Belly Button Discharge After Tummy Tuck

Please see your surgeon to check this out. Discharge that has a bad odor often indicates an infection, and this needs to be addressed right away. Best of luck.

Hello Ginnyg in Hartford City, IN. Thank you for your question regarding the issues you are experiencing with your belly button following your tummy tuck surgery.

It sounds like you are dealing with some complications that are not uncommon but do require appropriate attention to ensure proper healing and to prevent further issues:

Discharge and Odor: The presence of discharge and a noticeable odor from your belly button after a tummy tuck can be concerning. These symptoms can indicate an infection or a non-healing wound, particularly if the discharge is persistent and accompanied by an unpleasant smell.

Use of Peroxide: Cleaning the area with hydrogen peroxide is generally not recommended for post-surgical wounds like this because peroxide can irritate the tissue and potentially delay healing. Instead, saline (salt water) solution or a prescribed antiseptic is typically more suitable for cleaning surgical sites.

Small Hole Near the Belly Button: This could be a sign of a wound dehiscence (where the wound has partially reopened) or a small sinus tract that has developed as a result of infection or poor healing.

Steps to Take:

Consult Your Plastic Surgeon: It’s crucial to contact your plastic surgeon as soon as possible. They need to assess the belly button, possibly culture the discharge to identify any bacteria present, and determine the best course of treatment.

Possible Treatments: Your surgeon might prescribe antibiotics if an infection is present. They might also recommend specific wound care techniques to promote healing and manage the discharge.

Follow-Up Care: Ensure regular follow-up visits with your surgeon to monitor the healing process and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan. Your surgeon might need to clean the area more thoroughly in a controlled medical environment.

Alternative Cleaning Methods: Until you can see your surgeon, clean the area gently with saline solution. Avoid using any harsh substances like hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can irritate the tissue.

Monitor Symptoms: Watch for signs of worsening, such as increased redness, swelling, pain, or fever, as these could indicate a spreading infection that might require more aggressive treatment.

The healing time can vary depending on the underlying cause of the discharge and how it is managed. With proper care and treatment, most postoperative complications can be resolved effectively, but it's important to address them promptly to avoid longer-term issues.

Please reach out to your plastic surgeon as soon as possible to discuss these symptoms and begin appropriate treatment.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Persistent drainage from the area around the belly button
following abdominplasty is usually always related to infection around the deep
sutures. 

During this procedure a lower abdominal incision is made and
a skin flap elevated to the level of the rib cage.  This requires an incision around the belly button for
mobilization of this skin flap. 
Once this flap has been elevated the underlying muscles are tightened
with non- absorbable sutures.

In some cases, bacteria is able to pass through the
umbilical incision and infect the deep sutures.  This results in drainage from the area around the belly
button.

In most cases treatment requires removal of the infected
suture and systemic antibiotics. 
It’s important that you consult your surgeon so an appropriate treatment
plan can be formulated.

It would be unusual to haVE DISCHARGE FROM YOUR BELLY BUTTON AFTER A TUMMY tUCK.  So sorry about the caps.  Probably all will be fine without addit intervention.   Best of luck.

Sometimes discharge or small opening can be associated with "spitting sutures." Spitting suture is a term used when a buried, absorbable suture becomes exposed, therefore, losing it's absorbability. These spitting sutures can be easily removed by your surgeon. A quick visit back to your surgeon whom can help determine the exact cause. It also can be associated with infection, so make sure you check it with your surgeon.

As reviewed below, the source of your problem is most likely to be, with about 90% certaintly, either a suture or delayed healing.
If it is the former, it may require removal. This is typically a minor procedure.
If it is slow healing, it may take some time, usually 3 weeks with wound care.
However, this is just my opinion based on frequently performing the procedure.
Definitely discuss this with your surgeon and feel confident that it can be managed.
In brief, I hope this helps confirm what the others have said,

Ginny,
For the most part, the belly button (umbilicus) heals very well after abdominoplasty. However, occasionally you may have a small area of skin breakdown at the incision or a small infection. It is important that you see your surgeon to make sure everything is okay. Even if you do have skin breakdown at the belly button, these issues are self-limiting and tend to heal very nicely.
David Shafer, MD
Shafer Plastic Surgery
New York City

A full tummy tuck normally begins with an incision
from one hip to the other.This incision
goes through the skin and fat layer but does not penetrate the muscle
layer.The skin and fat layer together
is lifted off of the muscle layer until the bellybutton is reached.In order to continue lifting the skin and fat
layer off of the underlying muscle, an incision is made around the bellybutton,
releasing the bellybutton from the skin and fat layer.The skin and fat layer is then elevated off
of the muscle layer up to the rib margin.At this point, the skin and fat have been completely lifted off of the
muscle layer and the bellybutton remains in the middle of the surface of the
muscle layer.Very often, the patient
will benefit with stitches placed in the muscle layer to tighten it up.Once the muscle layer is tightened, the skin
is pulled downward as snugly as possible.The excess skin is removed and a new opening is made over the
bellybutton.The bellybutton is brought
through this opening and stitched into place.The bellybutton does not change its location.Drainage from the bellybutton incision could be
secondary to irritation caused by stitches placed in the muscle layer to
tighten it up.If this is the case, then
it may be necessary to remove the offending suture.If the drainage is secondary to a localized infectious
process, then antibiotics and special wound treatment may solve the problem.For a simple and illustrated explanation of tummy tuck and body contouring
procedures, watch my video.

It is most likely a foreign body causing the infection. Usually it is a suture that might need removal. Check with your surgeon again for possible removal.

The belly button usually heals within 2-3 weeks after an abdominoplasty. depending on the type of sutures used, an infected suture, a "spitting suture" or a suture that should have come out but is still in may be the answer.
A quick visit back to your surgeon should easily clarify the source of the bad smell. If it is a retained suture, removing it is a simple process. If antibiotics are needed your surgeon will prescribe them.
The value of washing wounds with peroxide is overstated. Peroxide will delay healing. Mild soap and water is all you need.