I just had lipo of my axillary with breast augmentation a week ago. My liposuction area is causing so much pain. Is this normal?

Question

The pain is the worst in the mornings. It feels like somebody is stabbing my armpit while It pulses. It resides through the day, but I can always feel the pain from It. This pain is making me so uncomfortable and 8 days out I feel more pain from my armpit than from my breast augmentation. I am a small girl. 110 pounds and 5’5, I got lipo of the armpit because I had random fat pockets there and with my breast augmentation felt like perfect time.

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

The discomfort you are feeling may be from the liposuction procedure, but it may also be from your breast augmentation if your implants are behind the muscle.  In some patients there is some irritation of the muscle after the procedure which will result in referred pain to the axilla, even if they didn't have the liposuction performed.With time it will improve.  I would however discuss this with your plastic surgeon to make certain that everything is going in the right direction.Hope that helps.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Pain can be variable for patients who have had liposuction. If necessary, this pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications and neurontin. If it persists, I recommend following up with your Doctor. It can take 3-6 months for final results with liposuction. I suggest lymphatic massage, hyperbaric oxygen, and RF treatments like venus legacy to help reduce any swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

BrittneyAnn,armpits are sensitive area but you should start feeling better 8 days after surgery. If you have any concerns, I would suggest you to discuss them with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

The axillary region is highly sensitive and liposuction hurts, so it is very plausible that you'd have disproportionate pain in that area after removal of the fat pads. Check with your surgeon to make sure you don't have fluid collections (seromas) or bleeding (hematoma) that could be responsible for unusually severe pain. Management of normal postop liposuction pain can include narcotic pain meds, muscle relaxants and other maneuvers like heating pads, etc. under the guidance of your plastic surgeon. Nerves can also be "stunned" by working in their vicinity and can cause a "lightning"-like sensation zapping in the area periodically; this is sometimes treated by Neurontin, a drug for neuropathic pain. Your surgeon should have some approaches to try to reduce your discomfort and is the best person to judge whether there is cause for concern or other intervention.

Daniel Yamini, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. The armpit area is a very sensitive area because it is attached to the pectoralis muscles where the surgery is performed. The pain you have may not only be from the liposuction, but as well as the breast augmentation. Depending on how the implant was placed, whether behind or in front of the muscle, can also affect the level of pain you are currently experiencing.  You will start to feel less and less pain with each day. Be sure to follow up with your plastic surgeon postoperatively. Best of luck!

I just had lipo of my axillary with breast augmentation a week ago. My liposuction area is causing so much pain. Is this normal?

Answers (5)

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