Six weeks post arm lift update

Yay! I've graduated!

Had my six-week follow-up with the surgeon yesterday. I don't have to wear compression anymore! And, other than a small part that opened up on the side of my chest which requires a bandage but is healing just fine, he's super pleased with the way things are looking. My left arm incision is much smoother than the right, which has a couple of wider spots, but I traditionally scar quite pale, so I'm not concerned. He said he can go in and do a scar revision if it doesn't fade out, so that's always an option.

Other than some weird pulling in my inner forearms when I stretch my arms above my head (which I attribute to his extending the lift past my elbows), I can do anything I want now... except jiggle. Jiggling still kinda hurts, so the trampoline is still on hold for a few more weeks.

I'm super excited to be able to go back to hip hop dance class and then get into the gym to start loading these guns... ;)

Woo!! What are your tattoos on your wrists?

The incisions look fantastic - you must be so excited! I can't WAIT to be cleared for "everything I want." My butt is sore from sitting so much and I miss being BUSY. Every so often there are yoga pictures on my FB feed and they make me almost want to cry - I miss yoga so bad!

Super happy for you though. Your arms look rocking.

your arms look beautiful!!!!

My tattoos are "yes" and "now".

I got the yes after I came out of three years of untreated PTSD/anxiety/depression after a pulmonary embolism almost killed me. I decided I wasn't going to waste my not dying on being too scared to say yes to things. I got the now two years later because it's all well and good to say yes, but don't dawdle about it: do it now!

And, thanks! I'm sure you'll be just as pleased with your results. It's such trip going outside the house and not covering up my arms. I feel so exposed! I also expect a lot of shoulder sunburns this summer. ;)

I love your tattoos! That's super powerful.

Just remember sunscreen :D

Woo! I went to my Hip Hop Fit class last night and danced like a fiend! It was so... weird and AMAZING to move my arms around without the flapping I'd become so accustomed to!

Unfortunately, I may have overdid it a little as the one wide bit on my arm, which had been closed, opened up a little and started weeping. Oops. I've covered it with some polysporin and it should be okay in a day or two.

Plus, holy crap... I didn't realize how much I missed DOING things. I know I wasn't exactly laying about for six weeks, but damn. I gotta get back on the cardio wagon, STAT.

Are you wearing (or supposed to wear) compression gear during exercise post-op? I feel like I'm going to be fearful of splitting at the seams once I start exercising if I'm not wearing compression stuff!

No! Doctor said to stop compression when I saw him the day before.

Of course, I'm wearing it again today just because it helps to keep my dressings on the openings. *shrug*

Yeah, that makes sense.

Still.. I feel like I'm going to be super nervous going back to exercise and want to tie myself all up :P What a mind game this is!

I'm sure I'm going to feel more wariness coming back from my LBL in October. There's so much more to worry about keeping from jiggling!

Just like my sleeve, this plastics journey is mostly mental once you're out of the acute pain/limited mobility stage, I've found.