.  Every couple of days I think I notice the swelling going down a little.  I still can't fully stretch my arms out but it is getting easier.   I was shocked at how swollen I was during days 5 - 12, especially in my forearms.... those were the hardest days for me.   I feel so much better now!   I'm just trying to be very patient and not judge whether I like the results  until the end of the month...

I found putting moisturizing cream on my arms (no where near the incision line) helped...I was getting so dry wrapped up in those bandages.  I always felt better right after taking a shower and letting the water run down the inside of my arms.

Not sure if any of this will help but know this...you are not alone!

Good luck and feel better!!!!

Hi There
I hear ya.  My arms feel fine except for the tightness.  No numbness yet that I can tell.  The highlight of my day is my shower when I take the bandages and Bra off and get under the water.  Never thought a shower would be soooooooooo wonderfull 

Good luck with your surgery and I hope your happy with yoru results

Chris

I had my arms done 3 years ago.  I too was impatient, but PLEASE listen to me.  The longer you can get used to keeping the arms wrapped tightly the better you will be.  Since they are the most used part of you body, it does not take long for those incisions to loosen and with no binding, they will loosen more than you will like, trust me.  Be patient.  I really don't think you went through all this to end up with hanging arms again in a year or so.

Hello there
I had read everyones posts prior to PS and saw what everyone was feeling so I kind of knew what to expect.  The pain isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be it's just the dang bandages.  I would NEVER take them off or not do what I'm supposed to.  I am counting the minutes till next Friday when these stitches come out and then will see. 
Anway ty for responding it was greatly appreciated
Chris

Your doctor isn't being evasive on purpose I suspect - there are decisions to be made based on how you as an individual patient are doing - I was able to have some things go way ahead of schedule and others not - so be patient.

You need compression - as annoying as the ace bandages are - without them you will have a less than ideal result  You need to wear a good supportive underwire bra for at least 2 months - as the implants settle you want a nice contour - and you don't want bruising and edema to develop below the implant.   I know if he explained those things to you it would be better - I teach doctor patient communication to medical students......but perhaps he thinks he's doing his best.    I"m 6 weeks out brachioplasty/boobs - and everything is normal for me - I'm lifting weights - doing yoga  - full extension etc....so be patient.   It takes time.    Susan

Hi Susan
All he said to me was wear the Bra except in the shower.  It is a clasp in the front sports looking bra.  He said whatever you do no underwire bra.  Thats all he said.  He said as far as working out a exercise bike or treadmill.  I mean I had to drag that out of him he just kind of grunted.  WTH!  I read on here 4-6 weeks for working out (missing my elliptical and cross trainer) and he just wont answer ANYTHING.  He needs to be reminded who the patient is and hes getting paid for services Geesh.  Maybe you can go and teach him something?     Anyway I see you just had some procedures done yourself and I hope your getting around and feeling better and your happy with the results.

TC and VGL
Chris

I had surgery for my arms & a breast lift also on January 6th, 2009. I had the wide ACE bandages too. But only had to wear the ACE bandages on my arms until day three when I could then remove them to take a shower. Sure I still had surgical wrap/bandages on both arms & breasts but doctor said to leave them alone, they would eventually fall off. I was to keep my front fastening sports bar on at all times except during showers. Recently at my MD visit, I could then not wear the bra at all times. I don't sleep in it any more. But I didn't have any sutures that had to be removed nor did I have any drains that were in that had to be removed.He did tell me to wear a compression type garmet, Under Armour type of shirt. It kept things in place. Sure it was tight, but it kept the swelling to a minimal. While I had the ACE bandage on it seems that my hands were swollen, twice their normal size. But it kept the arm sweling down. I was releaved to have the ACE wrap off.
Best of luck, things will get better
Jan

Hi There,
Very similiar to what Im experiencing now as well.  They had the bandages so tight on my arms that my fingers and entire arm was swollen very badly.  I couldnt even close my hand because my fingers were that bad.  They told my husband to unwrap them and rewrap them more loosly.  I then after a day wrapped them a little snugger (as much as I could tolerate) to make sure the skin would be in place as much as it is horrible discomfort.  Oh well...What we do to look good.  Even with the swelling that I have my arms are half the size of before and actually look great already.  Very pleased just cant wait till next Friday when the sutures come out

Thanks for your kind words   TC
Chris

I had my brachioplasty, augmentation and lift 3 years ago.  I ordered a compression bra off ebay that covered both the boobs and the arms.  That thing was great.  As the weeks wore on, I'd say about 3 weeks into it, I started trying padding along my incision line with support hose over my arms (i just cut the legs off the panyhose and cut the feet out)  - so I would alternate.  I found sleeping with the compression garment that covered boobs and arms made my hands swell, no matter how high I propped them up.  So sometimes I would sleep with pantyhose over my arms to keep the swelling down.  It was probably a good 2 months or more before I stopped having swelling in my arms - and they were very tight.  It seemed like the more activity I did with my hands below my heart, the more I'd swell.

How long the swelling goes on varies from person to person.  Plus, it seems likes it worse during the warmer months than in the colder months for people.

I know wearing the comression garment on the arms blows.  I was anxious to stop wearing mine too.  But once I went without it for a few hours at work, I was dying to put it back on because I swelled up so bad.  Once you swell, it takes time for the swelling to go back down.  Also, my arms were super duper tight and tiny after my ps.  Three years later, they are loose enough to wiggle when I wave.  So keep that end goal in mind every time you want to rip that thing off.  You want to hit the ground running with the biggest measure of success that you can to carry you through.

Hope you are feeling better.

Take care,
Pam