Should arms still flap back and forth after a brachioplasty?

Dear TT Grandma,

First, it's commendable to be attentive to your body's healing process post-surgery. It's essential to have clarity during the recovery phase to ensure peace of mind and satisfactory outcomes.

Here are some points to consider regarding your concerns:

Swelling and Firmness: At 5 weeks post-brachioplasty, it's entirely typical for the arms to still have swelling. This swelling can mask the final results of the procedure, potentially giving the appearance or feeling of more looseness than there will be once the swelling has subsided.

Natural Arm Movement: Some degree of movement in the arms, especially in the underarm area, is natural. Complete tightness would restrict arm motion and would not be a desired outcome of the surgery.

Healing Timeframe: It's important to remember that the full healing process and final appearance after a brachioplasty can take several months. Over this period, the skin and tissues will settle, scars will mature, and the final results will become more apparent.

Previous Experience: While you mention concerns related to a past tummy tuck, it's crucial to approach each surgery and recovery individually. Different body areas and procedures have unique healing processes and timelines.

Communication with Your Surgeon: Given your concerns, especially in light of your previous experience with the tummy tuck, I would strongly recommend scheduling a follow-up with your plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your arms, discuss the healing timeline further, and provide guidance on what you can expect in the coming weeks and months.

While it's understandable to have concerns, especially in the early post-operative period, patience is key. The body needs time to adjust and settle. However, always voice your concerns with your surgeon, as open communication ensures that you're on the right path and any issues can be addressed promptly.

Wishing you a smooth and satisfactory recovery.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

It is hard to advise you on this
matter without your before and after pictures. That being said, it would look
quite unnatural to pull the skin of arms so tight that there was no relaxation
of the tissue at all. Without pictures it is hard to say if what you are
describing is normal or if perhaps your surgeon did not take as much skin as
you would have liked. I recommend voicing your concerns with
your plastic surgeon. Best regards.Jaime Perez, MDPlastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Thanks for your question, although its difficult to assess your situation in the absence of any photographs.  If too much skin is removed during brachioplasty surgery then its impossible to close the wound.  Following surgery you would expect the skin to be firm although there is usually some relaxation of the result.  You should discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

There are a few factors that affect the amount of skin to be removed in a brachioplasty. The main rate limiting step is that we have to be able to close the skin safely. Noone ever wants a super tight result if it means the whole wound is going to go black and fall apart one week after surgery! The other thing to consider are the overall aesthetics of your arms. It looks very unnatural and unappealing to have an arm that is smaller and narrower than your forearms. I often take a little less skin than what I could in order to respect the size ratio between a person's forearm and their upper arm. Most importantly, don't ask us, ask your plastic surgeon. I am sure they will reassure you and have a good explanation. 

I am sorry to hear about your concerns after arm lifting surgery. Without viewing photographs or in-person examination, however is not possible to provide you with any specific assessment/advice. Best to continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon who will always be your best resource. If, in the longer-term, you remain displeased, it may be possible to remove additional skin/subcutaneous tissues safely to improve your outcome.  Best wishes.

All skin relaxes after surgery. Sometimes it can be unpredictable. However, by 6 weeks, the swelling should be down and what you see may be what you get. Brachioplasty is difficult, because if you take too much skin, you can't close the wound. If you don't take enough, there may be some looseness. Even if its very tight on the day of surgery, things can still loosen up significantly. Sometimes surgeons take photos of all the skin they remove. You may want to ask about that. Good luck!

The skin undergoes post-op swelling but if elasticity is less than optimal there may be no recoil; in other words, you may have some skin excess.More can be removed but not put back; limiting tension may benefit scar quality as well.In short, things will probably work out for the best.Hope this helps.