These symptoms can be normal after Tummy Tuck

Most patients experience what you described, burning, itching, or tightness after having a tummy tuck. They are a very common occurence post-operatively and can last up to 6 months. These feeling are usually a normal result of your nerves repairing themselves after surgery. Massaging the areas with a gentle lotion can sometimes help with comfort . Our patients are also given a very light compression garment ,which at five weeks post op is not necessary to wear, but many patients have told me the garment can lessen the burning and tightening sensations. A quick call to your surgeon for evaluation can help answer your question too!

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What you decsribe is very normal and in all likelihood will resolve.

This is commonly referred to as dysesthesias and is common after nerves are bruised or "insulted".

Think about how your leg feels after it falls asleep and goes numb. When it wakes up, you feel that pins and needles tingling sensation. Sometimes it can be quite painful but it goes away.

This happens after liposuction as well. My patients often complain of more pain in the hips and flanks (liposuction treated areas) rather than the tummy where most of the surgery is performed. I have found that, in my opinion only, this is worse after using ultrasonic liposuction bu this is a personal observation and not widely held by other plastic surgeons.

When this in other areas, such as the hand/fingers after surgery, we typically prescribe desensitization therapy which is essentially a controlled regimen of massage and exposure to increasingly more noxious stimuli.

The interpretation of this is that in your condition, I would highly recommend massaging the area several times a day. It may take up to 3 months for this to resolve completely but try to  be patient. In the meantime consult your surgeon to make sure nothing else is wrong. Rarely, I have found the use of Lyrica ( a drug for dysesthesias in the lower legs of diabetic patients to be beneficial); however, this is an off-label use.

I hope this helps!

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The sensation you describe can be normal after a tummy tuck and liposuction. You are still in the healing phase and your nerves will be recovering from the surgery. The massaging will help alleviate your symptoms. Typically most patients wear a compression garment or binder for about 6wks. Some may benefit from it longer - 8wks or so. As long as it feels good and protective you can wear it. As the senstation on your abdomen returns to normal you may have these symptoms. Hydrating your skin with a good moisturizer can also be helpful.  I would also recommend discussing your concerns with your surgeon.

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Burning sensations after liposuction or abdominoplasty is quite normal. You probably noticed significant numbness early on and now it may burn or tingle. Local massage with moisturizing creams is very helpful. Start with very light touch and work your way up to massage. You are retraining the nerves that were damaged during the surgery. If you notice any redness or skin changes, notify your doctor immediately.

Often, anti-inflammatories such as Motrin or Aleve can be quite helpful. With you doctor's okay, try these on a regular basis for a week. I would also recommend eliminating the garment at this point to reduce the local contact. In my experience, painful sensations from Tummy Tucks all resolve

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