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.

Your surgeon is taking care of your concerns. You may need revision and you surgeon can take care of later.

Some individuals are prone to thicker and pigmented scars, and this can affect the belly button closure as well. Steroid injections, often Kenalog, can be helpful to relax and soften the scar if the belly button has been affected and is worth the try. If the steroid fails to solve the problem, a revision of the belly button might do.
Best of luck,
peterejohnsonmd

Thick, hypertrophic scars scan sometimes be softened with Kenalog injections.  I have had better luck with a combination of 5FU (90%) and Kenalog 10 (10%) injections.  I do them 4-6 weeks apart if they are helping.  After 9 months I suspect that injections won't be enough.  I would excise the scar and watch the new scar carefully.  At any hint of thickening I would start the injections.  Best of luck.

If the scar is already contracted then I have treated this condition by removing the scar and repairing the wound. At 1 month and 2 months it is adviseable then to inject with cortisone to prevent a re-occurrence. Good luck!

Hi.

Once this scar contraction sets in, it is very hard to reverse.  A revision with little flaps (Z plasty) can help restore the anatomy to a more normal look.