Arm Lift Experience!
So, on August 16, 2017, I had my arm lift surgery or brachioplasty. Going into it, I was very excited, and I had fully expected for there to be some pain and some challenges. I had it in my head that I would be laid up for awhile and things were just going to be challenging for awhile. Well, this has been a way easier experience than I anticipated, and even though it was a pretty major surgery, it hasn't felt all that major. Let me just explain.
On the day of my surgery, I went in at around 11:00 and they got me all prepped, hooked me to an IV an things like that. And my plastic surgeon actually has an operating room in his office, so I was at his office, and not a hospital. Shortly before my surgery, my surgeon came in, he drew on my arms and made marks where he was going to do the cutting, and where he was going to do the liposuction. And then after that, I was given the "happy juice" and then brought to the operating room where I was put to sleep. The surgery lasted around 3 hours. Once I was awake, they gave me some ice chips, got me up and brought me to the bathroom, and helped me get dressed, and then I went home. I had absolutely no pain when I woke up, and my arms were wrapped up in a lot of bandages and they just felt very tight and heavy. Later on that evening, my armpits did start to feel sore, so I did take a pain pill that night, but I mostly slept.
The next day is probably when I had the most pain. But my arms themselves were not sore, just my armpits. And even that pain was not all that bad. It was mostly just uncomfortable. As in on a pain scale of 1-10, it was maybe a 4 at the worst. I just took my pain meds to stay on top of it and keep myself comfortable. The really difficult thing was the fact that I had very little movement and function of my arms. Most movements hurt and were uncomfortable. And I had to learn how to do things with very little movement. But each day gradually got a little better and a little better. The other hard part was the fact I was not allowed to take off the bandages or take a shower. So I had to sponge bathe. I stayed by my aunts house during that time period so she could help me out with that, since I really didn't want my Dad and Brother doing that.
After a week of being in the bandages, I went back to my doctor and he took off the bandages and looked at my arms. It was also my first time seeing my arms. I was in shock over what they looked like. I LOVED them! I couldn't even believe they were my arms! They were still really swollen and bruised looking, which that is normal and that is what he expected. My doctor was overall very happy with how they looked and said they looked just as he expected they would be. He gave me the go ahead to shower and just told me to use some bandage wrap to keep them wrapped up yet to help with the swelling.
So, now, I am 11 days post-op. I am feeling great. The only times my arms really hurt is if they get pumped, or squeezed, or if I accidentally try to pick something up that is a little too heavy. They also tend to be just a tiny bit sore when I first wake up in the morning. I still have lifting restrictions, so no heavy lifting. I almost have my fully range of motion back in my arms. There are still some things that are a little sore when I try to do them, but for the most part its all good. I also still am not allowed to do any working out. Just going for walks, and your basic everyday stuff. I can't do anything that gets my heart rate up and gets my blood pumping too much. The incisions need to be fully healed before I can do that. The only other thing I have, is actually my arms are quite numb at the moment, which is normal. It is because there were nerves that were cut into an put back together and such. As time goes on I will start to get feeling back in my arms. And the numbness is starting to go away a little bit. It will just take time.
So, overall, this experience, so far, has been WAY easier than I anticipated! I have had very little pain, and have recovered very smoothly. The only hard thing for me has been the fact that I have not been allowed or able to do very much, so there has been a lot of sitting around and taking it easy. Which is a very hard thing for me to do, because I am very busy person who tries to stay active, especially since I have had all my weight loss. And not being able to be busy and active has been kind of hard and has been a struggle. But I have been doing well and been working at making sure I still make good eating choices and have been trying to go for walks so I don't have any major weight gain! So far, so good! But, I am so glad I did this surgery, I have no regrets, and am so happy with the results so far. I cannot wait to see what my arms look like once all the swelling is gone and they are 100% healed, because it will be amazing! If you are considering having this surgery, I recommend it! It really is not so bad, at all!
On the day of my surgery, I went in at around 11:00 and they got me all prepped, hooked me to an IV an things like that. And my plastic surgeon actually has an operating room in his office, so I was at his office, and not a hospital. Shortly before my surgery, my surgeon came in, he drew on my arms and made marks where he was going to do the cutting, and where he was going to do the liposuction. And then after that, I was given the "happy juice" and then brought to the operating room where I was put to sleep. The surgery lasted around 3 hours. Once I was awake, they gave me some ice chips, got me up and brought me to the bathroom, and helped me get dressed, and then I went home. I had absolutely no pain when I woke up, and my arms were wrapped up in a lot of bandages and they just felt very tight and heavy. Later on that evening, my armpits did start to feel sore, so I did take a pain pill that night, but I mostly slept.
The next day is probably when I had the most pain. But my arms themselves were not sore, just my armpits. And even that pain was not all that bad. It was mostly just uncomfortable. As in on a pain scale of 1-10, it was maybe a 4 at the worst. I just took my pain meds to stay on top of it and keep myself comfortable. The really difficult thing was the fact that I had very little movement and function of my arms. Most movements hurt and were uncomfortable. And I had to learn how to do things with very little movement. But each day gradually got a little better and a little better. The other hard part was the fact I was not allowed to take off the bandages or take a shower. So I had to sponge bathe. I stayed by my aunts house during that time period so she could help me out with that, since I really didn't want my Dad and Brother doing that.
After a week of being in the bandages, I went back to my doctor and he took off the bandages and looked at my arms. It was also my first time seeing my arms. I was in shock over what they looked like. I LOVED them! I couldn't even believe they were my arms! They were still really swollen and bruised looking, which that is normal and that is what he expected. My doctor was overall very happy with how they looked and said they looked just as he expected they would be. He gave me the go ahead to shower and just told me to use some bandage wrap to keep them wrapped up yet to help with the swelling.
So, now, I am 11 days post-op. I am feeling great. The only times my arms really hurt is if they get pumped, or squeezed, or if I accidentally try to pick something up that is a little too heavy. They also tend to be just a tiny bit sore when I first wake up in the morning. I still have lifting restrictions, so no heavy lifting. I almost have my fully range of motion back in my arms. There are still some things that are a little sore when I try to do them, but for the most part its all good. I also still am not allowed to do any working out. Just going for walks, and your basic everyday stuff. I can't do anything that gets my heart rate up and gets my blood pumping too much. The incisions need to be fully healed before I can do that. The only other thing I have, is actually my arms are quite numb at the moment, which is normal. It is because there were nerves that were cut into an put back together and such. As time goes on I will start to get feeling back in my arms. And the numbness is starting to go away a little bit. It will just take time.
So, overall, this experience, so far, has been WAY easier than I anticipated! I have had very little pain, and have recovered very smoothly. The only hard thing for me has been the fact that I have not been allowed or able to do very much, so there has been a lot of sitting around and taking it easy. Which is a very hard thing for me to do, because I am very busy person who tries to stay active, especially since I have had all my weight loss. And not being able to be busy and active has been kind of hard and has been a struggle. But I have been doing well and been working at making sure I still make good eating choices and have been trying to go for walks so I don't have any major weight gain! So far, so good! But, I am so glad I did this surgery, I have no regrets, and am so happy with the results so far. I cannot wait to see what my arms look like once all the swelling is gone and they are 100% healed, because it will be amazing! If you are considering having this surgery, I recommend it! It really is not so bad, at all!
Comments
Post a Comment