Question on numbness after brachioplasty

Hi everyone:

I had my breast lift and brachioplasty done 7 weeks ago.  I am experiencing significant numbness in the arms.  My breasts feel great, no problems there.  But my arms are almost totally numb around the incision from the elbow half way up the arm.  This feels really uncomfortable when I try to lean on my elbows.  They feel like big fat dead rubber sausages...ugh.  I also can't itch the itching that I'm feeling.  I had the same problem with my tummy tuck incision a year and a half ago and it never got much better.  It is still basically numb.

My question is this.  Did any of you have the same issue and did it get better over time?  If so, how much better?  My surgeon keeps telling me that some feeling should come back but he said the same after the tummy tuck and most of it never came back....sigh.

I'm 3 months out from my brachio and I still have some numbness. It's not nearly as bad as it was and it has gotten a lot better. Actually the feeling on my arms is coming back a lot faster than the numbness on my LBL incisions ever did.

I was lucky I didnt have any numbness in my arms, my incision is up the back of my arm from my elbow to down under my arm pit, my friend her incision is  on the inside of the arm elbow to arm pit & she still has numbness & it is 18 months. everyone is different . now my belly is still numb from BB to my pubic areas and it is 19 months for that, I just never get close to the stove or reach above it
Susan

I had my arms done 8 months ago. There is still some numbness along the incisions. It's not completely numb but just has a weird sensation when I touch it. It's not painful but just feels strange. It has gotten better over time.

Thanks guys for the responses.  My incisions are also on the inside of the arm from elbow all the way to armpit as well.  These were the best spots to place them for hiding them the best.  You can't see them at all from the front and only a tiny bit by the elbow from the back so I'm really happy with the placement, the scar itself and the size and shape of my arms.  But maybe this area tends to be a bit more sensitive with the nerve endings etc.  I'm really really happy with my arms and how they turned out, It's just this damn icky numbness and strange feeling that I hate.  It gives me hope to know that alot of you experienced it as well and some of your feeling did come back.  I guess at this point it is what it is and I just have to hope for the best

I saw more numbness problems witht he incisions on the inside of the arm than the back.  I even posted a photo here months ago showing that the nerves live on the inside of the arm...none on the back.  For that reason I have come to prefer the back of the arm incision.  Fortunately most numbness gets better over time !

Thanks for your comments Dr. L! I'm numb up towards my armpit on the back side of my arms, and my incision is on the underside/back of my arms.  It is getting better, and most of the time, I don't think about it - except when I'm shaving my armpits.  Much of the hair area is gone, but I still have some it feels really strange when I shave.  I'm hopeful that all of the feeling will return.  I appreciate yoru comments on the back of the arm vs the front of the arm.  I'm really pleased with my scar placement, even though there were times when I doubted.  I also like the thought that there is less of a a chance of scar spreading with the back of the arm vs the front.

Hello.

In 2010 I had liposuction on my arms and had significant numbness/tingling/increased hypersensitivity to touch along the back of my arms. The compression garments felt so good when I put them on after having them off for a little bit as even the light clothing brushing against my arms was very uncomfortable - felt like being stabbed with hundereds of tiny needles. This eventually resolved after a few months and I never gave it a second thought. On April 8, 2017, I had a brachioplasty done as well as a breast lift post gastric sleeve and weight loss. I'm at the 6 week mark, just to where I can stop wearing my garments and I'm having the exact same feeling as with the liposuction. It's not really a pain, but rather a hypersensitivity to any touch, especially from clothing with the same needle stabbing feeling. Since it resolved before, I assume it will resolve again. My surgeon said I could being scar massage with vaseline. I don't like the feeling of vaseline on my arm so I'm just using a good quality lotion (Lubriderm, unscented) and this seems to be helping a little. In 2 days, I can stop wearing my garments so we'll see how much I can tolerate it! Good luck.

Hi Doctor,

Are their any exercises to do to get rid of the numbness. Min e is from the elbow down on the inside. I had my surgury Aug 16th, 2010. Is the feeling ever going to go away.

Thanks,
Claudia