Underarm Swelling Normal After BL/BA? (photo)

            Patients
undergoing breast augmentation with breast lift can anticipate significant
swelling in the immediate postoperative period. This swelling resolves quickly
with the vast majority being gone in about three weeks. Almost all of the
visible swelling is gone in 4 to 6 weeks, but small amounts of residual
swelling may be present for up to 3 to 4 months following surgery.

            Compression
bras and dressings are frequently used following breast augmentation with
breast lift to minimize swelling. Swelling can add to a patient’s postoperative
discomfort. It can also increase anxiety regarding breast size immediately
after surgery.

             For
these reasons, we feel it’s important for the patient and the surgeon to have
good communication regarding this topic immediately following surgery. In this
situation, a little reassurance can go a long way towards making this a more
comfortable experience.

 

Swelling in the area is normal after surgery, but if the area feels excessively warm to the touch or appeared suddenly, you should notify your surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about a compression garment as well, which could help with the swelling.

The photo demonstrates a fairly typical appearance to the breast two weeks after a mastopexy. Any contour issues should improve with time as the swelling subsides.

    After a full breast lift and breast augmentation, lateral chest wall pain is very common.  In the absence of a fluid collection or hematoma, swelling is normal to have in this area. 

Given your previous surgery and combining your augmentation with TT, it is not uncommon to have this swelling. As long as it does not seem to be progressing then it should begin to resolve. It likely will be about 6 weeks from surgery before it has all but gone. I usually recommend lymphatic massage to people who have persistent swelling. Your breast tissue probably just has some impaired "drainage" from the previous reduction. The lymphatic massage might help open up new channels and speed up the process. Either way, my guess is that it will be fine. My only other suggestion would be to not try and be too active too quickly. The more lifting and exercise you do, the more swelling you may get. Hang in there. Best of Luck!

It's not unusual to have some degree of swelling at lateral chest wall/under arm areas after your surgery, especially if it's only 2 weeks post surgery. As long as it's not getting bigger or more swollen each day, it's ok to allow time for the swelling to subside. If you notice a build up of fluid that you can see or shifts when you change position, then you should notify your plastic surgeon because you may be forming a seroma (fluid collection). At any case, regular follow up visits with your plastic surgeon is always a good idea after this type of surgery.

Best Wishes,

Hi,

  You are very early in the post op period and you need to be patient to see your results.  When a breast lift is done, the breast tissue can be pushed to the sides initially until there is some settling of the breast tissue.  Besides this, you would need to consider if some tissue was in this area before the breast lift.

  If this represents fluid, then you would need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.  I am assuming that the implant is not slipping into the axilla..armpit...but this would not be common.

  Stay close to discussions with your plastic surgeon and see what the steps are going to be for you.  If you still have this area in the future, then you should see if some liposuction (if it is fat) might flatten it for you.  Know your options.

Swlling is usually normal after surgery. Just make sure you do not have a seroma. Check with you plastic surgeon

It is difficult to give an accurate opinion without an in-person exam. However, you are very early on in your recovery. It is not at all unusual to have swelling at this point. The swelling should resolve over the next 3 months or so as your healing progresses. If the swelling or pain appears to be getting worse contact your surgeon to be evaluated.

Best of luck.

Very poorly exposed posted photo so very hard to see the issue. Could be seroma but best to seek in person second opinions.