I Had a Tummy Tuck 2 Years Ago and my Belly Button Area Never Has Healed! Always Oozes, What is the Problem? (photo)

asked 8 months ago by tigerfish57 in Virginia Beach, VA
Latest answer by Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Question viewed 339 times
Tags: 2 years post-op, necrosis, oozing

I had the tummy tuck 2 years ago. Area by belly button still raw. Been to many doctors, including dermatoligist. The last time I saw the plastic surgeon he said go to dermatologist. I have been many times and nothing helps! Last time I saw plastic surgeon he mentioned that a last resort is cutting the area out? Has anyone heard of that before? I am so tired of it not healing. I am not diabetic.

9 answers to I Had a Tummy Tuck 2 Years Ago and my Belly Button Area Never Has Healed! Always Oozes, What is the Problem? (photo)

Non-healing belly button after tummy tuck

Based on your clinical history and the photo, the reason this is not healing is likely due to a non-absorbable suture which is preventing the skin from healing. The photo has the characteristic look of a foreign body reaction with the foreign body likely being a suture. You should have your surgeon evaluate this and possibly explore this under local anesthesia. Once the suture is removed, the wound should heal. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Belly button not healing for two years should be investigated

Hello, Its very rare to have wound healing problems this long. I agree with getting a biosy for starters but after the results come back I would surgically evaluate for either a foreing body reaction to permanent suture or for the presence of an infected pseudobursa. All the best, Dr Repta

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Healing problems after a tummy tuck / abdominoplasty

This is most likely do to the sutures used under the skin on the muscle. i wouldn't cut it our but would surgically explore the area to see what is causing the inflamation around the belly button

Jed H. Horowitz, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Chronic Umbilical Wound

Two years! I don't blame you for being frustrated. I would say that there is a high probability that you have a permanent suture that is causing the problem. It's probably one used to plicate your muscles. An exploration of the area with local anesthesia should uncover the source. If it is a suture it can be removed. Your wound will heal up and that should be the end of it. Cultures would be helpful in case there is a chronic... more

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Chronic Belly Button Drainage Needs Surgery

A chronic non-healing belly button after a tummy tuck is a sign of an underlying problem. This may be due to chronic irritation of a knot from a fascial plication suture, a retained knot from a dermal suture used to close the belly button or a portion of the umbilical stalk that is trapped under the skin creating a chronic draining cyst due to epithelial turnover. The cyst problem is the most likely explanation and I have seen several patients who have developed the same problem.... more

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

Maybe a retained suture

It looks as if you have a chronic low grade infection which could have resulted from a retained suture, like one of the sutures used to bring your muscles together. See a plastic surgeon, and get your old op report.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Nonhealing belly button after tummy tuck

If it has been that long and you continue to have a problem with your belly button not healing, you need to have a thorough examination. The most likely reasons would be an infection that has never been adequately treated or a permanent suture that has gotten infected or at least contaminated. Your surgeon can tell you if any permanent sutures were put in. You can request a copy of your operative report and ask another question on this site if the sutures listed in the report are... more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Umbilicus problem two years after tummy tuck

My first question is whether any physician has taken a culture of the care to make a diagnosis. Could this be a bacterial infection or MRSA? You need a differential diagnosis before a treatment plan can be made. I'd encourage you to see another plastic surgeon for a second opinion and to ask your dermatologist or surgeon to take a biopsy of the area to rule out anything unusual.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Non-healing umblical wound

I assume that you have be followed by your initial plastic surgeon and he sent you to a dermatologist? Ask your surgeon for a referral to a more experienced plastic surgeon for another opinion. Without an examine and a working knowledge of your case, I can only speculate as to how to proceed. A retained foreign body or suture could cause a none healing wound. I imagine the dermatologist would have done a biopsy if they were so inclined. ... more