Lymphedema after arm lift.

I'm scheduled for Plastics in January. I am having an arm lift. I still have a lot of fatty tissue in addition to extra skin. I recently learned that there is a significant rate of lymphedema following arm lifts. However I am unable to ascertain exactly how common of a problem it is. I was reading that one of the best methods to prevent lymphedema is to do mild weight training. However every article that I've read advises against lifting any sort of weights following an arm lift for up to 6 weeks. 

So now I'm both confused and worried :-/ . Any insight would be very helpful. I'm now wondering if it is better for me to go on for the rest of my life with unsightly droopy wrinkly arms. That is truly the lesser of 2 evils when you consider lymphedema. 

I had an arm lift about 2 months ago.  I see no signs of lymphedema.  I was cleared to go back to the gym for full exercise at about week 6.  When the doc was marking me up pre-surgery, he indicated that he would not lipo the arm pit.  He said that there were too many important things in that area and the risk of damage was too great.  Perhaps that is where this problem stems from.  It wasn't really an issue for me as that was probably the one area of my body that did not have excess fat that needed to be suctioned.  He did do large volume lipo on the remainder of my upper arms and sides of my breasts.  My results are wonderful.  This has been one of the easiest surgeries to recovery from.  I did have some post surgical swelling but that has gone away by now.  I had to wear my compression garment for 2 weeks solid and then 12 hours per day for the next 2 weeks.  I am now back to doing my hour of cardio followed by using weight machines.  I am building up the weights slowly but have experienced no complications to the surgery as a result of this exercise.

 

JoAnn

Great information to have. As far as I'm concerned any improvement in my arms would be sufficient. I don't need to have my armpits lipo'd, as I still anticipate being nervous about raising my arms in public due to the scarring. I  just want the batwings. snipped away. 

Just thought I'd throw in an opposing point to muddy the waters, LOL.

I asked my surgeon's PA, Scott, about lymphedema and he told me that they make only make - I forget the word exactly but - "surface" cuts. He said they did not go deep into the lymphatic system. Dr. Capella cut a wedge out of my armpit, you can see the markup in my photo album with the password "capella." I know that something is removed - sweat glands??? - because I will not sweat or need deodorant. 

It is interesting to hear a different perspective from JoAnn's surgeon, whom I know she admires very much and who has done right by her.

I guess it all boils down to what exactly is your surgeon doing to you. I did have skin removed by my arm pit but it is closer to the back of my arm pit. I do still have to shave my arm pits and I do still sweat. I would agree with mbl's statement that they aren't cutting that deep. It is the skin and the fat right under the skin that is being dealt with in the arm lift.

JoAnn