Question:
I had submuscular breast augmentation a month ago. The incision was inframammary and one incision is now tingling and has been doing so for days. It is especially bad when I raise my arm over my head, otherwise, I have no signs of any other complications. What could this be and should I be concerned? How long will it last?
Answer:
Sometimes at about three to four weeks postop incisions in the inframammary fold can get very tight as they heal. It can also cause a pulling sensation or tight band in that area when one lifts one’s hands or one’s arms over their heads. This typically will go away in about two or three months but it can be improved significantly by daily massaging. We recommend placing an arm on a wall to extend the arm over the head and placing a finger directly on the scar and massaging it vigorously for 5-10 minutes twice a day and this should significantly improve the tenderness in the area and soften up the scar significantly.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.