What to Expect When Having Brachioplasty Surgery

Anesthesia: General. You will sleep through the entire procedure.

Location of Operation: Hospital, outpatient surgery center, or an office-based surgical suite.

Length of Surgery: 2 ½ to 3 hours.

Length of Stay: Most brachioplasty surgery is performed on and outpatient basis. In some cases, an overnight stay is recommended because of age, medical issues, or pain control.

Discomfort: Moderate to severe. Any discomfort should be relieved by pain medication prescribed by the physician.

Antibiotics: You will start them after surgery and take them for 10 days. It is very important you take all of this medicine.

Swelling and Bruising: Most post-operative swelling and bruising will resolve within 2-4 weeks. Some swelling may persist for as long as 3 months.

Numbness: A little numbness is expected. Some residual numbness may persist, but most patients get used to it and do not find it bothersome.

Bandages: The initial garment is to be worn day and night for 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, another garment is transitioned into and worn only during the daytime for an additional 4 weeks. Showering may be resumed the day after the surgery, but tub bathing, whirlpools and swimming pools are prohibited for 4 weeks.

Stitches: All sutures are dissolvable and are covered with paper steri-strips.

Work: 1-2 weeks off is recommended, or when you have stopped taking the prescription pain medication. Driving may also be resumed once the course of pain medicine is completed.

Exercise: Strenuous activities are avoided for six weeks to allow for complete healing.

Sun Protection: If your scars are exposed while you are outside, you should protect it with sunscreen SPF 15 or higher for at least one year to prevent permanent discoloration.

Final Result: The final result is seen after your scar has matured, approximately 1 year.

Special Care: ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING!!!!!!!!!!! No smoking is advised for 4 weeks prior to and at least 4 weeks after surgery to ensure proper healing and for best scar results.

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