04/05/2026
⚠️ Viewer discretion advised – Medical image showing a severe burn injury ⚠️
This is the result of a hot water bottle burn on my client’s lower abdomen several weeks after a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) combined with liposuction. Even though the area appears dramatically injured with deep tissue damage, blistering and discoloration, the patient felt almost nothing while it was happening 😳
This is due to nerve damage (neuropraxia or more prolonged sensory loss) that is very common after tummy tuck and liposuction procedures. The nerves supplying sensation to the abdominal skin and underlying tissue are often stretched, cut, or temporarily disrupted during surgery. As a result, patients can have significantly reduced or absent feeling in the treated area for weeks to months — sometimes longer…
Because of this numbness, the patient was unaware that the hot water bottle was causing a serious thermal burn until the damage was already done. Key takeaways for anyone who has had or is planning abdominal contouring surgery 👇
• Never apply heat (hot water bottles, heating pads, hot packs) directly to the surgical area while sensation is still altered
• Always test the temperature on a sensitive area of skin first (like the inner arm or thigh)
• Use a thick towel or cloth barrier and limit contact time
• When in doubt, avoid heat altogether in numb zones — opt for gentle warmth only if cleared by your surgeon
Healing from such burns can be prolonged, especially over surgical scars and compromised tissue. To make things worse, this patient is prone to keloid scarring, which can leave the scar dark and raised.
This case highlights why post-operative instructions about heat and cold therapy must be followed carefully — numb doesn’t mean safe.
