Pain down arm after transaxillary breast augmentation. (Photo)

Question

I am 18 days post op breast augmentation 450 cc via transax. I spoke with my surgeon regarding pain down my arm and a very tight, hairline vein that is radiating pain all the way to my wrist. The picture is of my inner arm (elbow) - it's hard to see but that is the little vein causing the pain. I can press on it and feel the tightness and pain. He's got surgery tomorrow and said to see him the following day. Any suggestions for how I can relieve this pain in the meantime? It's intense.

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

Post transaxillary breast augmentation, the tight veins or ligaments in one's arms are in fact not veins or ligaments, but rather clotted lymphatics.  These lymphatics which drain the swelling out of hands and other parts of the body routinely get injured in transaxillary breast augmentations.  They have been incorrectly called Mondor's veins, but these are not veins, and Dr. Mondor named clotted veins under the breasts on the chest wall after breast surgery.Gentle massaging or stretching these clotted lymphatics, which often go from the armpit past the elbow to the wrist, lessens the discomfort and hastens the resolution.  If you were my patient, I would recommend pushing past the discomfort and using your hands, arms, elbows, etc. to help stretch out these tight cords.  These are annoying but will resolve with time.  Some surgeons put direct pressure on these to interrupt the continuity of these clotted lymphatic vessels.  I highly recommend you listen to your personal plastic surgeon as he or she probably has a better handle on the etiology and treatment of these non-Mondor cords.

Eric Schaffer, MD, FACS · Answer

Congratulations on your recent surgery.  Some patients will experience the tightness and pain down the arm after having Breast surgery.  This will resolve with time on its own or you can massage the tightness starting at the armpit and work your way down the arm to alleviate pain.  Some patients have had luck with a portable massager to the area.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Pain following transaxillary breast augmentation which travels down the inside of the arm can be caused by traction on the nerves during surgery.  Usually this is transitory and resolves However it is important that you would be examined by a plastic surgeon which have already set up.

Pain down arm after transaxillary breast augmentation. (Photo)

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Pain down arm after transaxillary breast augmentation. (Photo)

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