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)

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

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