How Deep Should Your Belly Button Be After a TT?

I had a TT with bilateral flank lipo and upper abd lipo on Jan 4th. Belly button not healing, red and meaty at the bottom with these pinkish redish bumpy areas forming in the meaty areas. feeling like it's stretched to the max. How long also does it take for you belly button to heal. I can't see the inside of BB unless I pull it apart and I can stick my entire first part of finger in it. Does some of the swelling cause this to be like this as well? Please help me not hate my PS!

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belly button recovery

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by tracy5 in Minnesota

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Belly button healing after full tummy tuck

Do not hate your plastic surgeon. This appears somewhat normal and is a common occurence. I would discuss wound care of the belly button with your plastic surgeon. First off, please stop sticking your finger in your belly button. That is not helping. The depth of the belly button depends partially on the thickness of the abdominal skin and fat layer (pannus). However, the belly button has a tendency for poor healing which can be attributed to the fact that it is a scar. It is the clamping... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - How Deep Should Your Belly Button Be After a TT?

The final appearance of the BB depends on what it looks like before, the surgery that is performed, and how you heal. In your case, you have some delayed healing in the region of the BB, and until you're fully healed, you really can't tell or even try to assess what it will look like. First things first - and in your case, you need to get this healed. Of course, it is not that uncommon to have areas of delayed healing after a procedure such as this (unpleasant -... more

Belly Button Afer Tummy Tuck

The two problem areas after a tummy tuck can be the center of the incision and the belly button. The length of the belly button is determined by the original length and the thickness of the abdominal skin flap. Your belly button has the appearance of chemical irritation, like you've been using peroxide on it. Whatever you're using, stop. It may also have a fungal infection so have your surgeon check it out.

Time is on your side after tummy tuck

Thanks for the photo. There is no standard depth of a belly button. Plastic surgeons try tirelessly to create a pleasing belly button. I will say that ideally the belly button should have good depth and a bit of hooding at the top. Concerning your belly button patience is the key. The incisions need time to heal and the tissue needs time to soften and reshape. You should start to see you new shape within 6 weeks and your shape (i.e. tissues softened) should finalize in 6 months.... more

Healing a belly button after tummy tuck

Poor healing around you belly button (umbilicus) is not uncommon. There can be some slow healing or even early separation of the edges of skin. Ultimately, will all heal. It can be scary when you see it happening on your body. As other doctors have explained, touching and poking at your belly button while its healing is not a good idea and can lead to more serious issues like infections. You have the hardest job now, you need to be patient. It can take a few weeks, but the belly button will... more

Belly Button Complication

It is impossible to tell from this close up just how deep the belly button should be. It is obvious you appear to have swelling and a wound separation along the top (11 to 2 and from 4 to 8 o clock). These areas will heal with dressing changes to the point you may not be able to tell they were separated BUT you should NEVER probe the depth of the belly button by sticking a finger in it as it will disrupt the stitching. I would calmly discuss this with your Plastic surgeon and see what he /... more

Wound healing in tummy tuck

You have wound healing problems due to inadequate blood supply. Don't hate the ps, complications occur. Stop putting your finger in it. My guess is that in several weeks to months it will heal well. As swelling goes down over months, it will look better.

Please don't mess with your belly button after a tummy tuck!

You need to be less anxious about the belly button and you may even be hurting it by pulling it apart and probing it with your finger. Why would you "hate" your doctor when you may be entirely to blame for a complication here???