Darkened Belly Button After Tummy Tuck

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 can "overtake" a belly button and grow right over it after a tummy tuck. A visit back to your surgeon will shed some light on the subject and guide your treatment. Good luck!

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 of the scar is still possible. Your surgeon will be able to advise you on their preferred treatment options, understanding exactly what was done in your surgery. Many good options... more

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 beneficial. Skin bleaching agents may also help but generally are not useful. Avoid Mederma, it has done little for my my patients.

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 probably be seen by your doctor to check it out.

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

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 can be due to an umbilical hernia, thick scarring, or other possible factors. It is important to consult with your surgeon or another board-certified plastic surgeon to make sure your result is... more

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.

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 be made smaller and more attractive with a relatively simple revision.