Arms your experience

Three weeks post op....TT....now I am beginning to plan for the arms!  Your experience is appreciated.

How  long was recovery?  How long off work?
What limitations did you have initially following surgery?
compression garment?
Cost?

THANKS,

Hi, I had my arms done the end of Feb. and it was the easiest surgery that I had with the thighs being the most painful. I wouldnt take off work longer then a week that is all you will probaly need.  My doctor had me wrapped in ace bandages and they worked fine for me .  Some friends have used compression garments and loved them.  Talk with your doctor what he uses.Basic limitation is no house cleaning, lifting, driving for a few days to a week or so.   Happy Healing.  Gail

I am having my brachioplasty on Tuesday - I was told I couldn't lift more than 5 pounds for several weeks. Did you have the same restriction?

I am so happy for you. I wish I could have a tummy tuck. I had alot of excess from where I had 2 kids and now I have also lost 90 pounds so I have a lot more.How long were you off from work and how long do the drains stay in? I might go and get a estimate on how much it would cost because I hate havng such a wide middle section it makes me still fill like I huge. Good luck with the arms and congratulations on all that you have accomplished.

I had my arms done on April 7 and it was one of the worst, most painful surgeries that I have had.  I've had a BA, TT and this was number three.  It was so bad that I don't think I will have my thighs done even though my insurance would pay for it.

I will return to work  full-time on Monday.  I went back half days at 4 weeks out.  I still have shooting pains in my forearm and wrist.  I have an open wound in my left arm pit and am not healed in either arm.  I experience tightness in both arms and have problems making far reaches. Ocassionally, I get pains in my upper arms the doctor attributes this to the severed muscles in my arms reconnecting.

I only took the pain pills for two weeks although I was yet in pain (I have a fear of becoming addicted).  I've also developed a big knot the size of a marble in my left forearm.  My doctor says it is a lyphoma (a fatty tumor) which he will remove.

I also, have two golf ball size sin pouches at both elbows.  The surgeon told me I would not have them if he'd lippo.  He did not talk with me about lippo prior to the surgery.  My arms are not as I expected and I will be wearing long sleeves this summer.

My doctor is aware that I am not pleased and says he will do revisions in three months but you don't want to go thru it twice.  My advice get all the facts in advance.

Tjay

I had a tough time with this surgery. It was the worst one for me and I am going back in 5 weeks for revisions! I had some of the same experiences as others stated!

I was doing really well by 3 weeks but I took 4 weeks off since I also had my thighs done.  I planned to go back at 3 weeks but I got sick so it was 4 by the time I went back.  Had it only been my arms, I probably would have gone back after 2.  I wasn't allowed to lift more than 5 pounds for about 6 weeks I think.  I came came home with ace bandages on my arms and used that for a week or 2 and then went to compression garments until I hit 6 weeks.  I wore them at night for a while after and now I don't where anything.  I didn't swell for very long and I was able to reach up with no problem at about 3 weeks even though I avoided it.  The incisions in the armpits were the most uncomfortable for me.  The arms weren't nearly as bad as I expected so that was good.  I just hated having them done with my thighs because of immobility.  Not fun.

I have had it all except my breast, TT, back, butt, eyes, arms, inner thigh, face & neck .
thighs was the worst but the arms were the easiest. I had an extended Brachioplasty from my elbow down to under the bra line. the hardest part was not being able to lift more then 5 lbs .
even with the thighs being the worst , I have no regrets and would do it all again if I had to, I wouild say about a week or 2 for recovery depends on what your job is. I was done on a  MOnday & driving on Thursday
Susan

In December I had the extended Brachioplasty with lipo.
I love the way my arms look, HOWEVER. the pain was 100x worse than my TT.  My TT was a cake walk and I never really had any discomfort or pain!  Honest!  But my arms - still at 6 months out still don't feel like my arms.  They look lovely and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I have to say it was the worst of the two surgeries I had at the same time.

I took 8 weeks off because of my extended TT with hernia repair, I couldn't lift more than 5 lbs and I was given ace bandages - which I hated and never gave me consistent compression - they caused more swelling.  So I purchased beautiful and wonderful compression garments from Marena - I still wear them during the day to decrease the swelling.  He removed over 5lbs just from my arms.  You can purchase them at www.marena.com and use the code word, "skinny" for a great discount!  Get the ones that come to just past the elbow, not higher or to the wrist.  I got the wrist ones and they made my hands swell a lot.

I had my Brachioplasty with BL/BA 2 yrs. ago without any complications. I had drains for one week coming out of both armpits which was probably the worst part of the surgery, but once they were removed, I felt so much better!! (Medicate yourself prior to the drain removal...that was the most painful thing I've ever experienced). I'm a nurse and work 12 hr shifts, so I took 4 weeks off. I had the Bolero type compression garment, and loved it! As far as $, I live in the New York metro area, and paid 13K for BOTH procedures.
Good luck!
Karen