Goodbye Batwings! - Athens, GA

Doing good. At 4 weeks now. The healing is going well. Still swollen at the elbows. There is a little stretching under my arms so we think there will be touch ups later. Doc said to wait 8 weeks and we will know more. Happy for now that I am not thinking about my arms constantly. All the incisions have closed and I am doing the scar massage therapy. Maybe it is good yours are tight. Mine do not feel tight and I think he will have to do more.

Yeah maybe ... worried about now getting my arms above my head yet. Going to be hard to cut hair like this. So glad to hear youre feeling better. What is this scar massage therapy? Kve been massaging cetyaphil lotion around the numb areas , but I just read that off here to massage the areas that are numb

Don't worry..I was a hairstylist for o er 20 years before moving to the USA and I have cutting, dye, etc. my own hair ever since...my surgery was Jan. 3rd, 2014 and I have been cutting my family members hair after 4 weeks of my surgery and cut my own hair approx at the 6 week mark...I have been doing arm weights for weeks now and at one point the recovery goes so fast. My scars look very good and most of the days I don't even think about the surgery. When I wear certain clothes I'm positively reminded how blessed I'm that now I can wear everything without discomfort of clothes being tight around my arms and/or buying a bigger size just due to my arms. I love my new arms! You will too they already look good.

Thanks girl ! But how were u doing hair at 4 weeks?? My arms physically won't go above my shoulders right now and I'm 4 weeks post op. And my doctor said no weights until 6 weeks and to start very light even then:-/

I used a chair to sit on and was leaning forward so my arms didn't have to go above my head as high as normal. Btw after the 2 stitches were taken out under my arm pit my reach and freedom was a lot better and that was approx. a week after surgery if I remember well but if you read my time line you will be able to see the exact time lines. My PS did an amazing job and I heal pretty well.

He pulled my staples out in the arm pit area 2 weeks ago. It's my left one that keeps opening a little . And feels the tightest . Our incisions are so different once u go to the armpit . Mine doesn't go horizontal like yours under there - mine just keeps going straight. I think your surgeons technique would've helped with the under arm skin much better . The way mine was done hasn't helped that area at all. And you had your arm lift done separately from what I see , right? From what I've noticed women who have it done at the same time as another big procedure tend to have a longer health process . Idk we shall see. Didn't even sleep good last night because I'm stressing out about getting back to work and being in serious pain . But I still have 10 days so maybe things will loosens up a little by then

I have not read all the posts but will do later. I cant imagine do a lot of procedures at the same time. I had a my face lift 2 years ago and I rather spread things out. But everyone has to do it the way they feel is best for them. I didn't have any wounds that opened after the surgery...and I didn't have surgical tape...just glue, 3 stitches and the dressings...I hated the dressings since it made the garment feel so tight.

Massaging lotion into the scar using a small circular motion. I use Eucerine.

Ok see I've been too afraid to massage it into the actual scar just been going around it. And I can tell a little difference with tightness since . I'll try what you do tomorrow thanks :)

Hi Tammy I am planning an arm lift within the month and nervous as can be :( I saw three PS (all great credentials) and all three gave me a different opinion of what they would do.... Now it's a very difficult decision for me as who to go to. Do you mind if I ask who did your surgery??

Ligaments. That make sense. I also realized that after about a week or so of not using my arms at all, I started back to my regular routine. My work bag is pretty heavy and I was carrying around a bit on Friday. Maybe it is muscle and ligaments. Thanks for the input. Hope your pain goes away soon.

My PS told me to extend my arms - below shoulder height- while sitting down and open and close my hands to get the tendons of the lower arm to stretch back out. These tendons atrophy quickly in the first few post op weeks and the compression garments don't help much either. I try to do this 4-6 times a day and it has helped the discomfort and swelling.

Make sure you are sitting so you don't pull the armpit area.