Hole in incision after tummy tuck
The hole in the incision is a potential side effect of any surgery, and it can occur after a tummy tuck. The hole is caused by the skin retracting and pulling away from the underlying tissues. It may also be caused by a small piece of fat or other tissue being left behind after surgery.
The good news is that this is typically only temporary; it will heal on its own as your body heals over the next few weeks. You can help speed along this process by keeping your incision clean and dry, not picking at it, and taking pain medication as prescribed by your doctor. If you have any concerns about your recovery, please contact [your doctor] for an appointment!
You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on Hip and leg pain after tummy tuck, nerve pain in leg after tummy tuck. Read on to learn more.
Hole in incision after tummy tuck
What to do if confronted with wound dehiscence after the tummy tuck
The tummy tuck is a major plastic surgery procedure quite invasive on the body as it entails an incision that can be as long as from hip bone to hip bone and also the excision of the excess skin present on the lower part of the tummy. Because it is such a complex surgery, the plastic surgeon will advise patients to prepare properly and also to adopt a certain behavior after the procedure.
Just like any other surgical procedure, there are risks and complications that are possible to occur after the tummy tuck. Depending on multiple factors, some patients are more at risk than others. Generally speaking, smoking and preexisting health conditions can lead to an increased risk of developing a complication.
One of the complications that can occur after a tummy tuck is wound dehiscence. Wound dehiscence is the opening of the incisions after the procedure. It can lead to infections and bad scarring if not treated in time. Many patients want to know how this complication can occur and what can be done to prevent it.
Wound dehiscence is one of the complications that tend to occur more frequently in patients who smoke. A responsible plastic surgeon will advise the patient to stop smoking three to six weeks before the tummy tuck and remain a non-smoker for at least the same amount of time post-op. Smoking can interfere with the incisions’ healing process as it triggers poor oxygenation of the blood and the vasoconstriction of the blood vessels. The lack of proper vascularization in the area could lead to wound dehiscence and even the necrosis of the tissues.
Wound dehiscence can also occur if the patient puts too much pressure on the incisions or doesn’t follow the recommendations of the plastic surgeon for sleeping and walking positions. Some patients will notice that the sutures rupture and the wound is opened after trying to lift something heavy from the floor, after lifting their toddlers in their arms, and so on. Something as simple as too much laughing, sneezing, and coughing can trigger wound dehiscence, so make sure you apply pressure on the operated area if these occur.
If you are confronted with wound dehiscence, it is important to contact the plastic surgeon immediately as treatment must be administered. In some cases, the plastic surgeon will need to remove the dead tissue and suture the wounds again to create the premises for a good cicatrization process. The longer you stay with the wounds open, the higher is the risk to develop an infection that might be very difficult to treat later on.
Wound dehiscence is not a common complication after the tummy tuck; however, patients should always follow the recommendations of the surgeon to avoid it.
Nerve pain in leg after tummy tuck
Typically, there is a certain degree of pain or discomfort you can expect following surgery. Surgical procedures are traumatic for the human body, and pain may be attributed to your body trying to heal injured tissues. In some instances, however, nerve pain develops afterward and this isn’t the same kind of pain you should probably expect.
As we’ve noted throughout our website, nerve pain is often marked by symptoms like burning, shooting, stabbing, and searing pain. For some patients, external stimulation—even at low levels (like wind blowing over skin or water coming down from a showerhead)—causes intense physical sensations. Others experience “pins and needles” or feel as though a specific body part or region has been plugged into an electrical outlet.
If you have those kinds of symptoms, the pain is likely caused by a nerve issue of some kind.
In some cases, these symptoms begin after procedures like C-sections (cesarean section deliveries) and tummy tucks. When they do, it’s understandable for patients to wonder why this is happening to them. So, let’s look today at why you are having nerve pain after those kinds of procedures.
To start, it is worth noting that nerve pain does not imply that anything was done incorrectly during the surgery. Surgeons, by very definition of their job, have to cut tissues to repair medical problems. Your body has an entire network of nerves running throughout, so this means there are times when nerves will also be cut during surgery. It’s just a fact.
Nerve Pain after C-section
As with other surgical procedures, it is virtually impossible to perform a C-section without cutting into some nerves. That said, long-term nerve injury after a C-section tends to be somewhat rare.
Often, nerves will heal without causing any lasting issues. When injured nerves do not heal correctly, it is considered to be nerve damage. Depending on which nerves are damaged—and their respective functions—there are various short-term and long-term symptoms that can develop. These symptoms can include impaired motor function and nerve pain.
If you have had a C-section and are experiencing a superficial pain around the edges of the scar, it is likely the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and/or genitofemoral nerves have been affected. Usually, the pain presents as a burning pain and hypersensitivity – which means even light touch hurts (like in the earlier examples of wind and water). There may also be “electric shock” sensations.
If pushing on the affected area does not reproduce the pain, those specific nerves are less likely to be responsible.
The reason for noting the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral nerves comes down to their locations. Surgeons do attempt to avoid important nerves as much as possible, but these ones run close to the edge of a C-section incision. This makes it easy for them to be injured during the procedure (bruised, crushed, etc.) or trapped in scar tissue afterward.
If you are having painful sensations, it is more likely the nerves were injured, instead of being cut. We can say this because cut nerves tend to produce numbness instead of pain. Although, there are times when both numbness and pain result from cut nerves (which is a condition called anesthesia dolorosa).
When diagnosing your nerve pain after a C-section, we use a nerve block. This is a matter of using anesthetic to cause temporary numbness for the affected nerve. When there is both numbness and pain relief, it indicates a peripheral nerve injury. If there is numbness without pain relief, something else is likely at play.
Nerve Pain after Tummy Tuck
Tummy tucks—abdominoplasties—are some of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reporting 127,633 in 2016. This is a 104% increase from the 62,713 performed in 2000.
Experts believe the number of abdominoplasties will only increase due to both the number of esthetic surgical procedures and increase in how many obese patients achieve massive weight loss following bariatric surgery.
As with other surgeries, nerves to the affected area are traumatized from a tummy tuck. This can cause numbness for several weeks to months before the nerves overcome temporary neuropraxia (loss of nerve conduction). Usually, it only takes around 6-12 weeks for the situation to resolve, but there are cases wherein this may take longer.
Whereas this numbness and a certain degree of discomfort can be expected, it can be a problem when nerve pain has developed and is not going away after a reasonable amount of time.
In the case of nerve pain following a tummy tuck, it is probably a small nerve called the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve that is affected. This particular nerve travels directly through the areas manipulated during a tummy tuck and could easily be injured directly by a suture or scalpel, or indirectly when the nerve becomes entrapped in scar tissue.
That said, it is important to note that factors other than nerve damage could be responsible for pain and sensory abnormalities. For example, massive weight loss can cause extreme skin expansion and a patient who had undergone bariatric surgery may also have had other issues (secondary fibrosis, hernia) corrected during the tummy tuck.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Patients who undergo surgery may experience nerve pain following the procedure, especially if the pain persists for an extended period of time. This can be particularly concerning in cases of C-sections and tummy tucks, where inadvertent nerve damage may be the cause. It is important for patients experiencing nerve pain after surgery to find out the root cause of their symptoms so that they can receive the appropriate care. At our clinic, we understand the complexities of nerve damage and are committed to helping patients find relief from their pain.
Nerve pain following surgery can be a result of a variety of factors, including surgical trauma, inflammation, or direct nerve injury. In cases of C-sections and tummy tucks, the close proximity of nerves to the surgical site increases the risk of nerve damage during the procedure. When nerve damage occurs, it can lead to symptoms such as sharp or shooting pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. These symptoms can be debilitating and impact a patient’s quality of life.
Our clinic specializes in diagnosing and treating nerve pain following surgery, particularly in cases of inadvertent nerve damage. We utilize a variety of diagnostic techniques, including nerve conduction studies and imaging tests, to pinpoint the source of the pain. Once the cause of the nerve pain has been identified, we can develop a customized treatment plan to help alleviate the symptoms and promote healing. This may include medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, or in some cases, surgical intervention to repair the damaged nerve.
It is important for patients experiencing nerve pain following surgery to seek out a healthcare provider who is experienced in treating nerve damage. Our team of specialists has the expertise and resources necessary to provide comprehensive care for patients with nerve pain. We understand the impact that nerve pain can have on a patient’s life, and we are dedicated to helping our patients find relief and regain function.
In conclusion, nerve pain following surgery, particularly in cases of C-sections and tummy tucks, may be a result of inadvertent nerve damage. It is important for patients to seek out a healthcare provider who specializes in treating nerve pain to receive the care they need. Our clinic is committed to helping patients find relief from their symptoms and improve their quality of life. If you are experiencing nerve pain following surgery, contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Stomach cramps after tummy tuck
Many people underestimate the full extent of a tummy tuck procedure and don’t realize that not only is excess skin removed, the remaining tissue is then stretched and repositioned entirely. It is an extensive procedure and although there is pain involved in the post-operative recovery, each patient’s recovery experience is slightly different. This makes it impossible to say exactly how you will feel after surgery. There are a few concepts that can be discussed, however, that will give you a better idea as to how you may feel after an abdominoplasty procedure.
Just like each recovery is unique, each tummy tuck procedure is slightly different from the next. This means that the type of pain and amount of discomfort felt by each person is, understandably, also different. Pain experienced post operatively largely correlates to the extent of the procedure performed. This includes factors like whether or not liposuction was preformed in conjunction with the tummy tuck and the type of tummy tuck performed. Patients who undergo a circumferential tummy tuck (a tuck that goes all the way around the body), for example, will likely have a longer and more uncomfortable recovery than someone who undergoes a mini tummy tuck procedure.
As far as the type of pain and location that is felt, there are a couple of experiences commonly reported by patients post operatively. If painful, patients will usually notice discomfort in the upper abdomen, as opposed to the lower abdomen where the incision was made. At first this may seem confusing, but it is easily explained by the fact that the lower abdomen is actually numbed as a result of the abdominal tissues being lifted and repositioned, thereby knocking out nerves in the lower abdominal area. The upper abdomen, however, contains many nerves that are still intact and that may cause pain to be felt in that area.
The type of pain felt post-operation varies. It is not uncommon, as an example, for it to take up to six weeks for muscle spasms in the abdomen to ease and nerves to recover. After a tummy tuck procedure, nerves recover from the outside in towards your belly button and some, typically under the belly button, never recover at all. In most cases though, patients report that the first ten days after the operation are the most uncomfortable and that the discomfort lessens exponentially after that point. The pins and needles sensation is very common during the recovery. Most people find this sensation tolerable.
Your own pain tolerance is one of the most important things to consider when assessing how much pain you may experience after an abdominoplasty procedure. Some patients do not feel the need to complete the standard pain medications prescribed post operatively. Others, however, require a refill on pain medication or the use of a constant rate of infusion of medicine. The infusion is a relatively new method of pain control for patients at home post-operation. This pain control is typically supplied through a small pump that the patient wears for a few days after the operation. When trying to decide how you might feel after a tummy tuck, think about how you have healed from any injuries in the past. That should give you a relatively good understanding of how you may heal from a tummy tuck.
The extent of abdominoplasty procedures leaves potential for, what some patients describe as a long and painful recovery. Here at Edelstein Cosmetic however, our patients usually experience minimal post-operative pain due to excellent pain management coupled with thorough home care instructions. All of our surgeries are overseen and monitored by a board certified anesthesiologist and follow up examinations will be with your specific surgeon. As always, be sure to call and schedule a consultation with a doctor to address your specific questions and concerns.