Because the doctor has to cut through some small, superficial nerves in order to perform the surgery, it is very common to experience numbness in the lower abdomen or around the scar. Others also report a hypersensitivity in this area: tingling, tender to touch, decreased tolerance to light touch.

It’s important to address this hypersensitivity by exposing the area to touch very progressively.

Start with exposing the abdomen to really soft, gentle stimuli: satin, silk, a q-tip or cotton ball. Gently rub in small circles and strokes, gradually increasing pressure as tolerated. Work throughout the abdomen, especially below the belly button. Feel free to gradually progress over the course of several days/weeks.

As tolerance improves, increase the roughness of the stimulus: washcloth, denim, burlap, etc. Again, control the pressure as tolerated.

This can be done for 5-10 minutes per day, or at least 4x/week. You should notice an improvement over the course of a few weeks. You can perform this on the abdomen before the 6 week mark, but don’t do directly on the scar until it is completely healed.

For numbness, this can take several months-a year for sensation to return.