How Long After a Full Brachioplasty Can Arm Exercise, Specifically Yoga, Be Resumed?

Great question. Many people want to resume exercise as soon as possible after surgery, but its important to allow adequate time for incisions to heal. Typically by 4 weeks, you can resume light activity (ie walking). More vigorous activity (ie yoga) which involves more stretching of the arms and armpit areas (think "down dog", "warrior poses" etc.), will require a longer time to resume, usually 6 - 8 weeks. Before resuming any exercise program after surgery, check with your surgeon to make sure that everything has healed properly and your cleared for exercise. As hard as it is, always err on the side of caution. If it hurts, hold off another week. Remember to listen to your body. Good luck.

Thank you for your question regarding when you can resume exercise after a full brachioplasty or arm lift/reduction. Most patients are generally healed by approximately 4-6 weeks after arm lift or arm reduction. During that time, gentle massage can be applied. You should be able to resume complete arm activities in approximately 6-8 weeks. If, however, your incision is compromised. Your return to activity will be extended. During the recovery period after your arm lifts, it is essential to apply compression. Your plastic surgeon will guide you on this. Typically, arm compression is applied for approximately six weeks to minimize swelling and optimize results. Compression also helps to flatten the scar and provides stability to healing. Thank you for your question regarding when you can resume exercise after a full brachioplasty or arm lift/reduction.
I specialize in arm lifts. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, please contact my office. Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts. Do your research. Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts. Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” 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.)

Brachiooplasty recovery varies from patient to patient and depends upon a variety of factors including the type of procedure performed, the patient's wound healing characteristics and the patient's overall health.The vast majority of patients are able to resume normal activities in 2 to 3 weeks following surgery. Strenuous activity, yoga and heavy lifting should be avoided for at least 6 to 8 weeks following this procedure.If you're considering brachioplasty, it's important to discuss post-operative activity with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to outline an exercise regimen that doesn't adversely impact your surgical result.

After a full brachioplasty, it usually takes four to six weeks to resume exercise, specifically yoga. 

If I perform a mini arm lift with or without lipo I find patients are able to exercise within 2 weeks. A full arm lift that may or may not go down the chest wall is typically sore and swollen for up to a month. At around 4 weeks aerobic exercises can be started with weights around 6 weeks. Love arm lifts and they are on the rise!

Recovery following brachioplasty will involve limited activity for 2-3 weeks after surgery. Return to physical exercise will then likely be slow and progressive over a few weeks. The exact amount of time will likely vary depending upon the rate of healing. A compression sleeve is recommended for about six weeks after surgery to reduce swelling and help recontouring. The medial arm heals differently than other body areas, and scarring may take 12-24 months to improve.
Best wishes. Ken Dembny

The basic rule of thumb with regards to exercise is to wait 6 weeks in order to resume regular exercise, including the gym and weight lifting. This is not to say that you cannot do light exercise at 3 or 4 weeks, however, as most people know, yoga is not to be considered light work out. Therefore, I would suggest you wait the full 6 weeks.
All the best.

I usually ask my patients from exercising (running, jogging) for 3-4 weeks.  If you are going to do vigorous exercise or stretching (yoga), I would ask you to wait for 6 weeks.  Postoperative care/recommendation varies slightly among plastic surgeons.  It would be better if you be seen by your plastic surgeon and be cleared by him/her prior to certain exercise.  Best wishes.

A brachioplasty is essentially an upper arm lift. In this procedure, the excess hanging skin and fat in the upper arm is removed. Its the procedure used to correct the common "bat wing" of skin that manifests in patients who have lost a significant amount of weight.   Most of my patients are able to get back to a desk job 5-7 days after surgery.  However, I recommend no heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks.   If an upper trunk lift is involved, I may recommend holding off working out (heavy lifting/strenuous activity) for 5-6 weeks.  I generally recommend compression garments for about 3-4 weeks after surgery.

Best wishes,

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX

It takes about 6 weeks for healing incisions to reach 90% of their ultimate "bursting strength," and for that reason most surgeons recommend 6 weeks before heavy exertion of the affected areas. If you avoid positions that cause discomfort, you should be in a safe zone of activity. Specific questions are best addressed to your surgeon, who has followed your recovery. 

All the best.