Belly button leaking 2 years post-op, belly button revision or new TT?

Thank you for your question regarding your belly button leaking two years after a tummy tuck. This is not an uncommon problem. This is usually due to a fistula. A fistula is a hole from the skin to an underlying offending foreign body or cavity. Discharge around the belly button occurs because permanent sutures are placed during an abdominoplasty. Because permanent sutures are permanent. They never go away. These permanent sutures may become infected or irritate the skin leading to a fistula. The fistula then causes chronic drainage. If this suture becomes infected, it can lead to a smelly liquid. Either way, I suggest a revision tummy tuck to assess this area. Typically an incision can be made around the belly button, and the suture can be removed. Hopefully, it's just one suture; if multiple sutures are infected, they may need removal. In addition, if your surgeon made a one-suture closure from your sternum to your belly button, that entire suture may need to be removed. Sometimes these procedures can be done locally, but they can always be done under general anesthesia. I would get this problem fixed once and for all because steroids are just covering up the problem and not solving the chronic discharge. I hope I answered your question regarding the belly button leaking two years after a tummy tuck.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Dear Cute901895,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went 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

I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for an evaluation. It seems any revision needs to be more closely followed so that interventions can be performed along the way to keep it from recurring and allow it to heal properly and completely.

The belly button may need to be revised again making it larger to accommodate the keloid filling that area in and not allow the remaining skin cells to slough naturally or be cleaned.

I do not recommend anybody travel long distances to have major elective surgical procedures. Patient did not seem to appreciate the importance of having multiple in person, consultations before scheduling surgery, the number of patients who have major concerns after surgery, that complications actually happen or the number of people who need revisions after surgery.
Your surgeon is responsible for the outcome of the procedure and you were responsible for choosing that surgeon.
Do you have a situation that requires medical intervention by competent doctors, including a plastic surgeon, and most likely working with a team approach, including an infectious disease physician. The infected or contaminated area needs to be explored the breed and you need wound care until you are healed properly. About the keloid on your belly button, but rather contaminated tissue that is infected and this needs to be treated appropriately.
You can call around and ask if local plastic surgeons in your community are willing to take on your case. You should expect to pay for the care if you do that.
Generally, dancer is for you to go back to your surgeon and have him or her manager of postoperative complications.
You were able to travel to your surgeon twice before so going there a third time may be a reasonable approach as well.
What is clear is that you need quality medical treatment that includes a competent plastic surgeon.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD