Numbness and full body orgasm after tummy tuck

Thank you for your question regarding numbness and changes in sensation following your tummy tuck. It’s important to address these concerns with compassion, as they touch on physical, emotional, and sexual well-being.

After a tummy tuck, numbness in the abdominal region is a common side effect. This occurs because the surgery involves separating the skin and tissue from the abdominal wall, which disrupts nerves in the area. While many patients regain some degree of sensation over time, it’s not uncommon for areas of numbness to persist, particularly below the belly button. Nerve regeneration is a slow process and varies from person to person.

In your case, it seems this numbness may be affecting your ability to engage the muscles and sensations in your abdominal area, which could play a role in your difficulty experiencing full-body arousal or orgasm. The abdominal region, including the core muscles, can be integral to sexual experiences for many individuals, as it contributes to muscle engagement and the overall physical response to arousal.

While full nerve regeneration may not be possible, some therapies could help improve nerve function. Treatments like physical therapy, nerve stimulation, or even acupuncture might support some level of sensory recovery.

The pelvic floor muscles are closely tied to abdominal muscles in terms of sexual function. Consulting with a pelvic floor therapist could help you reconnect with this area of your body and potentially improve your experiences of arousal and orgasm.

Engaging in practices like yoga, meditation, or breathwork can help you refocus on other areas of sensation and pleasure. Over time, this may allow your body to build new pathways for arousal that don’t rely solely on the abdominal region.

As a trans woman, hormones play a critical role in your physical and emotional experiences. If you haven’t begun hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it’s worth considering how this might influence your overall sense of connection with your body. Consulting with an endocrinologist who specializes in transgender health could be immensely beneficial.

Consider working with a therapist or counselor who specializes in sexual health and transgender issues. They can help you navigate the physical and emotional aspects of your experience while offering tailored strategies for rediscovering pleasure and connection with your body.

Lastly, it’s important to have a detailed consultation with your plastic surgeon to ensure there are no additional complications contributing to your symptoms. While tummy tuck recovery can have lasting effects, there may be interventions or solutions your surgeon can offer based on your specific anatomy and medical history.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Numbness of the surgical area after a tummy tuck is common. Patients often have some or all sensation returning up to one year later. If numbness persists after that time it may be permanent. The issues that you are reporting are not typically related to a tummy tuck. You may want to speak with a specialist to explore the changes you have experienced.

A full tummy tuck permanently changes the body in many ways. It’s not unusual for the people to have unexpected sensations, including numbness of their lower abdomen after this procedure. I don’t think there’s much a plastic surgeon can do to help you with sexually related issues after surgery. The operation is permanent and irreversible. Once performed, you can’t go back and reverse it.
I suggest finding a sexual therapist and maybe they can help you work with you on your current troubles.
I don’t think you’re going to get plastic surgeons to be of much help with issues related to orgasms after a tummy tuck.Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD