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Procedures Performed
  • Abdominoplasty
  • Breast Augmentation
  • Breast Lift
  • Breast Reduction
  • Liposuction
  • Face Lift
  • Neck Lift
  • Chemical Peel
  • Dermabrasion
  • Eyelid Surgery
  • Male Breast Reduction
  • Gynecomastia

 

Dr. Cruise serves the following areas:

  • Orange County,
  • Irvine,
  • Newport Beach,
  • San Diego,
  • Los Angeles,
  • Beverly Hills,
  • Southern California.

 

Arm Lift

 

 

After the Armlift Procedure

 

The procedure itself will take approximately 2-3 hours.

AFTER SURGERY

  1. Get plenty of rest and limit yourself to light activities the first 10 days after surgery. Sleep and rest with head slightly elevated for the first 3 days.
  2. You may take a cool shower the day after surgery. Make sure you have someone helping you. Let water run gently over the drains exits. Dab dry. Place gauze over drain exit. Put garment back on.
  3. At 2-3 weeks after surgery take your steri-strips off. Apply ScarLess®, allow it to dry and then re-apply silicone sheets twice a day for two months.
  4. Sutures will dissolve on their own.
  5. Do not drive for the first week or while on pain medications. Do not do heavy housework and do not work out at all for the first 3 weeks, no upper body workout for at least 8 weeks.
  6. Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds for 2 weeks.
  7. Wear a surgical garment for 8 weeks unless Dr. Cruise instructs you differently.
  8. Avoid direct exposure of incision to sunlight for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to the area of the incision, if you will be in the sun for extended periods of time.
  9. Do not smoke for at least 1 week after surgery.
  10. Do not use aspirin-containing products for at least 1 week. You may take Tylenol or pain medication as prescribed.
  11. You may apply ice or frozen peas or corn on the arms for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling. Do not apply it directly on your skin.
  12. Be sure to use all you medications as directed.
  13. It is not uncommon for a small part of incision to open up and look like a pimple at 4-8 weeks. This is called a Stitch Abscess - it is caused by a suture which is expelled by the body. Simply wash it with soap and water and apply Neosporin or Polysporin on it. If the redness is larger than a dime call the office.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU RECOVER

  1. Immediately after surgery, some patients feel groggy or nauseous. These feeling normally subside by the next day.
  2. Many patients experience some pain for the first 3-4 days and soreness for the first 2 weeks.
  3. Swelling and bruising usually clears up within 2 weeks.
  4. Scars will take 1.5 years to mature. They will be the most red at 8-12 weeks.
  5. Rippling and unevenness around incisions is common. This will flatten out about 3 months.

WHEN TO CALL US

Post surgical complications are rare and are often easily solved by the doctor if you notify us. Call us if you experience any of the following:

A temperature of 101 F or higher, increased local redness or warmth, chest pain, shortness of breath, legs swelling, calf pain, or if you feel that anything might be wrong. Please call the office during regular business hours @ 949-644-4808 after page Dr. Cruise @ 714-304-8050. In addition, call if you have continuous discharge from the incision line, if one of the arms appears significantly larger and more tender, if the pain increases instead of decreasing after 5 days.

POST-OP VISITS AND CARE SUMMARY

Blood Clot
  1. It is important to walk at least every 2 hours while you're awake to prevent blood clotting- do not over do it. Right after surgery you will be instructed to walk around every 1 hour.
  2. Pay specific attention to Leg Swelling. If you notice swelling on only one leg or calf pain contact the office.
Drain Function
  1. Make sure that your drains are functioning.
  2. Empty drains every 8 hours or when they become more than half full and write down amount of drainage.
  3. Do not be concerned if the fluid from the body comes around drain.
  4. You may need to milk the tube if it appears to be clogged.
  5. Drains come out at about 2-3 days, depending on amount of drainage.
  6. Note - the drain is always uncomfortable but it is absolutely necessary to prevent fluid accumulation.
Constipation
  1. If you are constipated at day 2 stop taking Vicodin or Darvocet.
  2. Encourage walking, drinking a lot of fluids, consider laxative( Ex-lax or Correctol).
Fever
  1. Make sure to cough and breath deep as fever is usually in lungs for the first 3 days after surgery.
Activity
  1. You can take a cool shower the day after. Dab dry. Make sure you have someone helping you.
  2. Walk every hour while awake for the first day and then every 2 hours
  3. Sleep at 45 degree angle for the first 3 nights.
  4. Regarding exercise: If it hurts don't do it. Wait for your body to tell you what you can do.
  5. You can exercise areas other than your chest at 2 weeks.You can work out your chest at 8 weeks.
Wound Care
  1. Make sure your garment is on as directed
  2. Keep surgical area clean and dry at all times.
  3. At 2-3 weeks after surgery we will take your steri-strips off. A new tape will be applied, you will continue to change it (every two weeks) up to 10 weeks. After that apply ScarLess® to the incisions for about a month.