Brachioplasty Post-Operative

Instructions:

  • Have someone else drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Follow balanced diet
  • Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to you diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake
  • Take pain medications as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin
  • Do not drink alcohol while taking pain medications
  • Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risks of complications
  • Keep compression wraps in place at all times for the first 7 days. You may remove to shower then replace

Activities:

  • Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots
  • Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics)
  • Social and employment activities can be resumed in 7-10 days, check with your surgeon
  • Avoid strenuous exercise and activities such as sports for 4 weeks

Incision Care:

  • You may shower 48 hours after surgery
  • Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months
  • Always use a strong sun block, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater)
  • Keep steri-strips on, replace if they come off
  • Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection

What to Expect:

  • Postoperative pain is minimal
  • There will be swelling and discoloration
  • There may be numbness around the operative areas

Appearance:

  • There will be a scar in the underarm area, this scar will be hidden when the arm is against body
  • If incision extends down to and around elbow, scar may be visible

Follow-Up Care:

  • Some sutures will be absorbed, remaining sutures will generally be removed in 1-2 weeks

When to Call:

  • If you have increases swelling or bruising
  • If swelling and redness persist after a few days
  • If you have increased redness along the incision
  • If you have sever or increase pain not relieved by medication
  • If you have any side effects to medications: such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting • If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees
  • If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice foul odor
  • If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure
  • If you have loss of feeling or motion

For medical questions, please call:

  • 812-477-6600 Evansville Office
  • 812-634-6600 Jasper Office