Can My TT/Belly Button Be Fixed? (photo)

I had two kids one tummy tuck which was done terribly by Dr. Gary Burton in bowie MD. I was so frantic to go back under the knife he ruined my life if you asked me and never tried to give me back my money he only tried to fix the problem but couldn't, I was so hurt and crushed once I saw my final results I wished I would have never chose him as my doctor I am still living with regrets until this very day :( to be honest I have been trying to find a doctor who could fix my belly button.

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by juicybunz

Doctor Answers (6)
Community Comments (1)

Dark raised scars after a tummy tuck

Your photo reveals a hyperpigmented (dark) and hypertrophic (thick) scar. Have you tried bleaching creams, and steroid injections? Scar revisions alone usually will not improve this type of scar. Scar revision coupled with various other treatments such as bleaching creams for the darkness and silicone sheeting may help flatten the scars. If this is unsuccessful, Fraxel restore laser treatments are often beneficial in decreasing the darkness with careful... more

Tummy Tuck in People of Color and Keloids

I am sorry to hear about your recovery thus far. Your belly button may be a tough fix because it appears that you have some component of keloid/hypertrophic scar as well as increased pigmentation. The best thing to do now is to allow the scars to settle unless they bore themselves out to be keloids by increasing in size and thickness then steroid injections can be given. Steroid injections have there own downside especially in people of color. Silicone bandages can... more

Can My TT/Belly Button Be Fixed?

Thank you for your question and for the attached photos. The post-ops are a little close up and therefore it is hard to compare overall contour with the pre-ops. The things that ring out as problems in these less than one month photos are hyperpigmnented (dark) and hypertrophic (thick) scars. In fairness to the surgeon, how incisions heal are largely out of his control, and are determined by genetics. The navel in the pre-op photo seems to be similar size, but perhaps less... more

Can My TT/Belly Button Be Fixed?

The posted photo demonstrates hyper pigmentation and hypertrophy scarring. Revision in my opinion will only worsen. Laser therapy has very limited responses. Best idea is a decorative tattoo.

Belly button scar after tummy tuck

I recently saw a patient with a very similar scar after her tummy tuck. This may be fixable if you are willing to have a vertical scar from the belly button down to the tummy tuck scar. If one tries to simply remove the scar around it you will only be faced with more tension around the belly button and likely a recurrent hypertrophic scar. If this is excised as an ellipse then a new hole that is much smaller can be created to bring a smaller belly button through. Good luck! more

Tummy-tuck scars in darker skin - hypertrophic and keloid scars are strongly patient-dependent!

Thank you for your question. You seems to be a Fitzpatrick skin type 6 (out of 6). And darker skin people have more often darker scars, and wider scars (hypertrophy and keloid). Your belly-button results is not the greatest, yet, this result can happen even in the best hands. Your surgeon is board-qualified and your abdominoplasty result is quite good. Healing after surgery is NOT entirely dependent on the surgeon's skills. Part of it is genetics, your own... more

Marc DuPere, MD

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Toronto Plastic Surgeon

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Comments (1)

juicybunz 19 Mar 2013

It’s been 6 yrs and this is the end result. You say it’s genetic or keloids, that’s an easy to use excuse for his wrong doing, I don’t have keloid skin, as you can see he didn’t cut the hole small enough to replace the belly button, that’s my dilemma. The scar is disgusting and I could never feel comfortable to wear a bathing suit without people staring. I have had surgery and no other part of my body has healed like this. I have been looking at other doctor’s work and the majority of the replaced belly buttons don’t look the way mine does. Thanks for making your comment, I appreciate your feedback.

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