Can neuropathy 5 years later abdominoplasty be triggered by an allergy?

Thank you for your question concerning the possible connection between an allergy triggering neuropathy five years after a tummy tuck. To the best of my knowledge, there's no established link between allergies and neuropathy post-abdominoplasty.

During a tummy tuck, an incision is made from the pubic region across to the hips, and dissection proceeds up to the sternum. This process inevitably severs several sensory nerves that supply the skin around the belly button and extending from the belly button to the upper pubic region. As a result, there is typically a permanent loss of sensation in this area following a tummy tuck, and it varies in extent from patient to patient.

This numbness is not related to your medical history or the surgeon's technique. It is a natural outcome of the surgery, and the loss of sensation may never fully return. If the numbness is causing you discomfort, you might consider exploring options like acupuncture for potential relief. Also, consulting with an allergist could be useful if you suspect allergies could be exacerbating your symptoms.

However, it is important to remember that this permanent numbness is a common, expected consequence of a tummy tuck, and it should be discussed during the preoperative consultation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Thank you so much for your question. In order to answer your question proper answer is better to have a consultation with your doctor and have evaluations and labs run. 5 year after a tummy tuck you need to have sensation in your abdomen area.
The best of luck!

It is common to have some permanent numbness in your lower mid abdomen after a tuck. Consuming foods that you are allergic to increases inflammation which can increase unpleasant sensations and pain.

Changes in sensation are a risk of a tummy tuck. Typically patients regain sensation as swelling resolves and healing progresses, but some may have areas of varying sizes of permanent changes. I encourage you to return to your surgeon for an evaluation of the area that concerns you.

It is a strange feeling you are describing, but not one I have not heard in the past.
Anything may trigger a weird sensation in a surgical site even years later.
I have found that a small steroid injection in the general areas works around 60% of the time. Not sure of the actual mechanism of action of the injection other than to reduce welling and maybe some effect on nerve repolarization ??
Best wishes.
Dr. Taranow

Permanent numbness is common after a full tummy tuck. Particularly around the navel and lower abdomen. some people slowly develop new levels of sensation through nerve regeneration and healing. it’s five years you can probably expect that as the station is now going to be pretty close to baseline.
Sensations of itchiness in areas that are numb can border on neuroticism.
Probably better not to engage and avoid scratching the area.
At this point your concerns are probably a bit outside the realm of plastic surgery. Losing sensation and having numbness is very common if not normal after this procedure.
It’s unlikely you’re going to find plastic surgeons to be useful since your concern is no longer surgical.
While your condition has physiological basis it is more likely that mental health professionals would be a more use than plastic surgeons.
My best suggestion is to not engage and try to dissociate yourself from the itching sensation.
Scratching usually makes things worse.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD