Arms Done Today - advice

I had my brachioplasty today and the pain is much better than I thougt so far.  I actually feel pretty good and have never woke up from anethesia as well as I did this time .

I have ace bandages on my arms and they feel comfortable not tight, but my hands and fingers are continuing to swell.  Is this okay?  I am not supposed to undo my dressing til like Saturday.  I have feeling in my fingers, but the underside of my right arm hasno felling. (I was warned about some nerve problems, etc.. so it is okay, but just trying to figure out if I am cuting off circulation.)

As of right know I have decided to ice again as that really makes things feel better, but would love to hear from someone who has been here before!

I had 3/4 length compression sleeves and ace bandages wrapped tight to my fingertips to prevent swelling. This did cause me to walk like a mummy, but I never had much swelling with this. On day 3 I got my drains removed and could remove the ace bandages and use just the compression sleeves. Keep your arms elevated. I hope you feel better soon. I felt fine by the end of the first week and could have gone back to work by day 10.

Laura

I had to have my ace bandages re-wrapped - right to my hands to keep the swelling down.  They were only wrapped mid-forearm before. 

I also had to sleep with my arms above my heart...Are your fingers going purple/blue?  What about nail beds?  I'd be calling the dr. if that was the case...

I had ace bandages for 3 days then I could remove them. Didn't have compression garments until 10 days after surgery when I went for my 1st post op check up. My fingers swelled w/ and w/o the compression garments but got better about day 5.

I'd call your doctor just to make sure everything is okay.  The day after my arm lift, per the doctor I removed the ace bandages and didn't use any compression after that and I didn't have any drains.  The swelling lasted a couple of weeks and then off and on for about six months depending on how active I was.  The incision line was sensitive for about 18 months.

Thanks I did get to talk to my surgeon who had me add a second wrap down my arm to my hands and it has helped.  I was having an allergic reation to the antibiotic so I have taken a lot of benedryll today so I am bouncing off the walls and haven't been able to sit down yet today.  I am going to try to put in a movie, prop up on some pillows with some ice.

Thanks for all your input.  It is so nice to talk to people who have gone through this before!

Keep  your arms elevated on pillows while you sleep.  I wore ACE bandages 24/7 (except armpit incisions) for the first 4 weeks.

Now I have silicone strips (to minimize scars) on arm incisions and wear legs cut from toddler tights over each arm to keep the strips on.  At night I wear the ACE bandages over the silicone strips.

I am 6 weeks post arm lift and will continue this regime until I see PS at 9 weeks post op.

It stinks to have these "skinny" arms in this hot weather and have to wear 3/4 sleeves to cover up the bandages!!