1 Week Post Op and Belly Button is Dark Red/black?

asked 1 year ago by Goonies3 in Pittsburgh, PA
Latest answer by Robert L. Kraft, MD
Question viewed 560 times
Tags: belly button, redness, 1 week post-op, darkening, necrosis, normal

I am 8 days post op after full tummy tuck. I've had 2 appointments with the PA this week and both times he has expressed concern about the "darkenss" of my belly button. Sutures came out at 6 days post op. It continues to seep blood although not in large amounts. The inside is dark red/black. He has instructed me to continue washing with soap and water followed by antibiotic ointment in it covered with gauze and to watch it. Watch it for what? What is going on and what should I do? Concern?

10 answers to 1 Week Post Op and Belly Button is Dark Red/black?

Umbilical necrosis

The concern would be regarding necrosis of the umbilicus. Many patients will have some bleeding and "duskiness" of the umbilicus, which can go on to heal nicely. However, the concerns are always for infection or lack of proper blood supply. I recommend that you see your plastic surgeon, and not a physicians' assistant, in followup. Personally, I think that you paid for the services of a plastic surgeon and that it is important for the surgeon to see the patient during the initial postop... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck - 1 Week Post Op and Belly Button is Dark Red/black?

You need to see the plastic surgeon who performed your surgery. Hopefully, this will be fine and will turn out to be part of the normal healing process - but it is not normal for your BB to be dark, and to have dark fluid seeping out around it. A small amount of either may be fine; a large amount is worrisome. There are, of course, many potential complications associated with this surgery and tissue necrosis, including the flap and/or the BB are certainly among them. ... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Umbilical compromise after tummy tuck

While performing a tummy tuck, the skin around the belly button is removed as well as some of its blood supply. If there is not enough blood supply left to keep the belly button alive, some or all of it can die. This generally first appears as the umbilicus looking discolored a dark purple color and eventually to turn black. Sometimes it is just the superficial skin that is lost and deeper part survives and it heals with just local care. I would encourage you to see your surgeon,... more

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Partial-thickness Umbilical Necrosis Following Tummy Tuck

Your description is very consistent with vascular compromise of the belly button. Following a full tummy tuck the belly button receives all its blood supply through the stalk which has remained attached to the abdominal wall. When the blood supply is interrupted / compromised, the color of the belly button will become dark reddish, bluish, or black. It sounds as if you have experienced partial loss. How much skin and tissue loss will occur remains to be seen; so a watch-and-wait course... more

Kenneth Dembny, II, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Keep it clean, allow it to heal, probably be fine

The blood supply to your belly button is compromised. This sometimes happens after tummy tucks, even in experienced hands. Your surgeon is correct in having you simply keep it clean and apply antibiotic ointment. You will likely lose belly button skin ("necrosis"), but the wound is likely to heal spontaneously and the result can actually be just fine. There is nothing to do surgically right now. Let the body heal and then you and your surgeon can... more

Eric Swanson MD
Leawood Plastic Surgeon

www.swansoncenter.com

1 Week Post Op and Belly Button is Dark Red/black?

Sounds like vascular compromise to the umbilical stalk or in other words necrosis of the belly button. Seek direct evaluation with the chosen operative surgeon NOT a PA!.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Contiue to wait

Your belly button now receives it's blood supply only through the stalk coming up from your abdomen. I have seen dark belly buttons that I thought for certain were necrotic, but survived just fine. There is nothing you can do except keep it clean, covered and wait (it may take 6-8 weeks to heal). Don't pick at the crusts too much. There is a good chance it will survive so don't despair.

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Belly button after tummy tuck

After having a tummy tuck, it's possible for the belly button to have an inadequate blood supply to survive. If the belly button is dark one week following surgery, it is probably best to follow its progress for the next three weeks without surgical intervention. You should probably see your surgeon weekly to guide you through this recovery period. He may also prescribe an antimicrobial cream such as Silvadene to assist your healing.

David Stoker, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Necrosis

It sounds like you have at least partial necrosis of the belly button. The normal approach is to treat the area with soap and water and an antibiotic ointment until the area that is at risk becomes well defined. At that point, your surgeon will let you know the best approach to make it look as good as possible. Foe right now it sounds like the right approach. If the area becomes red, has increased pain or you get a fever, then you will need to see your surgeon ASAP , as an infection can set in. more

Brian Klink, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.solanoplasticsurgery.com

Belly Button problems after Tummy Tuck

Sometimes a wait and watch is the best approach in situations like this. It can be difficult to tell if a belly button will make it and there is not much that can be done other than to see what happens. As long as there is no sign of infection one can take that approach. Give it some time and it will "declare' itself.