I am almost 4 weeks post-op from a tummy tuck and medial thigh lift. I am aware that numbness after a tummy tuck is common. My concern is that for the first 2 weeks after surgery I had no numbness, these symptoms started approx. 2 weeks ago. I am completely numb from my belly button down including my mons pubis area. I last saw my PS 2 weeks ago. He assured me this is normal. I have a f/u visit later this week.
April 9, 2014
Answer: Elevation of the abdominal skin always produces numbness, but tingling is usually delayed Any surgery, whether abdominoplasty, appendectomy, or rhinoplasty, is likely to produce some numbness near the incision, because the small nerves (too small to see) are cut. Abdominoplasty, in particular, generally requires elevation of a skin flap from the abdominal musculature, and must inevitably cut some of the small sensory nerves, so some numbness will always occur, even if it is not noticed.Near the edges of the elevated area, some nerves will be traveling under the skin, and so numbness will be less, even though the underlying tissue was elevated. As time goes by after surgery, the nerves tend to grow back -- this can be both from the cut ends of the nerves, as well as from nerves to the neighboring skin. Often, as the nerves grow back, a "tingling" sensation may be felt. This sensation is generally more noticeable than the numbness itself.You mention that you were concerned that the numbness was developing, and that that might represent some complication. You can be assured that there is no complication of abdominoplasty where the primary indication is an enlarging area of numbness. Your PS is correct: the numbness from the belly button to the mons pubis is not only normal, it is expected.
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April 9, 2014
Answer: Elevation of the abdominal skin always produces numbness, but tingling is usually delayed Any surgery, whether abdominoplasty, appendectomy, or rhinoplasty, is likely to produce some numbness near the incision, because the small nerves (too small to see) are cut. Abdominoplasty, in particular, generally requires elevation of a skin flap from the abdominal musculature, and must inevitably cut some of the small sensory nerves, so some numbness will always occur, even if it is not noticed.Near the edges of the elevated area, some nerves will be traveling under the skin, and so numbness will be less, even though the underlying tissue was elevated. As time goes by after surgery, the nerves tend to grow back -- this can be both from the cut ends of the nerves, as well as from nerves to the neighboring skin. Often, as the nerves grow back, a "tingling" sensation may be felt. This sensation is generally more noticeable than the numbness itself.You mention that you were concerned that the numbness was developing, and that that might represent some complication. You can be assured that there is no complication of abdominoplasty where the primary indication is an enlarging area of numbness. Your PS is correct: the numbness from the belly button to the mons pubis is not only normal, it is expected.
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January 27, 2015
Answer: Numbness of the abdomen after abdominoplasty It is normal to have numbness of the lower and central abdominal skin after a tummy tuck. You may not have noticed all of the sensation in the early periods after the surgery because you were experiencing a lot of pain. The abdominal skin is elevated and therefore part of the small nerves that innervate the central and lower abdomen may have been divided. The skin will reinnervate slowly over time. The last part of the abdomen to reinnervate is the skin just above the pubic area. This may take up to a year and a half to regain full sensation.
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January 27, 2015
Answer: Numbness of the abdomen after abdominoplasty It is normal to have numbness of the lower and central abdominal skin after a tummy tuck. You may not have noticed all of the sensation in the early periods after the surgery because you were experiencing a lot of pain. The abdominal skin is elevated and therefore part of the small nerves that innervate the central and lower abdomen may have been divided. The skin will reinnervate slowly over time. The last part of the abdomen to reinnervate is the skin just above the pubic area. This may take up to a year and a half to regain full sensation.
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