What could this be: Intense Stinging/Burning pain in 1-2 inches of scar site 6.5 weeks (to the touch)?

It is hard to say without an in-person examination. But if your about 6 weeks post op it is most probably nerve pain. Sometimes nerve endings get very sensitive when they are growing back after surgery. They get irritated and sting to the touch. This will eventually go away with time. You can try to rub the area gently and frequently and gradually increase the pressure. This will help make the area less sensitive faster.Be sure to have this looked at by your PS just to make sure.Hope this helps.Dr. Miguel Mota

Thank you for your question.  It could be your nerve endings coming back together in that area, and or it could also be a suture looking to push it's way on out.  I would recommend that you follow up with your surgeon to be evaluated to make sure there is nothing to worry about.   Best of luck to you. 

Thank you for your question regarding stinging, burning, redness, and swelling approximately half and inch from your liposuction site. It sounds like you may have an infected suture. Alternatively, it could be an infected collection of fluid.  This could either be a seroma, hematoma, or an abscess. Due to the redness and tenderness of the spot, you should follow up with your plastic surgeon in the next 48 hours. Either way, I would suggest oral antibiotics for a week. You may need to have this area aspirated or even opened. Again, it is very important for you to follow up with your plastic surgeon. If you have any more questions regarding healing after liposuction, please contact my office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

You could be experiencing irritation & pain from nerve regeneration, but it's difficult to say for certain without an exam. This type of pain can come & go for several weeks, so be patient.   Please see your surgeon if the pain persists or gets worse.  Good luck!Sincerely,Dr. Michelle Spring

Hello,Thank you for your question. Without physical changes such as noticeable redness,swelling or discharge...the increased sensitivity and pain in one spot while healing is often related to nerves. You may try gentle fingertip massage. Talk with your plastic surgeon about options for pain relief. It should continue to improve as nerves repair over the next few months but you can always follow up with your surgeon if you are concerned.All the best 

Good day thank you for question.  With an surgical procedure comes the healing process which can vary between patients.  The average time we tell patients is 6 weeks, however pain, burning, and swelling can take up to 6-12 months to completely resolve.  At 6 weeks we give our patients instructions on massaging their scar lines to stimulate healing.If at anytime you develop a fever, redness or irritation at the site you should consult your plastic surgeon.Best of luck

The most likely explanations lie between:1) Nerve recoverNerves are cut, bruised or stretched during surgery. After surgery they recover or grow back to a variable degree. This results in various sensations such as numbness, tingling but also a burning sensation. These usually settle down with time but the time frame is very variable and can be prolonged.2) Suture breakageA suture holding the deep tissues together may have broken. This sounds alarming but often will have little effect on the end result. However, it may have caused some inflammation which causes pain. This is likely to settle down quite quickly, a few days to a couple of weeks.3) Infected seroma or abscessThis is the most serious explanation and the one I would be most concerned about. You mention some redness which may suggest infection. If there is an infected collection this may be felt as fluctuance (the feeling of a fluid collection under the skin) by your surgeon. Alternatively your surgeon might attempt an aspiration with an needle to see if there is a collection under the skin. Draining an infected collection would usually improve the symptoms very quickly although the collection may recur. Sometimes an ultrasound scan examination can be helpful to identify an infected collection of fluid. Larger collections or abscess might need surgery or may discharge through the scar or the skin spontaneously.I suggest you see your surgeon for an examination so they can advise you on how best to proceed.Best wishes

Thanks for writing,This could be a slowly dissolving suture or hyperactive nerves that are re-growing. I would ask your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to evaluate this area and help you understand what’s happening and how to manage it. Good Luck I hope this helpsStephen M. Davis, MD, FACS, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons 

Hi there,
Thanks for the question and hopefully by now this discomfort has settled down.  But what could be the cause of a stinging/ burning sensation around the scar approximately 6 weeks after surgery?

1) Nerve pain:
This could be recovering nerve endings that are healing after your surgery.  These tiny nerves were cut at the time of removing excess skin and fat and it is usually around 6 weeks when they will start to recover.  This may be experienced as tingling, itchiness or discomfort to the skin.
2) Rectus muscle plication:
Rarely, plicating the rectus muscle separation (bringing the muscle back together) can cause a bit of discomfort and this can take many months to settle - depending on what type of suture your surgeon used for this task.  If the pain is very bad and impacts on your day to day activities, consult your surgeon.  Thankfully this problem is very rare.
3) Pain associated with redness and swelling:
This could be a residual seroma and may need to be drained.  If it feels like there is fluid moving around inside the belly, there may well be.  Get your surgeon to review this.  He may choose to send you for an ultrasound or drain any fluid with a needle.  This is painless as the skin has reduced sensation for a few months after surgery.

I hope these descriptions help.
All the best.
Richard

This sounds as though you are still in the process of healing after your surgery.  Most likely you are feeling return of sensation (tiny nerves growing back toward the skin) in the surgical site.  I typically recommend to patients that they try to desensitize the area a little by gently rubbing on the affected area with their fingers and then gradually work up to more aggressive massage.  I think that this effectively calms the nerves down (so to speak) so they are a little less hypersensitive to stimulation.  Rest assured that this is a normal part of the process in all liklihood and will eventually resolve. You should continue to follow with your plastic surgeon to ensure you are healing to their liking.