Unhappy with Bingo Wing Op

[Louise]

Hiya all.

Word of warning about those who are interested in having your bingo wings done. Choose your surgeon well.

I have only just recovered from my operation. I had the operation done 3 months ago in an NHS hospital. Both arms were done. Almost immedeiately after the op I knew there was a problem. The dressings were smelly & i had an infection. The wound fell apart and I needed to have my dressings changed almost every other day for the last couple of months. The surgeon who did the operation said he couldn't restitch the wound and now I have got really awful scarring on the underside of my arms. I'm not happy. I should have gone private. :mad: :mad:

[Mr James McDiarmid]

Hi Louise,
Sorry to hear of your problems.
I hope things settle down for you very soon.
Are you/were you a smoker?
Have you had significant weight loss?

Recontouring surgery has come a long way in the last decade or so and thankfully problems of the type you are describing which were once commonplace are now very rare. Rather than just cutting large swages of excess tissue away we have learned to be more conservative as surgeons and to perform pre-liposuction to the are to be treated in order to preserve lymphatics, cutaneous nerves and veins. These structures are essential components of the limb and if damaged can lead to problems.
Also inserting a Z-plasty into the axilla is usually necessary in brachioplasty due to the range of motion of the shoulder joint.

Less is definitely more with this surgery meaning that it is always better to leave that last 5mm rather than to risk over tightening the closure and subsequent healing problems. It is always far easier to come back and take a little more out.

Best of luck with the healing process.

[Louise]

thank you for your concern. found out that the operation was done by a trainee surgeon when I asked the nurses on the ward. not happy.

[Sam_e6]

I had a 'little' healing problem after my arm lift, but my surgeon was fantastic and did all he could possibly do to correct the problem. Did your surgeon give you adequate after care?

[dhumzah]

Brachioplasty (Bingo wing / Bat wing)is associated with risks. These have been recorded in the region of 25% and includes revision surgery, serome, haematoma, hypertrophic scarring, cellulitis, wound breakdown, subcutaneous abscess, and nerve injury.
Nerve injury is a major complication- and it is important to know the anatomy the nerves in the area.
Long term outcomes and complications associated with brachioplasty: A retrospective review and cadaveric study: Plast Reconstr Surg 117: 2219 - 2223, 2006 (http://www.plasreconsurg.com/pt/re/prs/fulltext.00006534-200606000-00018.htm)
Choose your surgeon carefully.