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Tummy Tuck
How Long Does Numbness Typically Last After Tummy Tuck?
The numbness can be permanent but typically improves after 6 months to one year. It happens because the small sensory nerves running through the skin and fat have to be lifted or divided to complete the repair, and it takes time for them to reconnect and for feeling to return. In the time in between patients sometimes describe an itching, tingling, or crawling sensation that moves towards the incision line. This can be a symptom of the nerves regenerating, and it usually comes and goes rather than staying constant. A full tuck with muscle repair tends to numb a larger area than a mini tuck, since more nerves are involved. If numbness is spreading, painful, or paired with redness or drainage rather than slowly fading, that is worth mentioning to your surgeon.
Clinical Context
Numbness depends largely on how much skin and fat was lifted to complete the repair. A full tuck with muscle repair tends to numb a larger area than a mini tuck because more sensory nerves are affected in that process. Health factors like smoking or diabetes may slow nerve recovery, and scar tissue from a prior C-section can sometimes make sensation uneven in that area.
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