Is burning normal after arm lift? How to help itchiness while healing? (photos)

Question

I have a continuous burning sensation under right arm. I am 10 days post op. I thought it was due to my garment rubbing. I cannot see incision due to tape covering it, but the incision was closed when I got stitches taken out at 7 days post op. is this normal?

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Let your plastic surgeon know about this.  If it is NOT getting better, he/she may prescribe you some medication to soothe irritated nerves.  Some burning sensation is normal and it should be getting better.  If it is not, we prescribe Gabapentin medication to our patients.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Dgirl206, thank
you for your question. Arm pain is not uncommon after a brachioplasty or arm
lift. Since you are 7 days post op from your arm lift, you should contact your
board certified plastic surgeon to be sure that everything is healing acceptably.
You may be experiencing an allergic reaction to the skin prep. If this is the
case, the skin should be gentle rinsed with soap and water. Do not use alcohol
because this is too abrasive for a fresh arm scar. Hopefully, you are just
experiencing swelling and with time it will go away. However, you may also be
having an allergic reaction to the bandages. To treat this, I would suggest
changing the bandages and applying a light cotton barrier between the scar and
ace bandage.

Sincerely,

J.
Timothy Katzen, M.D.

Is burning normal after arm lift? How to help itchiness while healing? (photos)

Answers (2)