If a dissolvable suture is irritating a nerve, causing burning pain in the thigh after a body lift, what happens next?

Thank you for your interesting question regarding what happens next after a suture compresses a nerve or damage to the nerve after a lower body lift. Also, how long does it take for the burning pain to resolve? First, it is very uncommon for
body lift patients to experience numbness and burning of their thighs after a body lift. Nerve pain is rare after a lower body lift. Even rarer is a suture, causing nerve pain after a lower body lift. If a dissolvable or resorbable suture is causing the thigh pain, the nerve pain usually goes away after the suture dissolves. In a lower body lift, very few nerves can be damaged or impacted by a suture. Again, if a dissolvable or non-dissolvable suture is responsible for the nerve pain, usually the pain goes away with time.
Alternatively, and more likely, scar tissue can develop around a dissolvable or permanent suture. Over time, the scar tissue can impact and press on the nerve, leading to pain. The pain after a lower body lift may be intermittent or chronic. Following up with your plastic surgeon is important if you have continued thigh pain eight weeks after your lower body lift. Your plastic surgeon may consider referring you to a neurologist for further workup. Workup may include a lower extremity EMG, CT scan, or MRI. If a permanent suture is used, the permanent suture may need to be removed. However, permanent sutures are rarely used during a lower body lift around the hip nerve. Alternatively, you may need physical therapy, acupuncture, or nerve ablation techniques if the nerve is damaged. Therefore, nerve pain after a lower body lift is exceedingly rare. If a dissolvable suture causes nerve pain after a lower body lift, usually the pain resolves after the suture dissolves. If the pain persists six to eight weeks after your lower body lift, you should follow up with your plastic surgeon and seek further workup. Again, thank you for your interesting question regarding what happens next after a suture compresses a nerve or damage to the nerve after a lower body lift, and how long does it take for the burning pain to resolve? If you have any more questions regarding the lower body lift, 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, belt abdominoplasty, or belt dermolipectomy, please contact an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Since the body lift is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the lower body lift. Do your research. Ensure they have performed at least 150 circumferential lower body lift surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced, lower-body lift surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

this is a difficult think to assess and address online.  It is best you see your surgeon to be seen and examined.  You may need meds to help prevent this from becoming a long term problem.

If you’re experiencing persistent pain or irritation from a dissolvable suture after a body lift, it’s crucial to consult your surgeon promptly. They can assess the situation, potentially remove the suture, and address any underlying issues causing discomfort. Ignoring such symptoms may lead to complications or prolonged discomfort.

There are two nerves to be aware of during abdominoplasty and lower body lifts. The course of these nerve branches is at the anterior superior iliac spine. That is why when I teach my residents, I tell them to leave some fat in the area to avoid these nerve branches.The nerve branches can be cut, or trapped in a stitch. They could be damaged enough that the function will not come back and the numbness is permanent. If there is pain, burning sensation, enough to interfere with daily life then one can test the nerves (EMG Nerve conduction studies). If one can pin point the exact area of discomfort by tapping with a Q-tip, the area can be injected with local anesthetic. If the pain disappears, then exploring that area, releasing the nerve, or if there is a neuroma burry the neuroma MAY improve the situation. This requires surgery under loop magnification to identify the nerve. In spite of the surgery all maneuvers can fail in getting rid of the pain or regain sensation.