Brachioplasty Surgery

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum, but I am not new to the world of reconstructive surgery after weight loss.  I had my first surgery, Tummy tuck and breast lift with augment a couple years ago.

I just recently went through with Brachioplasty to correct my arms and the side/flank area to remove the excess skin... My surgery was on 3/23/13 so I'm about 10 days out post surgery.

I was just looking to see how other people were doing etc.  I'm still exceptionally swollen and even my doc said it was extensive surgery with what she did.  I have removed myself from pain meds and just control any discomfort with ibuprophin.  I do find it difficult to sleep still..and am still elevating my arms.  I just returned to work and find the first day a little challenging since I can't really elevate my arms here.

I think the most noticeable issue is that I have carpel tunnel like symptoms and my forearms are really swollen.  I'd love to hear others experiences, insights and perhaps suggestions on what you did to help with recovery.  I do try to use some frozen peas at night to help said with the swelling.

Thanks again!!!

Congratulations on your surgery!

This is exactly what I will have on April 11.

Sorry I cannot help with your question, I wish you speedy recovery.

Do you use any compression on your arms?

My doctor, Dr Capella, will not use them .I am a little scare about it.

Feel better.

Alla

Hi Alla, 

Good luck with your surgery was well!!!  I'm very surprised that your doctor is not using compression garments? I would definitely push the matter with him/her to understand WHY?  when I woke from surgery I had compression garments on, one of the main reasons is that they help to control and assist with swelling etc.  Now my doc warned my husband that the ones she put on me might have been too small, and that should I loose "sensation" in my hands or get numbness to remove them and use ace bandages to begin with.  Now that's what I did for the first 10days.  I ordered a larger pair online for me to use for now (since the ace bandages have a hard time staying on).  So I am wearing them, and when the swelling goes down more, I can switch to the smaller pair.  I know the compression garments also aid in helping to make a smoother healing and smoother appearance of the area. 

I did not have any fluid drains in my arms, because my PS did a lot more suturing I did not require the drains, plus she believes they only allow more problems to occur like potential for infections.  With that said, she is encouraging the compression garments, along with an ointment called Aquaphor which is super good for helping the incision to heal and to heal with less scaring.  

I hope you can get these questions answered by your physician.  Definitely things you want to know.  I also highly recommend that if you stay over night that the nurses (or inform the person who will be helping you), to elevate your arms immediately after surgery!! especially higher than the heart...this will help with swelling.  My nurses did not do a good job of this, and I had like sausage fingers when I woke up....not to mention the numbness etc I was feeling -- I had to wait for my husband to come back to the hospital to convince the nurses that the doc agreed to take the compression garments off if they were causing problems.   Even though we expect our PS to tell us mostly everything they don't always :)   best to be informed and keep asking questions until you feel satisified!! 

Thank you.

All the best  to you,

Alla

Dr Sauceda uses a bra/arm compression garment.  My forearms did swell, and I was using a heating pad in the morning and at night to help relieve some of the swelling and pain.  I also had a BL at the same time with my LBL and sm thigh lift.  SO I was all wrapped up in compression garments. 

When I had my brachioplasty a few years ago, I remember thinking my forearms were just going to pop open from swelling.  elevating of course helped, BUT I found it helped the most to put on my compression garment and then wrap an ace bandage from my wrist up.  I made sure it wasnt tight, but it made my forearms not feel quite so bad.