I'm post 18 days tummy tuck. Do I need to keep my new belly button covered, or let the air get to it and just clean it?

You should check with your plastic surgeon, but in my practice I recommend applying bacitracin ointment to the belly button scar for a few weeks after tummy tuck surgery.  I like keeping the wound moist and in theory this should help create a nicer scar.  Aesthetically, I think the belly button is the most important part of the tummy tuck, so I do all I can to protect it.

Please check with your plastic surgeon as every doctor has a different postop protocol.  Usually if the wound is closed and there is no drainage, the belly button can be left out to the open air.

Better to ask your surgeon about this.For most patients at this stage, a dressing is needed mainly to avoid staining clothes with drainage. If there is none, leaving the navel open makes sense.All the best. 

If you have scabs or open wounds, ointment is suggested until healed.  If you are healed, leaving it open is fine and you could ask your surgeon about scar products that may help give you the best result.

Thanks for your question,Your results look great. I would suspect that if your surgery was carried out by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, you should have received detailed post operative instructions. I would check those first, if nothing is there, I am sure you surgeon would be happy to answer any and  all your concern pertaining to your operation.Good Luck, your surgery looks great.Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS