OT: Brachioplasty?

I have been talking to my dr (not the OB/GYN), who  is leaving for her next post Sunday ().  She told me there's a plastic surgeon she has met w/and talked to on behalf of someone who wanted surgery done here...and that he is good (trained in Germany).  I plan on talking to the dr to see if I'm comfortable w/him...and if this month is a 'bust,' I may see if I can get it done before starting again next month.

Obviously I cannot do my whole list of plastics while TTC (body lift/tummy tuck/boob job (lift only, not implants), etc)...but for those of you who've had it - can you give me a clue on what brachioplasty was like?  What was the recovery like?  When could you go back to work? any special instructions from the dr? Would it be possible to do the boob lift and the arms at the same time?  If I'm only getting a lift - no reduction, no implants - would that effect potential pregnancy if I were to get pg immediately after?  I don't mind a little re-sag...I just hate granny boobs.

I have tried to get to the board for plastic surgery...but think I am a techno-idiot, because I can't get any message board...only the homepage w/advertisements.

Suggestions on appropriate questions to ask would be appreciated.

Hi Holly!!  I had brachioplasty done June 14th, 07 and am sooo happy that I did, even though my scars are TERRIBLE!!  I do blame that on me though.  I had surgery on a Thursday at 4pm and was back to work within a week.  I did go back to work with my arms still bandaged up and did still have one drain in, but I was able to keep it hidden and got it out the next afternoon.  It was a pretty easy surgery and not too painful.  My arms look sooo much better than they did before, it is amazing.  I wish I had my measurements with me, but I got my arms measured at the gym on Wednesday and they are now 9.75" around, I think before my surgery they were close to 15 and had some nasty hanging skin.  I was so embarrased.  My scars are pretty bad but I blame myself because I went tubing down the river before they were completely healed.  The river in AZ doesn't flow very fast so sometimes you have to paddle yourself so you don't get stuck and I irritated  my arms from them rubbing up against the rubber tube.  I might check in to a scar revision some day.  Here are some pictures for you...

Pre-surgery 6/14/07


One Day after 6/15/07



One Month out

Thanks Malena.  Scars or no scars...you've got to be so much more 'mentally' comfortable w/your arms now.  I have the same 'bat wing' arms.  My son (14 years old) teases me sometimes and comes up and flaps the skin around....which doesn't offend me because I know he's joking...but I hate them.  I will probably call next week and make an appointment to at least talk to the dr here and see if I'm comfortable w/him doing them...then wait the rest of my 2ww just to make sure one way or the other if this was a successful month, and if not, see if he could squeeze me in before the 2ww next month.  I can live w/sore arms...it'll be worth it.  I have a pretty sedantary job 90% of the time...and can always get someone else to do what little 'heavy' lifting I have to do...plus I have leave up the ying-yang that is use it or lose it (4 weeks worth) for this year.    I highly doubt my arms would come down to 9.75" though...For whatever reason, my upper arms have pretty big muscles...not hercules...but definitely muscular...then I have little wrists that measure only about six inches around.  Go figure.  The only naturally 'skinny' part of my body is very skinny.

I had my plastics well before TTC - BUT they were one of the best things I ever did ! 

They did caution me that breast reconstruction (even without implants) COULD hinder breast feeding.  I will find out soon enough.....    I had an entire "upper body lift" arms and a circumfrance cut all the way around my body.  They did my breasts and everything at the same time.   My arms had to be cut down to the elbow because of how much skin I had.  

I was off work for 3 weeks.... I probably could have come back in 2 weeks, but  I had a job that kept me walking / moving  a lot.

I had to keep my arms elevated above my heart level for at least a week (so the blood doesn't pool) and I wore binders on my arms. (Picture walking like a zombie) 

I was up and walking 2+ miles a day a week after surgery.... just limited mobility with my arms. 

As far as pregnancy ?  Well I don't see why it would be a problem..... I mean your body would be well healed before the baby came.  Although I suppose your breasts would be SUPER sore from the plastics and the tenderness of pregnancy if you were successful in TTC within a few months !   (But it'd be worth it, IMHO)  

I am posting a before and after picture of my arms....  

 




(Sorry - this was the only picture I could find "after" arms!) 

Good Luck !

Cindy

OMG...I just noticed the big ol' lizard by your feet!  Aaaackkk.....!

I found one more after picture !  You can see a little blip under my left arm.... but I pulled out the stitches trying to do too much... probably my fault.  Wish I had better pictures of my scares which are almost invisible ! 

Thanks Cindy.  I will call and see if I can get an appointment to at least talk to the dr this weekend...If I do anything, I'll start w/the arms, consider the boobs...and save the rest for either after pregnancy or for a few years from now if that doesn't work out...just so I don't have to waste TTC time on recovering from surgery.  I'm 41 w/my biological clock screaming...so want to try for another baby now then do the rest of the plastics rather than do the plastics and wait a year to recover before TTC...

Looking at your stomach, it doesn't even really look like you have any body lift type scars!  Amazing.

I hope first of all  this is your month Holly....you are so patient and deserve it so much.....

I have not had arms done (and may or may not) but have had friends who have had them done...some people took it harder than others....one friend described it as like rubber bands wrapped around her arms.....but their arms look awesome....and I encourage little movement too....another friend did breasts and arms together...that is how the PS encouraged us....I did breasts and did not end up breastfeeding only because my nipples end up being too short and flat and he had a hard time latching...but I definitely had milk.....

I hope you get your BFP and then can work on the next PS piece.....

Hugs,

Ann

Thanks Ann.  I hope this is the month...but have a feeling it's not.  Fertility Friend isn't even my friend...it can't even tell when/if I ovulated.  I'll find out Tuesday when I go see the dr.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to breastfeed w/or w/o surgery because I have inverted nipples.  I was not able to bf my son, but my dr (who is flying out to her next post in just a few hours  ) says that there has been progress in helping women bf when they have inverted nipples.  I'd like too do it if possible...but if it's not...I'm OK w/formula too.

Did you try pumping milk at all when Nathan wasn't able to latch on?