Darkened Belly Button After Tummy Tuck

I have had several patients of mine who have had a similar experience with darkness of the umbilicus. I have noted that in these patients the skin color of the deep part of the umbilicus is much darker than the rest of the abdominal skin. usually this skin color is hidden with the loose surrounding skin, and become apparent only after tightening the skin. the only remedy for this is to make the umbilicus smaller, and to make it look deeper in order to hide it.
yours,
Sean Younai, md beautifulfigure.com

Hello Rozie,

Thank you for reaching out. The darkened appearance and swelling of your belly button six months after a tummy tuck could potentially be the start of a keloid, which is an overgrowth of scar tissue beyond the boundaries of the original incision.

To address a keloid, there are several treatment options available, including:

Corticosteroid injections: These can help reduce inflammation and flatten the keloid.
Surgical removal: In some cases, surgical excision of the keloid may be necessary, although there's a risk of recurrence.
Laser therapy: Laser treatments can help reduce the size and appearance of keloids by targeting the excess scar tissue.
Silicone sheets or gels: These can help improve the texture and color of the scar by hydrating the skin and promoting collagen production.
However, it's essential to discuss your concerns and explore the best treatment options with your plastic surgeon. They can assess the severity of the keloid and recommend the most suitable approach based on your individual circumstances.

In the meantime, continuing to use silicone sheets for your scar and practicing proper scar care techniques may help improve the appearance of your belly button and surrounding area. Be sure to keep the area clean and moisturized, and avoid excessive sun exposure to minimize further pigmentation changes.

If you notice any changes or worsening of symptoms, don't hesitate to consult with your plastic surgeon for further evaluation and guidance.

Best of luck, and I hope you find a solution that works well for you.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Keloid management must follow a protocol approach. Our office uses a
combination of Vbeam laser, Kenalog IIT, scar modulation, scar serum
therapy, and enucleation. 
Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

In all likelihood, this is normal but it should be evaluated.
As mentioned it could be a keloid, hypertorphic scar, hernia, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, eschar, etc.
Your surgeon is the best person to make this distinction.
If it is thickened scar, silicone sheets or gel along with sun blocks may be beneficial.
Skin bleaching agents may also help but generally are not useful.
Avoid Mederma, it has done little for my my patients.

Hi-
Based only on your description, it's difficult to say exactly what might be going on. It sounds like you may have formed an unfavorable scar- your best bet is to visit your surgeon. At 6 months, your scar is technically still undergoing maturation changes for another 6 months to a year, and so modulation of the scar is still possible. Your surgeon will be able to advise you on their preferred treatment options, understanding exactly what was done in your surgery.
Many good options exist, including silicone tape, Scarguard gel, and topical or injected steroids, depending on your surgeon's preference, your preference, and the exact appearance of your scar.
I hope that helps, and Happy Holidays!

Six weeks out from a tummy tuck and swelling in the umbilicus is normal. If the color is particularly dark, do you mean black, purple? If it is purple it could be congested, but usually by 6 weeks this resolves. If it is black, then you may have sloughed a part or all of your umbilicus. You should probably be seen by your doctor to check it out.

The color will resolve but the bulge may be an umbilical hernia. See your doctor ASAP to decide if corrective surgery is in order.

There are many possibilities with your situation. First, the dark color could be due to your original skin coloring (nothing to do about this), postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (treat with skin lighteners like hydroquinone), or thick scarring (lasers and scar creams to start with). The puffiness can be due to an umbilical hernia, thick scarring, or other possible factors. It is important to consult with your surgeon or another board-certified plastic surgeon to make sure your result is as good as possible.

Rozie,
What is the quality of your other tummy tuck scars? What you are describing sounds like a keloid scar formation with the swelling and enlargement. Keloids are scars that loose control and continue to grow and grow. They are more common in people of color. Sometimes keloid scars can "overtake" a belly button and grow right over it after a tummy tuck. A visit back to your surgeon will shed some light on the subject and guide your treatment. Good luck!

If you were 6 days not 6 months out from surgery I would say your belly button had died and turned black. At 6 months though this would not be the case. You should go back to your doctor for a check and perhaps a revision to shrink it or laser treatments to possibly lighten it.