Incision puckering 2 weeks after arm lift. Will this heal smooth and flat? (Photo)

Question

I had an armlift 13 days ago. My incisions appear to be healing well (from what i can see). The silicone strips are still on. There is a bunch of puckering going on. Are the strips causing this? Will this heal smooth and flat? I am worried that I will have funky looking arms. I think I'm one of the lucky ones with healing armpits though...

Angelica Kavouni, MD, PhD, FRCS(Eng) · Answer

The healing phase after any plastic surgery can be very frustrating as every patient has an idea in their head of how the result should look and after 2 weeks feel they are nowhere near!
I'm afraid you'll need to have some patience with the healing process.  The freshly cut tissue needs time to settle and to be honest you shouldn't expect the final result to take shape for several months yet.  The swelling which adds to the 'puckered' appearance appearance takes time to dissipate. 
It will probably take up to a year for your scars to fully mature into the thin white (almost invisible) lines we all like to see.
Have you been given tubigrip/elastic arm bands to wear?  You must follow your recovery instructions closely - also arm elevation can be tricky as we go about our daily lives but this is very important for armlift recovery.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy the final results of your armlift

John J. O'Brien, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your questions and  photos. You are only 2 weeks following the procedure so it is quite normal to have significant swelling. Her scars will continue to mature for the first 9-12 months with you should see significant improvement within the first 4-6 weeks. Continue to follow up with your treating physician. Best of luck with you for continued recovery.

David J. Wages, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos.  In the first few weeks after any surgery one will have swelling and contour irregularities.  For most patients, this will smooth out in a few weeks to months depending upon one's own tissue characteristics.  For some it can be as soon as a month and for others up to six months.  At two weeks, it looks good and there is no reason to doubt it will smooth out with time.  Be patient.  Good luck.

Sharline Z. Aboutanos, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Yes, puckering is normal at this stage of healing. This can be a result of the continued swelling you are having (which is expected). It should improve over the next weeks to months. Your plastic surgeon can examine you over time to make sure that you are healing correctly. Good luck with your recovery.

Incision puckering 2 weeks after arm lift. Will this heal smooth and flat? (Photo)

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Answer: Puckering After Brachioplasty

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Incision puckering 2 weeks after arm lift. Will this heal smooth and flat? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Puckering After Brachioplasty

Answer: Puckering After Brachioplasty

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Everything you need to know about Arm Lift

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