Belly button draining 2 years post-op (Photo)

Thank you for your question and for sharing your experience. Based on your history, it sounds like the most likely cause of your belly button drainage is related to suture material. Even though your plastic surgeon mentioned using dissolvable sutures, it's still possible for small remnants of the sutures to cause irritation or create a localized issue long after surgery.

Another possibility is a small seroma (a fluid pocket) or a localized abscess, which could explain the drainage you're seeing. If the drainage persists for more than two weeks, it’s typically recommended to have the area explored surgically to identify and address the root cause. This exploration is often a minor procedure that can be done in the office under local anesthesia. The surgeon would make a small incision around the belly button to locate and remove any potential offending material, such as a suture or small fluid collection.

Given your history of belly button dehiscence, it's also possible that this area was compromised during healing, and some sutures or tissue may have been affected by infection or incomplete healing at the time. Even if your CT scan and culture came back clear, persistent drainage warrants further investigation.

I recommend following up with your plastic surgeon or another specialist who can perform this minor exploration to prevent any further complications.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Dear Givens5,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what is wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

If your muscles were tightened, permanent sutures were used. You may have developed a small, but reoccurring infection in one of those sutures. Go back to your plastic surgeon and ask him to open that area and check.