Darkened belly button after Tummy Tuck

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9 answers to “Darkened belly button after Tummy Tuck”

A: Dark and swollen umbilicus after Tummy Tuck should be evaluated

By Otto Joseph Placik, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

In all likelihood, this is normal but it should be evaluated. As mentioned it could be a keloid, hypertorphic scar, hernia, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, eschar, etc. Your surgeon is the best person to make this distinction. If it is thickened scar, silicone sheets or gel along with sun blocks may be... more

A: Umbilicus and tummy tuck

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Six weeks out from a tummy tuck and swelling in the umbilicus is normal. If the color is particularly dark, do you mean black, purple? If it is purple it could be congested, but usually by 6 weeks this resolves. If it is black, then you may have sloughed a part or all of your umbilicus. You should... more

A: Dark color will fade

By Robert M. Freund, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

The color will resolve but the bulge may be an umbilical hernia. See your doctor ASAP to decide if corrective surgery is in order.

A: Many possiblities here...

By Anthony Youn, MD - Rochester Plastic Surgeon

There are many possibilities with your situation. First, the dark color could be due to your original skin coloring (nothing to do about this), postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (treat with skin lighteners like hydroquinone), or thick scarring (lasers and scar creams to start with). The puffiness... more

A: Consider the keloid

By Kenneth R. Francis, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Rozie, What is the quality of your other tummy tuck scars? What you are describing sounds like a keloid scar formation with the swelling and enlargement. Keloids are scars that loose control and continue to grow and grow. They are more common in people of color. Sometimes keloid scars... more

A: This doesn't sound normal

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

If you were 6 days not 6 months out from surgery I would say your belly button had died and turned black. At 6 months though this would not be the case. You should go back to your doctor for a check and perhaps a revision to shrink it or laser treatments to possibly lighten it.

A: It sounds like you will need a surgical correction.

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

To Rozie, Hi. The dark color of your belly button by itself is not a big problem. It will probably improve with time and it can be lightened with laser treatments. But you say your belly button is BIG and SWOLLEN. That does not sound right. The belly button can... more

A: Belly Button skin color is often darker than the abdominal skin

By S. Sean Younai, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

I have had several patients of mine who have had a similar experience with darkness of the umbilicus. I have noted that in these patients the skin color of the deep part of the umbilicus is much darker than the rest of the abdominal skin. usually this skin color is hidden with the loose surrounding skin, and... more

A: Best to visit your surgeon

By Armando Soto, MD - Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Hi- Based only on your description, it's difficult to say exactly what might be going on. It sounds like you may have formed an unfavorable scar- your best bet is to visit your surgeon. At 6 months, your scar is technically still undergoing maturation changes for another 6 months to a year, and so modulation... more