Will Cortisone Shots Correct Belly Button Issues 9 Months After Tummy Tuck?

Hello Gail1962,

I respectfully dissagree with the responders to your post except Dr. Beraka.  Scar contracture will unlikely be helped by injections of any sort.  In fact, it will most likely cause tissue thinning, skin discoloration, a shinny appearance to the skin, and visible blood vessel formation.  The most reliable treatment for your problem comes from the knowledge gained by treating severely burned people and their scar contractures. 

A technique called Z-plasty divides and lifts your current scar into multiple, small triangular shaped flaps and then repositions them back down in the opposite direction.  This serves to redirect skin laxity into lengthening the scar, and stop the contractile process. 

Best of luck.

cortisone is good for thick, red , itching scars.

a small opening may do better with a local revision surgery to increase the size

You likely have stenosis of the umbilical entrance due to hypertrophic scar contracture.  Corticosteroid shots are a good first step for treatment.  Do your best to keep the inside of the belly button clean (irrigate in shower, Q-tips, alcohol, etc.) until this problem resolves.  If steroid injections do not open the entrance to your belly button (they may soften the scar, but in my experience are unlikely to widen the opening), surgical revision in the office is indicated.  My approach is to excise the scar and perform Z-plasties, or shorten the umbilical stalk, carefully reclose, and prevent recurrence by injecting corticosteroid during healing, and perhaps stenting the closure.