Possible Arm Lift Surgery Complications
Whenever someone is having an anaesthetic, no matter what it’s for, then things can potentially go wrong. That is why no surgery should be considered “minor”. Of course, whilst the chances of the following potential problems occurring are extremely small, you still need to know about then:
- Anaesthetic issues – which can affect heart, lungs or cause strokes
- Allergic reactions – This can be very mild to life threatening.
- Clots
- Superficial vein clots, which is a complication of the cannula or drip that’s placed in your vein
- Deep vein clots – these can potentially spread to the lung and be life threatening. We do several things during surgery and after surgery whilst you’re in hospital to minimise the risk of you developing these.
- Wound problems – such as infection and breakdown
- Bleeding – early or late
- Death – whilst the chances of this is exceeding rare, any of the previous issues can result in this devastating complication.
All these potential problems are standard for any operation, although some operations and some patients have an increased risk of developing them.
Other specific potential complications may include:
Asymmetry– Differences between the right and left arms or unevenness of the skin.
Swelling– Swelling after Brachioplasty surgery is normal. However, in some cases, the swelling may take several months to resolve.
Loss of Sensation– You may experience a loss of sensation around the scars on the upper arm or even in the forearm, which typically subsides over several months.
Scars – May appear to be worse during the first six months of healing. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for brachioplasty scars to become quite thick and dark – keloid scar formation is common. Very occasionally, a scar revision surgery is required.
Circulation– Circulation may be poor in some areas of the skin around the surgical area. This may lead to a loss of skin and a wound that needs to be dressed until healed.
Seromas– A seroma is where fluid builds up under the wound. If this occurs, it may need to be drained with a needle.