Arm Lift - Questions

I had a consult in December, but we didn't focus on my arms, b/c it was giong to be a "later" if I can afford it, but as of this point insurance is going to pay for my panni; therefore, I can get my arms done.  (It is scheduled for 7/7)  I continue to write down my questios, bu thought I'd ask those who have been there!

1.  Dr. Macrae said she would rap them with ace bandages and they would stay wrapped for a while.  I have been looking at the garmet on make Me Heal.  what has your experience with binders?  I will be having a TT and medial thig lift the last week of July.  Do you think the sleeves will be okay?

2.  Arm pits....So we never talked about the underarm hair growth.  Did you have those hair follicles removed while it was cut anyway?  (I saw a picture of someone's surgery and got to thinking about how long before you can shave, etc/)  Can you use a chemical? WHat did you do?  I plan to ask to have the hair cells removed while she is there...is that a bad plan?

3.  I know that for the first severl days the movement of your arms is very limited.  When did you start to have a normal iife? I realize lifting is out for a while, but like shower, brushing your hair, etc.

4.  How was the pain?

**Any insight you may give me would be greatly appreciated!**

I am a teacher and had my arms done the beginning of Christmas break, 2009.  The first 3 days were the toughest.  My doctor had my arms wrapped super tight to prevent swelling, but it made me walk like a mummy.  On day 3 my drains were removed and I was able to remove the tight bandages and just use the sleeves. By day 10 I could have gone back to work, but as a teacher I had 2 weeks off for Christmas.

I was never in much pain.   I love my arms and am so glad I had them done!!

Laura

Hi Amy,

I just had my Brachio (5 yrs post op) done 2.5 weeks ago..will be 3 weeks on Thursday.
So everything is still really "fresh"lol.

I'm sure I would answer these questions a bit differently if I were months or years out... but bc I'm in the trenches right now...I can tell you exactly what I'm going though...
I'll just answer with your #'s, and then if you need more info...reply back or message me and let me know.
1- My Dr actually GAVE me a compression garment to wear.  I was sent home with Ace Bandages, then went back the day after post-op to have them removed...then went into compression garments immediately.  Not only do they help with swelling, and to get rid of toxins..they help to contour your arms, and do help to monimize the width of the scar.
The compression garment was great in the beginning...but then about 1.5 weeks out...the surgical tpe from surgery began coming off my scar (normal) and then the compression garment caused severe irritation against the scar.  I dealt with that for a week or so..used gauze to act as a cushion between certain parts of my arm... and then it got to be overbearing.  The Dr. told me bc I was 2 weeks out from surgery..medically it wasn't necessar (if I could wear it w/o swelling). ...and to give my arms a few days to rest and not get irritated.  Today I went ack to Dr (after not wearing my garment for 2 days) and we are starting on scar treatment.  He believes in using Silicone sheeting for scar care.  This is like a piece of tape (but more like a jelly like feel) that applies directly to scar that has a cloth backing...very similar to the surgicla tape, but thicker.  Now that I have this BACK on the scar.. I'm back in the compression garment and loving it.  I hated NOT wearing it... it made my arms feel like gravity was pulling down on them.  The problem with wearing the ace bandage (i tried this about 1.5 weeks out...) is that it's hard to get the same compression everywhere, and can actually either cause sweeling. or act as a tourniquette (spelling?).  My arms/fingers were completely swollen the next day after wearing the aces overnight.  (on a side note..I've met people on here that swear by them..so to each his own). but my Dr didn't want me in them.  In the midst of all of this..I did order a garment from the same website you mentioned... a matter of fact...I have to go to the post office tomorrow to return them.  The garment my Dr gave me was a different material... the one that came from the websit you mentioned...were VERY tight..and I would also recommend them..maybe like 6 months post op..when your scar is not raw and tender.  it was almost impossible to side them up my arm.... (made my buckle to my knees in pain).  I hope I'm not scaring you.  With all the pain I've went through over the last (almost) 3 weeks,..I'd do it again in a heartbeat..bc my arms look AWESOME.  The name of the garment I have is:
It's a pain to wear..but it's REALLY helpful.  It velcros in the front.  I'm looking at the package now....
its from Caromed.  Bolero Arm Bandage 5-8035   www.loveyourlook.com   idk if you can buy it online.. but my Dr gave me a Small, med, and large... and I'm at the top end of a medium.  The large is just a little too large, and doesn't give me the best compression.
my arms circumference right now (Still some swelling) is about 10 inches around.  and I weigh sligthly under 150.  (I dont know how they measure them....he just said to start with Medium..and if not try the other.lol.  He didn't measure me for it.  idk if this is helpful....but it's just my experience.
2-lol..i asked about the hair... since my arm pit was much larger while I was "bigger"...I was having to shave 1/3 down my arm after I lost all the weight (130 lbs).  He said some would go..some wouldn't... he never really said he could remove the hair follicles..it ust kind of was like..whatever was goin to be cut out would be removed.  oddly enough... i started shaving a few days after (while the tape was still on and would was safe).  Since the tape removed, I havent shaved..but funny enough... the hair is kind of far away enough from the scar that it would be fine.. .. the only problem right now is my range of motion is off, and I dont want to be bothered trying to shave it.... i need to have my husband help me.  My Dr said to use like a beard trimmer the frist few times... that my husband should own one.. (he does).  But we have 2 small kids so I havent gotten aound to it yet. 
3- I showered like a day or 2 after.  and funny enough I was abl to do more the first week after surgery than the 2nd.  The tape on the scars enable me to do more..go figure.  once they started coming off (which is normal, and must happen for would to heal)..it started irrititating... and then I was able to do less.  I have 2 small children..ages 2.5 and 10 mos.and I needed help the first week.  I'm on my own now and doing fine.  my range of motion is limited.. i cant reach high or low. but everything in the middle is fine.  i have exercises I do each day to help.  but I shower (and have always) showered on my own daily..just havent blow-dried my hair straight...just leaving it curly right now. 
4-pain was fine and manageable with pain pills for the few days after surgery.  I was off pain pills within the first week.... for several days... but then went back on them when that DARN tape came off...!  I asked the Dr to put more tape back on..but he said that would cause infection bc it was not a sterile environment like an operating room.  :(  That wouldve solved everything.  So If I had t odo it over.. I'd wear the garment as long as I could...if it begins to irritate..switch to ace bandages...but then get right back into compression garment asap.  Today I went out and bought Silicone sheets (wound section at cvs) for $25..theyre really small but it works and I finally got my compression garment back on.  I also purchased them online today in a length of 24"...they are def thick enough to make it so i an wear compression garment w/o irritation.
I'm not going to lie...my scars have been very painful...and I think I shouldve went to the ace bandages within a day or 2 of the tape coming off.rather than trying to push myself to wear garment.  but im extremely happy to be back in the compression garment again.
but like i said before..even with all the pain.. id do it again in a heartbeat.  ;)  

 

I had my arm lift in November 2009.  The day after the surgery the bandages were removed.  All surgeons are different - mine didn't recommend any type of compression and I didn't have any drains.  I went back to work a week and a half after the surgery.  Before the surgery, I made sure I have enough supplies in the house to get me through at least a week and at a level I could reach (counter top height).  I took a few weeks before I have full movement of my arms.  For the first six months there was swelling and occasional twinges of pain (lasted a second or so).  Because my arms were really large, my incision runs from about an inch below my elbow, up my arm, through my arm pit, and about 6" inches down my side.  I no longer have to shave under my arms.  The incision is now a thin white line.  Good luck.

I had a dual brachioplasty done in August of 2010.  I am happy with my results, but would warn one considering this, to make sure that they want to do this.  My process has come with much discomfort, pain, and huge scars.  On my right arm, during the surgery, my surgeon had a hard time getting my skin to reach to close the incision, so he had to do a variation cut.  This is an additional crooked cut more on the back of my arm rather than the inside part.  I am not happy with this, but there were no options...that is what I woke up with.  I have the incisions from about one inch below my elbow all the way up my arm, through my arm pits (not exactly straight here) and about 8 inches down from there under where my bra now sits.  I no longer have any hair follicles under my arms and so as a bonus for all my hell....I don't have to shave under my arms ever again.  My arms were very limited in movement at the start.  I wasn't able to move them around with much function for about a week or so and had to keep them bound tight and raised for as much time as possible, even when sleeping.  In time, and day by day my arms loosened up.  They felt tight when I would extend my arms for a long time.  Almost ten months out, I still have portions of numbness on my arms and my forarms.  I may never get the feeling back in my arms is my understanding.  My doctor said that whatever I have at about one year out is what I can expect to be forever.   The pain still bothers me at times, but I can live with it.  Overall, I am glad I did it because my arms were so nasty to me.  It has come with expense, much pain, and forever side effects.  I am still reluctant to wear short sleeves at times because my scars have not faded much and I have that extra cut from the variation.  I am expecting that to get better.  I love how my arms look in long sleeves.  Good luck with your journey. 

I had brachioplasty and a breast lift on the Thursday before Thanksgiving --- outpatient at a surgical facility.

I was home by dinner time --- and rested through the night.

I went home with bandages from wrist to armpit -- and I went back in the next day, to the surgeon's office -- to have the bandages removed and check the suture lines.

I was allowed to go home and shower that same day.

I took it easy all weekend -- but was up and moving --- and was driving (short trips) by Monday.
I did not use a binder -- I was given pads and gauze and used that for about 3 or 4 days -- but had no oozing ----

I wore a tight long-sleeved shirt (Cuddle-Unders I bought at Ross) under my clothes for a few weeks.
Pain was tolerated with Percocet for a few days, and then liquid Extra Strength Tylenol.

So I posted above....
But I thought it was worth reposting..and seeing if anyone had this issue....
all that pain I've been having...eventually resulted in some bleeding, oozing, and some small open wounds.  Of which the Dr said the Sutures were spitting out.  there's 4 of them (3 on one arm, 1 on another)... and the Dr told me that basically my body is rejecting the material he used for the stitches (like a nylon material of some sort).  HE said bc wer'e 3 weeks out..there shouldn't be too many more...but I was wondering how common this is?  He literally went in to the open wounds today with tweezers and small scissors (while wearing his mocroscopic helmet) to try to cut pu the stitched my body was "spitting" out... he was able to snip one.. the rest he couldn't find..leading him to believe they were already expelled.....

I of course have not had my surgery, but when I was talking to my PS about having my arms done and 20 days later a TT and medial thigh lift I asked if my arms would be "healed" enough to use (I didn't want to be a beached whale and not be able to use my legs, stomach, or arms in order to get up! :-))  She said that to be totally honest although one of the "easier" surgeries, the arms are often times one of the hardest incisions to get to heal for a vairety of reasons, including ripped stitches, etc. I have been reading a lot and have not heard of allergies to the suture material, but it sounds realistic. 
I hope things heal up quickly for you.
Thanks for all of the information.  I am super excited to start my plastics, but scared to death.  I felt like I knew exactly what to expect for my RNY and even though I have read books and forums, etc. I just feel like there is no much unknown about the plastics b/c so much depends on how your body reacts!

I'd agree Amy....with the Rouen Y....I knew exactly what to expect to..and was fully informed...took the appropraite classes,etc....with this...I believe I have a wonderful Dr...paid a premium to make sure IH ave someone who is very conscientious about the scar etc.... but I still can't believe I'm having this many issues etc...three weeks + out.
Although, I will say, ..not for a monute do I regret the deision..and I've had several people already comment how great my arms look..including my husband..who just a few days ago was complaining about the cost....looked at me today and say..wow..your arms really do look different, and they look great!  ;)  (told you!!!!)

Funny enough..my Dr didn't really explain the spitting sutures...etc..but went into GREAT detail about the Thigh lift..and he will not do that one until the very last one..bc it has a very high complication rate..and a high infection rate.  needless to say.. I was glad to start with my arms.... BUT I'm freaked out about the thighs..which I plan to do in a few years...once I know I'm done bearin children. lol.

ANOTHER THOUGHT...btw... I never have problems with pills or anything like that... but POST-OP... the Dr prescribed Hydrocodone pills.... they worked for an hour and wore off very quickly.  We tried Perkiset (spelling?) and the same thing.  Seemed like my pouch, and the malabsorption of our intestines... only allowed me to absorb some of the pill.and not nearly enough to last the 3-4 hours they suggest you to wait before taking another one.  So the end result is....
LIQUID HYDROCODONE.  Works REALLY quickly..and it seemed like it last 2-3X as long.

The Dr and I spok about it..and he said that for the posterior lift, and tommy tuck/breast lift and Aug (2 seperate surgeris) that he will probably want an overnight stay..based on my reaction to the pain medication...so that way they can control my pain with injections for the day post-op.
So if you're having multiple areas done at once..you're probably staying oernight anyway...but I would look into going home with Liquid Hydrocodone..rather than the pills.  Juat a thought...
;)

Thanks so much for all of the info.  I alrady take Liquid hydrocodoneon a daily basis from pain from my RNY that hopefully will be taken care of through an exploratory surgery in June, so I am hoping the PS gives me more than that.  I konw what I had surgery last August I had to call for something more powerful casue I thought I would never be comfortable enought to sleep!

Hope things are gettin gbetter each day!