Thank you for your question regarding swelling in inner elbows after brachioplasty. Swelling after surgery is normal after surgery, especially after an arm lift or brachioplasty. Swelling is your body’s natural response to trauma, including arm lift surgery. However, sometimes excess swelling can restrict blood flow, worsen swelling, increase tension, and impede healing. Since you are seven weeks from your brachioplasty, most plastic surgeons would suggest a tight medical-grade arm compression garment. The garment should cover the chest and arms from the armpits to the midforearm, like an upper-body jacket. If you wear the arm compression sleeves, the garment may place too much pressure in the armpit and constrict the flow of lymph back into the circulation. This garment should be worn for 23 hours a day. When you are in bed, sleep on your back, with your elbows extended, and your wrists above your heart. This will allow lymphatic fluid to return into your lymphatic circulation. You should also have lymphatic massage performed by a certified lymphatic massage specialist two to three times a week. Finally, if fluid is still not decreasing, your plastic surgeon should consider prescribing a diuretic, like Lasix. Also, you should limit your salt intake and avoid MSG. Good luck. I hope that I have answered your question regarding swelling in the inner elbows after brachioplasty. 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. Make sure they have performed at least 150 arm lift procedures. Make sure they have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after photos and review their RealSelf profile. 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.)
