Why is my belly button not healing? We went to wet to dry gauze but had to go to dry cause of the drainage (Photo)

Question

I'm on a antibiotic. But I don't see any changes the last four pictures are from today the rest of them are over the last three weeks my surgery was on 10/29/14

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

The umbilicus appears to have separated from the abdominal skin flap. Some or all of it may have been lost but that's unlikely. The wound will eventually healed but a revision is likely. It's too early to re-suture the umbilical stock at this time.

Robert Sleightholm, MD · Answer

The belly button ha died.  The wound should be debrided and sutures if present removed.  A debriding dressing will remove necrotic tissue, keeping the wound clean until it heals by itself.  This will take several weeks.  The end result can be acceptable.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Must rule out retention residual sutures which are infected vs umbilical necrosis infected. Seek IN PERSON second opinions...

Douglas Taranow, DO, FACOS · Answer

Janet,Thank you for your question and adding so many great photos.It appears that you had an abdominoplsty procedure and have suffered a loss of your umbilicus (belly button).  It is not a common occurance, but loss of the skin of the belly button can occur.  You should follow up wtih your plastic surgeon.  Debridment (removing the dead tissue) along with dry dressings or even the use of a wet dressing called Dakin's solution (1/2% or 1/4%) works very well to both clean it up and inhibit bacterial growth.  The healing process will take months, but often the cosmetic result is pretty good.  Your surgeon would know best if there are any sutures near the open wound which would cause prolonged drainage and the potential for bacterial colonization (overgrowth).Best of luck.Dr. Taranow

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

Thank you for the photos and you appear to have suffered necrosis of your umbilical skin which, if not already done, will need to be debrided and then allowed to close secondarily which will take time - a wound vac may also helpDr Corbin

Bruce K. Barach, MD (retired) · Answer

rarely a problem with wound healing will occur after such surgery and it can then take many weeks to resolve. diligent local wound care, antibiotics, and regular attention from your surgeon are all part of what is needed to overcome the problem; it is not unusual for this process to take many weeks, so you should not be overly worried at the length of time involved so far. hang in there and it will likely turn out ok in the end....just not as quickly as you expected preoperatively.

Why is my belly button not healing? We went to wet to dry gauze but had to go to dry cause of the drainage (Photo)

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