Fantastic Doctor - Pittsburgh, PA

maybe it will resolve, or maybe I will spend the rest of my life in compression, with the added risk of serious infection every time I get a tiny cut. My physical therapist said we would know more in 6 months. :( And she said I was not the first brachioplasty patient she had seen with this problem. It can happen years post op. The long scars compromise your lymphatic system.

Yes....wow....I just had my brachio.....we all count on the " do no harm" as being the absolute start point to plastics and their value add to our lives....I can just imagine how disappointed you must be ( I know how I would feel...)....I was watching you because you do have really nice scars! I am so sorry you have the complication....will be so praying for you it is temporary!

I hope you don't develop complications. Apparently lymphedema can happen many many years post-op. My physical therapist has seen it 10 years after major surgery. The long scars disrupt your lymphatic system. The sad thing for me is that I did this surgery because I am an athlete and the excess skin caused problems. Now my left arm is compromised. I have to wear full arm (to the finger tip) compression all day/night. And I am having trouble riding a bicycle since I cannot operate the left brake, and my hand swells terribly when I ride.

13 months post op. 1 month after my annual follow up visit where my doctor declared the surgery was a success and I was out of the woods. So much for that.

I lift 2x/week, swim 3x/week, run 2x/week, and bike 2-3x/week and I do hot yoga weekly. I finished an ironman triathlon swim last year. And swam around NYC on a 4-person relay team. So if exercise prevents it, it didn't work for me.

* edit: ironman tri (full 140.6) and a 10k swim.

So tragic, this article just mentioned light weights to get the lymphatic system flowing. I too am a swimmer and I noticed such a difference swimming there was a pull in the arms that was never there before. It seems harder to stroke now, I laughed to myself and thought my batwings acted as flippers helping to speed me along. I truly hope this condition leaves as quickly as it came on. Wishing you all the best.

No. I am using a Flexitouch machine nightly and wear compression constantly. In fact I have to dress up for a wedding today and I am dreading wearing the therapy glove and dealing w the looks/questions. It's gets old. My hand is weak. I am having trouble cycling since operating the brakes is difficult. The most depressing thing is the damage is likely permanent. I may never wear my wedding rings again.

Sarah, so terribly sorry to hear...at the risk of sounding "weird" I think of you and your situation often as it is the epitome of exactly what you *don't* want to happen...the hopes we pin on these surgeries....the risks we take with our bodies (even when the serious complication rate is low)....makes me so sad.... I so appreciate your candor in discussing, it is very sobering. Keep us posted on any changes, OK?

Just finished a 2 hour stint in the flexitouch to try to bring the swelling down after a relatively short bike ride today. Lymphedema is incurable.

So this is something you will have to live with for the rest of your life? I hope therapy helps somewhat for swelling and discomfort. I have never heard of this and you are the first review i have come across with Lymphedema. Best Wishes and thank you for sharing with me your experience.

My Physical Therapist has seen it more than once -- it is common. Probably not often reported here. People undergoing this procedure should be aware of the risk. I was not when I had it done. With two arms you double the probability of an adverse event.

Thank you for the info. I had smart-lipo on arms in June. It is a very delicate and sensitive critical area. I hope it all works out for you.

Your arms look good. Sorry, your are having some issues. Have you tried lymphatic massage? It's really painful it it's done right. I had it done when I had my thigh lift, it made a world of difference. I booked 13 visits. I cried thru some of them but it really helped my swelling, lymph drainage and scar tissue release. I'm having a bracioplasty nov.3. I will definitely be doing lymphatic massage. Hopefully, I will not have any major issues. Hope you feel better!

yes I did everything during recovery to aid the healing process. I was 13 months post - op when I developed the lymphedema. According to my LE specialist it is not uncommon for this to happen. Every night I tuck my entire left side into a flexitouch machine before bed. I can't wear my wedding ring. I need to use compression. Trust me, it is NOT a good look.

Weight loss. I have had abdominoplasty too over 10 years ago. I lost 100 lbs between 2004-2004 thought diet/exercise. The stomach skin was so loose it would come untucked from my pants. I could barely move initially when the arm wounds were fresh and it was extremely painful. The worse part was not being able to get comfortable to sleep with my arms stuck out front like Frankenstein. But the horrible part did not last as long as others' that I have read about on the internet. There were a few really really bad weeks. Then it got better. I was back at yoga after three weeks and ran the turkey trot 5k on Thanksgiving (my surgery was 11/5). Granted both of these things were not at the level I was at pre-op. But I was able to get out there and finish it.

Well congratulations on your weight loss, first of all. That's an amazing achievement!

The recovery is really what scares me the most! But, it's something that I will definitely need, so I guess it just has to be done. Maybe pain killers will help. :-)