Hello James_Metahuman in Naples, FL. Thank you for your question regarding the fact that you are 15 days post-op from a brachioplasty and you are experiencing “deep” numbness in the lower part of your left forearm. Thank you for your history. You need to mention these complaints to your arm lift plastic surgeon. Numbness in your forearm after an arm lift may be due to several factors, including edema (swelling), dressings or a garment that is too tight, or improper positioning. More serious problems contributing to forearm numbness after an arm lift could include a hematoma (a collection of blood) or a seroma (a collection of serous fluid). These fluid-filled pockets may compress the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve (MACN). The MACN runs superficially in the upper medial arm, right in the middle of a longitudinal brachioplasty. During a brachioplasty, plastic surgeons must exercise caution because the MACN crosses the surgical field multiple times. The typical clinical presentation of MACN injury is sensory loss, numbness, dysesthesia, or burning pain to the medial forearm. The MACN is a purely sensory nerve, so no motor or movement functions are damaged or altered. Fortunately, MACN transections are rare, and usually, medial forearm numbness resolves over time. Nonetheless, you should follow-up with your plastic surgeon immediately. Most plastic surgeons would agree that fifteen days after a brachioplasty is too early to involve a Neurologist. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction, and specifically your question regarding the fact that you are 15 days post-op from a brachioplasty and you are experiencing “deep” numbness in the lower part of your left forearm. If you have any further questions regarding arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty, arm scar revision, or arm crease fat grafting, consult an experienced plastic surgeon. To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a free virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. 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. Ensure they have performed at least 150 arm-lift procedures. Ensure they have the before-and-after pictures to substantiate it. Carefully examine their before-and-after photographs and review their RealSelf profiles. 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.)
