United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Anyone look into plastic surgery to overcome the atrophy look?

Its only been 6 month since my accident and I cannot stand the cosmetic affect.

If women can get implants, why cant we get delts, bicep and tricep inplants?

I never really thought about it. There again I have so many scars from surgeries and my accident that I dont really worry about that stuff anymore. I just kinda came to the conclusion that I am how I am. Scars, gimpy arm, atrophy, whatever, I can't change what happened and I just continue to push through it and not let it effect me mentally. I can see where you'd want it to look better, I still do .... but, at least for me...I don't want to ever give u hope that it'll ,at least slightly, comee back some.

I am the reconstruction expert here!!! I had a costume made implant made 12 yrs ago! First one in the history at Mayo Clinic. It was silicone material, rubbery. It was big and started at the top of my shoulder and came down my arm. The story and surgeries are a long story. Bottom line for me is that they had to replace the implant 2 yrs ago with a new one and my body rejected it (I fought infections for 2 yrs). A couple of months at Mayo Clinic they did a muscle transfer, it was cosmetic only, the muscle transfer was only for looks. It failed as well. I have had 6 surgeries in alittle over 2 years. I am have more scars than anyone on these boards! NOT KIDDING. I have more to tell you or anyone, if they want more info. You can e-mail me @ Herff94@yahoo.com
I am Mayo's live experiment!
Kath

i tape a shoulder pad to my affected shoulder...so suits shirts etc fit & look better...

I didn't need height. When I put a shoulder pad on my shoulder it was higher on my injuried side, it looked so funny. I need bulk on the side of arm where my fat, muscle and tissue was gone. But I'm glad it worked for you! Saved you a ton of $$$ and several surgeries.

yeh i actually use it on the side of my shoulder where the delt was.. seems ok strapped there. so its upside down taped to the outside of my shoulder...clothes just looked really strange.
its hot as hell and summer here..but i tend to try to wear long sleeved shirts, as my arm looks really skinny. just started with a gripper in the hope of getting back some of my forearm bulk

My daughter had her accident Nov.2005. She's had nerve and muscle transfers. She's going to Mayo in March to see a plastic surgeon. She wants to see if they can help with a sagging breast on the affected side. I was afraid for anyone around here to touch her due to all the surgery she's already had done. I wanted someone more familiar with that type of surgery and how her anatomy has been rearranged. Other than her breast and a lot of scars and atrophy from her elbow down to her hand, her arm looks "normal." The muscle transfer really bulked up her upper arm and reduced the shoulder subluxation.

Not to get off topic here but, Shaunn welcome back!
You went to Florida for the holidays? and it's summer in Australia?
How does that work? Do you get in the snow anywhere?
Scott

Back on topic:
I'm going to have to pay attention to my posture.
Thank you all for your thoughts and support.

Okay wait...
I just went to my bathroom, took my shirt off, looked around and guess what I saw?
Somewhere I read somebody talking about a gull wing or a chicken wing?
My shoulder sticks out on my back???
Should I be concerned?

Hi Sue
who are you going to see?
Kath

We're going to see Dr. B. T. Carlsen. Do you know him? He's in the section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Mayo. Sue