Post-brachioplasty questions about range of motion

Just wondering what happened with your range of motion post brachioplasty?

I find my armpits are kinda tight - particularly my left side.  I cannot reach as far as before and when I do stretch a bit it hurts (so I stop! lol).  It is getting better as time passes...but still there.

Did you have that?  For how long?  Did it eventually loosen up?

I do notice that the skin looks kind of pulled in that area under my armpit...I'm assuming that's where it is hurting a bit.

My surgeon sewed the top skin to the fascia (muscle) and I wonder if this is part of the reason for the tightness?  In my left arm, I also get a pain radiating down my forearm when I stretch, like it is tied to something there that stretches toward my hand...anyone have this?  Don't have it on the right...

Just trying to figure out if I'm normal, or should be rushing a follow-up visit...

My range of motion was limited.  The improvement was gradual and the armits took the longest to feel back to normal.  I think I felt fairly good at 4 weeks and continued to get better from there.

Hey Erica,

Had an arm lift on Oct 20th, and have basically the same feelings as you have, but it is getting more relaxed each day.  My surgeon keeps telling me to be patient, and that healing takes place for many months ( 4 for healing and 8 or more for the scars to lighten)  Good Luck

I'm scheduled for a brachioplasty on Monday, 11/22 and I wonered the same thing about range of motion.  Will I be able to brush my teeth, blow dry my hair, put on makeup? 
Erica and others, how limited was your ROM and for how long?
Thank you!!

I was able to do all "self-care" right away.  Blow drying my hair was hard at first - because my arms got sore lifting them up over my head - but by the time I was ready to go back to work (2.5 weeks) I was fine. 

I had trouble reaching shelves located over my head for about 2-3 weeks - and still have trouble (4.5 weeks) with really high shelves or reacher "OVER" far to get something (like reaching across the table for the pepper).

At first, my ROM was more impeded by the "wraps" on my arms (not being able to bend) than the arm pit thing.  Now that they are off - I'm kinda surprised that the armpits are limiting my motion.  I guess I didn't really think of that.

Also - they look kinda "wierd" and pulling there.  Anybody else have that?  Did it go away? It's kind of freaky. 

It is getting better every day.  I can reach my coffee cup on the third shelf now (couldn't last week).  I can reach my high sweater shelf (couldn't this weekend).  So I see these little improvements and know it is getting better.  Not sure how much I should PUSH it or BABY it though...

Thank you, Erica!  That makes me feel better.  As an RN, I wouldn't PU**** too much, but a little stretching is fine for new scars.  If you start to feel actual tearing or any pain, I would stop immediately. 
Again, thank you for all your help!!  I've been watching your posts and they make me feel better :)
Mary

Hi

Just wondering if you have numbness in your arms? I had brachio in Aug and I have alot of numbness.

Thanks,
Claudia

Where - by your incisions?  I have both numbness and tingling along both incisions -about 2-3" on either side.  Not sure when/if that will go away.  I also find that my hands sometimes go a bit numb if I am really busy/working hard.  I have carpal tunnel though - and that is the type of numbness I am feeling.  Maybe the surgery and weird positions I had to hold in recovery with the bandages have made it resurface.  Might be time for a follow-up with my neurologist...

Erica, I had my brachioplasty on Nov 5 - after yours. I love the tiny shape of my arms. I was surprised to see that I have a fairly large range of motion with my arms. My only limitation is something really high up or quite deep. For example I can reach up to use my over the oven microwave, but I can't reach the third shelf in the kitchen cabinet that I could barely reach before. I haven't had much pain from the arms either - just occasionally a burning feeling if I put too much pressure on my arms - found that out quickly after surgery moving around in bed.

nwgirl - I had no problem brushing my teeth, washing my face and putting on makeup immediately post op. I don't blow dry my hair - but I think that might have been tiring for the arms early on. I'm almost two weeks out now and I could do it now. I'm almost back to normal activity except for lifting anything heavier than a jug of milk. I'm doing housework, shopping for groceries, cooking meals etc. without any problems or pain.

I had significant limited range of motion (and discomfort) when raising my arms over my head, and it took a long time for the tightness (whihc was in my armpits) to subside.  I even had my massage therapist work on it (massaging and pulling my arms over my head to stretch them out) and it still took almost a year to get everything back the way it was before surgery. It didn;t really change my ability to DO anything, though... it was just incredibly tight and difficult to fully raise or extend my arms.

Lora