Accessory Breast Tissue + Arm Liposuction Recovery Review: How Much Discomfort and Pain Should You Expect?

Hello.

Today, we will talk with Dr. To, who works at 맘스외과성형외과 and personally underwent surgery for accessory breast tissue and arm liposuction.

While working at 맘스, she had seen many patients undergo surgery for accessory breast tissue, breast augmentation, and breast reduction.

She said that because her arms looked thick in everyday clothes, she usually did not wear sleeveless tops.

She also said that her work uniform kept getting caught in her armpits, which was uncomfortable.

So,

> “Sometimes, while working, I had to pull it out, and it was really uncomfortable.”

This was one of the concerns she had.

What made her decide to undergo arm liposuction and accessory breast tissue surgery?

After seeing patients who had surgery at the hospital,

> “Could I look like that, too?”

She may have found herself thinking this as well.

In fact, she was a bride-to-be preparing for a wedding in the fall.

Since the arms and armpits are very visible when wearing a wedding dress, many brides-to-be worry about this area. She said that even after dieting, she could not create a defined line between her arms and armpits.

> “It felt more like a structural issue than a weight issue.”

As this concern suggests, the back of the upper arm and the armpit area consist not only of fat but also of other tissue.

After seeing patients’ contours become more defined every day at the hospital, she said that she began to see her own body a little differently.

She said she thought,

> “So this is a structural issue.”

She also said that 맘스 is particularly well known for rearranging breast tissue and performing surgery very skillfully, and that even the before-and-after photos showed a clear difference.

Once the area between her arms and armpits was refined, her whole body looked a little lighter.

What was the pain like?

Many people wonder, “How painful will this be?”

With arm liposuction, the pain is not concentrated in one spot. Instead, patients may describe it like this:

> “It felt as if my entire arm was covered in very dark bruises.”

She said the day of surgery was actually manageable, while the following day was the most difficult.

Her hands also became extremely swollen, like Doraemon’s, and she sometimes could not raise her arms overhead as she normally would.

Another source of discomfort is the “compression garment” worn after accessory breast tissue surgery.

The compression garment must be worn while sleeping, and many people find it quite uncomfortable.

Since everyone’s size and body shape are different, measurements are taken carefully around the body so that each person can wear a compression garment suited to their shape.

At first, it can feel so tight that you may wonder whether it fits properly. However, without it, swelling and pain may become worse.

It may help to think of the compression garment as something protecting you. After changing her mindset this way, she said,

> “Even though it was uncomfortable and tight, it was much easier to endure.”

When can you return to everyday activities?

For example, many people wonder about everyday activities at home, such as washing dishes or driving.

She said washing dishes took about three days, and that she started with light plates rather than heavy pots.

Driving requires a little more caution.

There are U-turns, and driving involves using the arms to hold and turn the steering wheel.

Since raising the arms can feel very stiff and uncomfortable, driving may be possible somewhat later.

Was the experience different after accessory breast tissue surgery?

Many people say that accessory breast tissue feels like “something is catching inside the armpit.”

Whenever the arm moves, they feel something heavy inside the armpit.

They may also feel tension around the incision and a sensation that something is caught in the armpit because of the swelling.

Since they cannot naturally keep their arms down, they may hold them slightly away from the body.

The armpit area is connected to almost every movement made with the arms, so movements can feel awkward and difficult.

Unlike the arms, which gradually become less sensitive over time, accessory breast tissue can be felt whenever the arms are used. However, seeing the contours become more defined as the swelling subsides gave her a reason to endure the recovery.

How do the pain levels compare by procedure?

Breast augmentation — pressure is the main sensation

When the implant is placed beneath the pectoralis major muscle, pressure and stiffness can be significant.

Breathing may feel uncomfortable, and the entire upper body can feel as if something heavy is pressing down on it. Rather than pain, the psychological burden may come from the feeling that something has been placed inside the body.

This sensation usually lasts for about two or three days at the beginning. After that, people adapt, but getting through the early period is the key challenge.

Breast reduction — severe pain or manageable?

Although breast reduction may seem as if it would be very painful, some people say it is more manageable than expected.

Breast reduction does not necessarily cause extreme pain. There may be a heavy, pulling sensation and fatigue, and because tissue is removed and rearranged, recovery care is important.

Because the weight of the breasts is reduced, people say they feel more comfortable in the long term.

What patients often find difficult, however, is not the pain itself but the anxiety caused by scars, swelling, and changes in shape.

Which procedure hurts the most?

There is not one procedure that is definitively the most painful.

That is because the challenging aspects differ slightly from one procedure to another.

• Difficulty with movement: accessory breast tissue surgery and arm liposuction
• Pressure: breast augmentation
• Longer recovery process: breast reduction
• Difficulty wearing a compression garment: arm liposuction
• Requires more psychological reassurance: breast reduction

Pain from accessory breast tissue surgery is somewhat difficult to compare numerically.

Even after hearing this explanation, you may feel anxious when you are actually facing surgery.

She also said that she realized how important post-operative care is.

Rather than simply saying that everything is fine, we hope you will listen to this review of accessory breast tissue surgery and arm liposuction as reassurance that these sensations can continue for a certain period of time.

Thank you.