I had an arm lift 5 weeks ago. I have all these wrinkles on both arms. Is that normal? (Photo)

Hi Micb, Thank you for your arm pictures and question after your "arm lift".  You state that you had an "arm lift" (brachioplasty), but I see no arm scar.  Perhaps, your arm lift scars are not in the picture.  An arm lift removes excess arm skin and fat.  There are three types of upper arm lifts: a crescent arm lift, a modified T arm lift, and a longitudinal upper arm lift.  In a crescent arm lift, a crescent shaped piece of upper arm skin and fat is removed.  The crescent arm lift scar is concealed high in the arm pit. The modified T arm lift involves a crescent arm pit incision with a small extension (about 6 -8 cm) down the upper, inner arm.  The longitudinal upper arm lift involves an incision from the arm pit to the elbow.  In the two pictures of the arms you provided, I see no "arm lift" scar.  Therefore, I have to assume that you had arm liposuction.  "Wrinkles, shrinkles, and ripples" after arm liposuction are very common. Older age, cigarette smoke, chronic sun exposure,  and a hiss try of massive weight loss (greater than 100 lbs.) significantly increase the chance of developing ripples after arm liposuction.  I would suggest you continue your arm compression for several more weeks or even months.  There is no harm in wearing your arm compression garment.  I have my arm liposuction patients wear their garments for a minimum of six weeks.  My arm patients will wear their arm garments longer if there is swelling or wrinkling. Please be sure you use a medical grade arm compression garment.  Please be sure your arm garment is tight and extends from the arm pit to below your elbows.  I would also suggest post-op manual lymphatic massage, ultrasonic cavitation, or even vacuum massage to tighten the your arm skin.  Good luck! Thank you for your questions regarding the appearance of your arms from what appears to be arm liposuction.  If you have any other questions regarding arm liposuction, arm lifts, arm reductions, or brachioplasties, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. 

5 weeks post-op is still early days. I would treat these wrinkles with stretching exercises and massaging the skin in this area. 

It takes several months for full healing. At 5 weeks, you shouldn't need compression unless your arms still swell at times.Close follow up with your plastic surgeon is recommended.

The wrinkled, gathered look is very common after arm lifts due to the swelling that sets in and the nature of the surgery itself.  Give yourself 3 to 6 months. Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Usually these lines are related to tension on the scars. Massaging the scars at this time is probably the best treatment but I would run your concerns past your PS who can advise on massage and scar management. 

Thanks for your question and photographs.  You are still in the early stages of your post operative recovery.  It takes several months for the swelling to resolve and you will continue to see improvements in your results.

Hello dear!!

Thanks for the question and provided information as well. 

I have to say that you are still early on healing process, it
is too soon to determine how your results are going to be, per now,
they look very nice. The healing process depends on each patient, most of the time is
between 6 months and one year to see the final results. 
 I recommend you contact your PS to discuss with him/her your concerns. Good luck :)

It may not correct all the changes of aging, avoiding sun and cigarettes will help. Arm exercises will help. Compression garment helps skin shrinkage. Don't gain wait.