Dysmenorrhea Heat Therapy Injury in a Post-Abdominoplasty Patient: A Case Report

The anterolateral abdominal wall has rich neurosensory innervation from many sensory nerves, and in abdominoplasty surgical procedures, these nerves are invariably cut, resulting in anesthesia or hypoesthesia in their respective territories. Here we report a 26-year-old healthy female post-abdominoplasty patient who sustained an incidental contact burn injury from a common home remedy for her menstrual pain. Fortunately, the burn healed with secondary intent. Post-surgical loss of protective sensation facilitated this injury from heat therapy for spasmodic dysmenorrhea. Therefore, the patients planned for abdominoplasty should be informed in advance about the possibility of the development of this complication with its associated sequelae and its prevention. Early recognition of this surgical complication and timely intervention will prevent the consequent disfiguring of the rejuvenated abdominal wall.