Plastic Surgery Arms, Many Questions

I'm having PS on my arms on the 14th of Jan.  I know they are bandaged and that many people report that the pain is negligible.  I also know that the bandages are changed every day.  Here are some of my questions:
What do you wear during recovery.  When and what kind of oil did you start applying to the scar.  I read one post about Vit E, if recommended, where to buy it and how much to use.  I saw Maderma but it is very pricey.
I also read on the PS forum that a "Garment" was worn.  Where does one buy such a garment.  Does the hospital supply it?  I heard it mentioned you wear it from 4 to 8 wks.  Some say just at night after the 4th wk etc,.  All doctors are different I realize, but any advice or opinion or experience appreciated I did not even know there was a garment to be worn or purchased.
What is the correct medical term for this procedure?
How soon can you drive, go back to work lift, etc.
Did you do stretching exercises, When.
I will be having my revision from LB to VS at the same time so will already be on pain meds of somee sort.  Thanks for your help.
Susan

Hello Susan!

   I had my arm lift (brachioplasty) 3 weeks on Thursday.  My Doc did not give me (or have me buy) compression garments for my arms.  I went home with an "ace" type bandage wrapped around them and redid them each night.  They left the surgical tape on the incisions until my 1 week post-op appt at which time they removed then and had me apply Polysporin each day and cover with gauze to keep the incision clean.  I can update you on the vit E oil recommendation after my appt scheduled for this week, but up until now they did not want to put anything else on it.  I do plan on asking about the silicone strips & misc. creams as I want the scars to be as faint as possible. 

The pain was't too bad... more irritating than painful.  You will know very quickly how far you can reach and not to pu**** further than that.  I can stretch out completely to the front, but raising the arms outstretched pulls a bit.  I didn't need to make sure I had button up shirts or anything like that (not that a few for the first few days wouldn't be a good thing), but was able to put on regular shirts (that had a bit of room-not too tight) as long as I took it slow and easy. 

Best of Luck!!!

Hey, CA girl!  I had my arms done the same day you did, along with my tummy.  I also have the ace wraps, no garment was recommended, but after reading this forum, I bought one online- it's really not comfortable - too snug even though I measured carefully.  So I use my ace wraps.  I just drove today for the first time (19 days) and showered for the first time!  I was able to pull my last drain myself last night (the amount of drainage met the Dr's criteria, and I'm a nurse) and he doesn't let us shower until all drains are out.  I still can not stretch my arms up straight - youch under the arms!  But am able to wash my hair myself now.  I needed button down shirts for the first two weeks - I bought bigger jammies and just wore those (the wraps are bulky) - didn't go anywhere except the Dr.  I found I could thread the drain tubes through the button gaps to help support them.  At first I couldn't get a fork to my mouth, comb to my head or toothbrush to my mouth.  It's tough the first few days until you can start bending a little.  I have read that Vit E hasn't been proven to help scars at all.  I, too, am interested in the silicone strips, and may look into them a little later.  My scars are healing pretty well so far, except I had an infection at the right elbow that still drains some.  That really was the only pain, and when it was infected it hurt like the dickens.  My tummy has had zero pain, I wear my binder and it's great.  Hope that helps, LadySTX, good luck to you!

I had my arms done on Nov 23 rd, I was able to drive 3 days later my drains were pulled 2 days post-op. I was then allowed to shower and my steri strips slowly started to come off , I didn't have any dressings to change. there really wasn't much pain just a discomfort. I had ace bandages for wraps but they were annoying kept falling down and coming off. I have a compression garment sleeves that I have been wearing since surgery 24/7 I have to wear them at least 6 weeks.. depends on what kind of work you do how long you need to stay out. probably about 2 weeks. i didn't have to do any stretching excercises. I can  stretch my arms over my head. I didn't need any scar cream cause my scars are totaly flat and are hardly noticable after 5 weeks. I did not have any staples or outside sutures , so I didin't have to have any sutures removed. I was sewn from the inside.
check out my pictures
good luck on your surgery
Susan

Hi!  I had my arm surgery on 11/4.  Per the doctor, after 24 hours I removed the bandages.  No compression garments and no drains - but every doctor is different.  I wear long sleeve t-shirts most of the time anyway and I was able to wear those right after surgery - no problem lifting my arms up just high enough to get them off and on.  As soon as the bandages were off I could shower - it was a little tough washing my hair at first but I managed. I drove a week later and went back to work full time a week and a half later.  I starting exercising - legs only - two days after the surgery.  After four weeks I started working out using my arms.  After a week I started using a silicon gel on the incisions - the doctor said it would help to remove the glue residue.  Good luck 

I also think that one's reaction and pain is due to whether or not lipo was done, which does cause a lot more uncomfortableness.  I'm 5 wks. out and just now considering driving - I did have lipo and raising my arms high & straight up or reaching toward my back is still quite painful - tendons and underarm area.  My Dr. (Agha) prescribed only Ace bandages, no garment - I'm hoping soon I can stop wearing them.  I'm so allergic to adhesive and elastic that the itching is driving me crazy.  I do have two "open wounds" to contend with under my arms and close to my arm pits.  Typical for me, unfortunately, every time I've had PS or the DS. 

I've used nothing on the scars so far and they are already tiny, thin and straight - I'm very pleased.  Only under the arm pits are they still thick and kinda "ropey" - all in good time.  The hardest part for me is having to constantly sleep on my back, which I'm not used to, so sleep isn't the greatest.  During the first 7-9 days I used the pain pills, which were very effective - Hydrocodone.    The medical term is brachioplasty.  I'm rather surprised you're having this done on the 14th but you were not aware of the name - it's always best to do LOTS of research before committing to any surgery like this and to make sure your Dr. is quite experienced in PS for WLS patients.  I requested and showed pics to Dr. Agha of where I would prefer the scar - in my case I wanted it at the very bottom of arm and not higher up like most have it done.  I LOVE this positioning and find it's almost impossible to see because of the location.  He was willing to do that for me and agreed that he liked it there, too.  Have you discussed where the Dr. will make your incisions and have you looked at many, many pics of other's incisions?  Good luck to you!

scar guard is the best its expensive but it works why spend money on something that says it works and doesnt...alot of products out there dont work.....my experience is that scar guard is excellent..........i left hospital with ace bandages on my arms and wore them for about a week....my arms look awesome........when i had my tummy tuck i had a compression garment worn around waist....and it helped alot........good luck...patty