Muscle in armpit swollen/painful to move after breast augmentation?

Question

I got my breast augmentation 2 weeks ago (325 cc ) and I got the incisions through the armpit. Everything has been healing great except I still can't completely lift my arms up, I get a sharp pain in my armpit that stretches to my elbow and almost feels like it's one connected muscle that's stuck there and I can feel it and see it in my armpit. Is this normal for awhile or does it go away eventually?

Eric Schaffer, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your recent breast surgery.  Your experience with not being able to completely lift your arms straight up and the tightness in your upper arm is common with surgery patients.  To assist your arm in stretching, place your thumb at the base of your armpit and massage the tightness all the way down the arm to the elbow.  It will take a little bit of time for you to recover completely, it takes a bit of patience.  Good luck.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question. You may be describing a mondor's cord, nerve-related pain or tension related to deep internal sutures creating the pulling sensation. I recommend that you visit your Plastic Surgeon for assessment.All the best

J. Dayne Petersen, MD · Answer

In my office we call this chords. It doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen. As stated before, make sure you are massaging and stretching. Stretching would be reaching as far to the ceiling as you can and any other positions that you feel the pull. They usually appear a week or so after surgery and can persist for a few weeks after it has developed. Stretching and massaging will aid in the elimination of the chords. 
I wish you the best of luck and if further assistance or demonstration is needed, I suggest calling your surgeon or scheduling an in person follow up.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Contact your surgeon for an appointment.  An examination is necessary to determine if this is part of the normal healing process or something more.

Edward P. Miranda, MD, FACS · Answer

The pain you are describing sounds nerve related. I would recommend going to see your surgeon for an examination to discuss this further and determine what might be causing this sensation.

Paul M. Parker, MD, FACS · Answer

Notify you plastic surgeon about what you are experiencing. They will want to examine you to evaluate your findings. Something like this cannot be diagnosed or treated via computer.

Muscle in armpit swollen/painful to move after breast augmentation?

Answers (6)

Answer: Pain under arm

Answer: Pain under arm

Answer: Pain after Breast Augmentation

Answer: Pain after Breast Augmentation

Answer: S/p BA

Answer: S/p BA

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

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Muscle in armpit swollen/painful to move after breast augmentation?

Answers (6)

Answer: Pain under arm

Answer: Pain under arm

Answer: Pain after Breast Augmentation

Answer: Pain after Breast Augmentation

Answer: S/p BA

Answer: S/p BA

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.