Weight gain after brachioplasty & lift with augmentation. How long until I return to my normal weight?

Thank you for your question regarding weight gain after brachioplasty & lift with augmentation, and how long until I return to my normal weight? Thank you for your history. Weight gain after surgery is expected. During the healing phase, your body goes through an inflammatory stage. During the inflammatory stage, cells are rushed to the area of trauma. Cells are transferred and ”leak” (or exit) the bloodstream by way of the capillaries into the surrounding soft tissue. This process is called “third spacing” or “edema”. You will see third-spacing as swelling. Most patients see swelling in the area of surgery and in more dependent regions, like the calves and ankles. In general, your body needs this fluid in the soft tissue to heal. Compression garments, elevation, and lymphatic massage can help reduce swelling. You can minimize the swelling by limiting salt intake and avoiding MSG. Do not avoid fluids. In fact, quite the opposite. Since fluid has escaped your circulation, you are probably dehydrated. So, even though you appear swollen, you should continue drinking plenty of fluids, such as water and electrolyte replacement drinks. Usually, if you are healthy, have no kidney problems, and have no history of ankle swelling, most of your post-operative swelling will be gone after 10 to 14 days. All your swelling should be gone after six to eight weeks of surgery. Good luck. I hope I have answered your question about weight gain after brachioplasty & lift with augmentation, and how long it will take to return to your normal weight. Since an arm lift can be a challenging surgery, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of lifts. Do your research.  Make sure they have performed at least 150 arm lift procedures.  Make sure they have the before-and-after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before-and-after photos and review their RealSelf profile.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS (Plastic Surgeon, President of  the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,  and  member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Congratulations on your surgery and your recovery!  It will take some time for your body to return to your normal weight, as there is a period of edema and swelling at your surgical sites, which is a normal part of healing, as well as fluid retention and slow GI tract function that can transiently add to your weight.  With brachioplasty, the weight of your excess skin is removed; however, remember that you also underwent augmentation, which will add the additional weight of the implants used.  I counsel my patients to wait six months up to one year for their final results.  Your plastic surgeon will be able to address your concerns during your recovery and follow up period. 

So the inflammation associated with this kind of surgery can be fairly profound and leave you with weight and fluid retention for up to 3 months. It is the greatest source of disappointment in the early stages as people don't feel any different. The true result only comes from 3 - 6 months so patience is the key. Hope that helpsAdam Goodwin

Hi
It's not uncommon to retain fluid after surgery and typically after a few days the fluid should have started mobilizing and dissipating  assuming you have no confounding medical issues.
Pls make sure you see your PS to be sure this is nothing more than just a benign fluid retention which should resolve in a matter of a few weeks typically - especially as you get more active.
I hope this helps.....

Thank you for this wonderful question! I am always very careful to discuss with my patients the need to refrain from stepping on the scale following surgery due to the swelling and subsequent weight gain that takes place. Typically your swelling will start to subside over the first few weeks following surgery and will continue to improve over the next 2-3 months. I schedule all of my brachioplasty patients for a lymphatic massage at 4 weeks post-operative to help reduce swelling and learn massage techniques they are able to continue at home. I encourage you to follow up with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon as he/she may have a post-care plan designed specifically for you that will encompass recovery and swelling reduction. I do hope you have found this information helpful and I wish you luck! 

You are correct in knowing that you have swelling and are retaining fluid following surgery.  This is the body's normal response to surgical operations such as brachioplasty, breast augmentation, and breast lift. Because of this, weighing yourself in the first few weeks after surgery is meaningless, since the extra weight is really not your actual weight.  It normally takes several weeks to two or three months for your body to shed all the fluid retained from surgical swelling.