Is it safe to use a heating pad on my incision six days post op tummy tuck? Does it interfere with the healing process?

You should avoid using a heating pad on your abdomen following a tummy tuck.  During a tummy tuck, the skin is lifted off of the muscle wall, resected, and the muscle wall is tightened.  You will experience decreased sensation over the abdomen for up to one year following your tummy tuck.  Utilizing heat in any way on the abdomen can be dangerous because there is a risk of burns due to lack of sensation over the area.

We have had patients with both burns and frostbite type of injuries from heat or cold directly on the skin. Be sure wrap the heating pad in a towel and check the area visually periodically to be sure you're not harming the skin.

Thank you for your question.  After a tummy tuck procedure, we recommend that you avoid using a heating pad as there typically is numbness around the incision site and you could potentially burn yourself and not realize it.Best regards,Dr. Lane F. Smith, MDPlastic SurgeonLas Vegas, NV

I do not like my patients to use any source of heat or cold on their incisions following surgery. The area does not have normal sensation and it is possible for a burn or frostbite to ensue. If my patient is uncomfortable I prefer that they use pain medication until it subsides. 

Congratulations on having undergone the tummy tuck procedure. Your plastic surgeon will always be your best resource when it comes to postoperative care questions. Some plastic surgeons have very strong opinions... If you do decide to use either modality of ice or heat, please be sure that you do not place them directly on the skin and potentially “burn” the skin, which may be numb.Best wishes.

The belly button and and area of skin underneath this will be numb now and a smaller area later.  It would be possible to burn by heat or freezer type burn by cold and not know it.  It's better to do neither and be safe.

It can be very dangerous to use a heating pad at this stage,usually there are major areas of temporary numbness so you can give yourself a burn and not realize it with something too hot or too cold

I recommend that my tummy tuck patients avoid heating and cooling pads after surgery.  My concern is that the numbness that occurs after surgery prevents the patient from protecting themselves from injury.  Even after a week this numbness particularly below the belly button can cause a heating pad to cause burns or an ice pack to cause frostbite.  Also be careful of the sun with a tummy tuck, severe sunburns can occur because of the numbness particularly below the belly button.

I would not recommend using any type of heat on the area, especially the incision. The incision is numb, and there is a increased risk for burning the area. If you are concerned with swelling the best solution is to drink plenty of fluid, wear compression garment and not be too overly active until you are advised to by your PS.