How long will it take for the numbness to go away after tummy tuck and liposuction?

Question

I had my tummy tuck on the 3rd of dec 2016. I still feel my tummy is very numb and gets hard as rock. I've also noticed some fluids coming out from one corner of the stitches. I'm worried if it's some kind of infection or what? How long will it take for the numbness to go?

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Swelling can persist for
several months and will gradually improve and will look better at three months,
six months, and even one year. Frequently the pubic area and the scrotal and
penis area for men can become very swollen and discolored during the first two
weeks due to gravity as this is the lowest area for swelling to accumulate.

It may take several
months for a tummy tuck patient’s scars to soften, for sensation to return, and
for relaxing of the tight sensation in the abdomen. In the case of extensive
surgery, abdominoplasty recovery can be uncomfortable and may take longer. Scars
may stay red, become thick or widen. It can take 12-18 months for the scars to
settle.

These can be improved
with topical treatments such as BioCorneum, Scar Guard, Scar Fade and Mederma.
Redness can be improved with laser treatments and the scars can be kept narrow
with products such as Embrace.  On
occasion, keloids or hypertrophic scars can develop and will need treatment
including Kenalog, 5FU and laser.With all of these issues combined in what you feel after surgery, it is always best to visit your surgeon to have the area examined and make sure that healing is progressing as it should. It could take several months for healing to be complete, but you should not hesitate on scheduling follow-ups with your surgeon.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. When a tummy tuck operation is performed, the abdominal wall skin is separated from the underlying abdominal wall muscle. During this process, many sensory nerves are divided. Therefore, some degree of  numbness is to be expected. This may persist for months to years. In some cases/locations, the loss of sensation may be permanent.  Also, as patients become more active, they report abdominal wall swelling (this may increase during the day);  this phenomenon is usually self limited and improves when the lymphatic and venous channels start to work normally. Again, it may take several months/years for this to occur.  I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to tummy tuck concerns) helps.

How long will it take for the numbness to go away after tummy tuck and liposuction?

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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How long will it take for the numbness to go away after tummy tuck and liposuction?

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.