I Had a Tummy Tuck 3 Weeks Ago and Now my Belly Button Looks Infected? Does This Look Normal? (photo)

   Redness of the belly button may be present for several weeks after tummy tuck.  If there is drainage, fever, chills, spreading redness, and warmth then there may be an infection.  An exam would be necessary.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

The redness seen in the pictures may just be normal increased blood flow during the healing process of a tummy tuck.  If it increases, or if you have increasing pain or foul smelling drainage, I would call your surgeon to be examined and consider antibiotics.

At 3 weeks healing, all incisionsis very active. One of the healing signs is reddness. Redness can also be associated with infections, however, infections would also most likely be accompanied by drainage. I would suggest warm compresses and antibiotics just to be safe.

I recommend following up with your plastic surgeon for an evaluation. It is rare to develop an infection 3 weeks after a tummy tuck.

It is often not easy to diagnose an infection in an incision based on photo alone, so I would suggest a call in to your surgeon. With a few questions and give and take, a decision about whether you should be seen can be made. Thanks ,  all the best.