Upper Thight Numbness 10 Months After TT, Will It Affect Lipo of Thigh?

Question

Hello, I had a full TT with lipo of flanks last November which I very happy with. I have the usual numbness is center of stomach and my rt upper thigh is still very numb after 10 months. I want to get lipo of upper thighs and was wondering if this numbness is going to affect the procedure or present a larger risk of side effects if it is done on this area. I wasn't sure if this would present a higher risk for circulation problems or clotting during or after the procedure.

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

I fully concur with Dr. Johnson's explanation of the probable cause of your numbness as well as the indisputable fact that this will have no impact whatsoever on your risks or results from contemplated liposuction of the upper thighs.

	Good luck!

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

Thank you for your post. In a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery, the tissue above the abdominal muscles is lifted off of the muscles from the lower scar to the ribs in a full tummy tuck and to the umbilicus in a mini tummy tuck. The superficial nerves that travel through the muscle to the skin are cut in order to do this. This is what causes the numbness afterward. The numbness usually extends in the entire area that was lifted up. On occasion, a superficial nerve to the thigh could be pulled causing numbness in this area as well. Swelling happens after surgery and also tends to be in the entire area that has been lifted up and any area that has received liposuction. Both numbness and swelling may take months to years to go away, and the last place for both to go away is the area right above the incision centrally, and sometimes right below the belly button. It may take up to 2 years to get to baseline sensation. sometimes, certain areas never feel totally normal, especially the area right above the incision centrally. If tingling or itchiness develop, that is a sign that the nerves are growing back. This is normally well tolerated, but occasionally, a nerve type pain medication is needed such as neurontin. Liposuction will not be affected by this numbness.Best Wishes, Pablo Prichard, MD

Jay Burns, MD · Answer

You are experiencing a well known potential complication from a tummy tuck. Partial anterior thigh numbness is occasionally caused by entrapping a nerve that comes over the front of your pelvic bone. These are the bony prominences you feel on both sides right above your hip joint. Surgeons often place sutures into the strong tissue in this area to secure the incision site from migrating upward due to the necessary tension placed on the skin closure. Most of the time the sutures loosen slightly and the nerve recovers. 

	At this point, no improvement is worrisome. The nerve could have been cut in some way or could have been cut by the needle on the suture. That would cause continued pain, although you can still see some improvement up to a year after the procedure, classically. It has been reported that in some cases re-exploration and removal of any permanent sutures in that area may be helpful but improvement is not consistent. 

	I wish you the best.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

The numb area in your upper thigh may be related to an injury to the nerve which comes over the top of the hip bone, and gives feeling to the upper and outer thigh. If the nerve is stretched or caught along the incision line it may get better, though after 10 months you should have seen progress. The numbness will not interfere with your liposuction.
	Best of luck,
	peterejohnsonmd

Upper Thight Numbness 10 Months After TT, Will It Affect Lipo of Thigh?

Answers (4)

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