More Swelling===More Puckering?

 Hi there,

I am 9 days out from an arm lift with a sort of upper body lift....got rid of all the back rolls and skin, but incisions are on my side of my body.

Anyways, I have felt my swelling has been pretty minimal however now that I am more active I am swelling a lot in my arms. I noticed this morning the puckering at the incisions is much, much more than it was. Do you think that if we are more swollen, the puckering is worse?

Thanks!

No advice for you...just wanted to say hi! Glad you are doing well. Had my surgery Monday and am feeling pretty good. Hard to sit at the computer though.

I have a post op on Tuesday...perhaps I'll see you there?

Rachel

Ps. I'm sooo happy with the results thus far!

 Hey there,

I have a post op on Wednesday. I saw him Friday to get the old steri strips off and new ones on. I am glad you feel well. I am sure your results are perfect!!

Kim

One of my elbow's is puckered more than the other, but I did hit it on the wall and it is swollen..ouchie!

What type of compression garment are you using?

I got some of the under armor cold gear, and it is what I sleep in at night and it helps a lot with the swelling.

From what my doc told me the swelling is normal for many months to comes as you use your arms more.

Hi there.  I am 5 days out from the same surgeries; arm lifts and back rolls.  My incisions are around my back for the upper body, bra rolls.  I am swelled up like crazy.  I think I gained 20 pounds in one day from all the water.  I thought I'd be feeling better, but so far, no go.  I still feel sore.  ARe you driving yet?   I am doing small things like making dinner, easy stuff and light picking up. 
talk soon!
Oh, can you shower yet?  I have my post op appt. tomorrow, I am hoping I can shower, but I doubt it.

 Hi there,
I started driving at 8 days post op. I also took my first shower then. It has been a hard recover. I have long incisions on the sides and it pulls because I am pulled pretty tight. UGH!

Let me know how your appointment goes tomorrow. 

My incisions are all the way down my sides as well - from elbow to hipbone with a Zplasty in the armpit - they will flatten, but wearing full trunk compression helped with the tight feeling in my midsection. I wore an upper body and lower body garment to stay compressed.  I still ended up with multiple seromas on my arms and flanks.  Those were gone at about 6 - 7 weeks.

Hi Kim -
My puckering definately got worse as the first few weeks progressed and then got much better and the incisions flattened. Yours will probably do the same, but it is hard not to panic.  As you do swell and maybe have some fluid issues, the puckering will seem worse and worse - just hang in there, use your compression, and when you are released to do so, do scar massage with cocoa butter.  They will lay flat and look wonderful!

 Thank  you jennie. I think that is the thing---I didn't expect it to get worse. I bet we have the same incision type...I have pics on my profile. 

As soon as I can, I will scar massage. How exactly do you do this?

Thanks again!

Use a generous amount of the paste cocoa butter - I used Palmer's use a gentle but firm massage on all the scar line. I never used Merderma on these scars - only cocoa butter and just rubbed it in 2 to 3 times per day along the entire scar.  If you use one finger on either side of the scar and just lightly but slightly firmly press down on the scar it will flatten out and be very smooth, and the scar will lighten.

I do find that if I drink some wine, my scars will turn pink for a few hours and the scars on my arms and flanks turn pink faster and stay that way longer.  Not sure why that happens.  After a few hours, they are very light again.  It's weird!