Brachioplasty...recovery time and pain meds question.

And I'm one of those that had NO problems with the arms & the facelift I had at the same time. My biggest problem was the horrendous sore throat I got from the anesthesia. Maybe THAT took my mind off my arms & face.   I did have the lipo too but not the sides done. Don't know how much difference in pain that would have been.

Two weeks recovery would have been enough for ME with my arms. Not my face--it was still too bruised.  I did go to the store within days but it was kinda embarassing because of my face. I had vicodin for pain but only took one because of my throat.  And I did have one day surgery.  In at 6am, out at 4pm. 

PamT

Oh the sore throat from surgery.  I totally forgot about that!  I'm glad you didn't have too much pain other than the sore throat.  That is encouraging!  I have to be at hospital at 6am.  Surgery at 7:30.  Geeze, I just can't imagine coming home the same day, but if others have done it, I can too! 

Thanks for the reply,
Brooke

Hi Brooke:
I had my brachioplasty 1/5/09; revision to the left arm in June.  I did not have any lipo to the arms and didn't have any "bra fat" to be removed.  My incision goes from armpit to about 3 inches below the elbow.  I was 60 years old - considerably older than you.
1) Vicodin, Diazepam (Valium) and Methocarbamol (muscle relaxer) as prescribed the day of surgery and days 2 & 3 to keep ahead of the pain.  A good combination for me. Then as needed.
2) Day surgery in my doctor's certified surgical suite.  Then home and we live almost 3 hours
away from the doctor.  Because of the meds I slept all the way home.  My husband reclined the seat & put pillows on either side of me to keep my arms elevated. 
3) My husband had to feed me dinner the night of surgery but I was okay with that the next day and also was always able to take care of myself when I pottied.  (I was a little concerned with that)  I pretty much sat around with my arms elevated for the first week - mainly because I was so far from my doctor I didn't want to split a stitch or anything. 
Have EVERYTHING you think you might possibly need on the kitchen cupboard or table OR have someone with  you all the time for the first several days.  It will take some time to reach and get your range of motion.  (I "walked" the walls with my arms starting on week two).
For me, it was a difficult surgery, more mentally than anything.  I am a caregiver; I'm not used to being taken care of and hated the helpless feeling.  But it passed quickly and the results were certainly worth it. Good luck!!!   Barb

My husband had to wipe for me when I pooped the first day!! Yikes!

Barb,
Thanks for reminding me to keep things within reach!  I've been worried about the potty thing, too.  I hope that all works out OK for me...no spouse!

Thanks for the information,
Brooke

I had brachio along with breast lift and augmentation in July.  I had the side skin (bra fat) removed as well. 

1. I took oxycodone (sp?) for 5 days after for the pain.

2. I went in for surgery around 8 am and was finished about 5pm.  I spent the night at the hospital and went home the next afternoon.

3.  Recovery was interesting.  Pain was minimal.  I had to sit with my arms elevated in front of me for a week (no moving).  It took another week to regain a lot of the mobility.  After 5 days I was off all pain meds, felt great, but still had to be careful about movement.

Good luck!

April

I am 5 weeks out today, I had LBL,BL/BA, and arms...I had massive wings..he took off 12 inches in width from each arm. I have to say of everything I had done the arms were by far the worst....I am just now starting to feel like thay are my arms not blocks of wood sewn onto my body. After the first 3 days the only thing I took was 800 mg Motrin...it wasn't so much horrible pain as it was extremely uncomfortable.

Good luck,

Debbie

Thank you to everyone that replied.  Knowing that you have all been through this and made it has helped me greatly! 

Brooke

I took percoset.  Mine was day surgery - went home that night with no problem and I had a BL/BR and auto-augmentation done with the brachioplasty.  I went back to work in one week - I have a desk job.  If you have to lift or do heavy work, I can see where two weeks would be necessary.  The pain was not a big deal except for the first night - I had swelling and the bandages were a little tight.  Other than that, the pain meds worked very well.  I cooked dinner on day two and drove on day three.

OMG...there is hope!  You make my surgery sound like a walk in the park!  I know everyone's experience is different, but I sure hope my recovery is as good as yours was!

Thanks,
Brooke