Help!! I'm bleeding from my belly button after a Tummy Tuck. What could this be? (photo)

Question

I had a TT 5 weeks ago, woke up bleeding from my belly button which was accompanied by irregular abdominal pain for a couple days now. I've contacted my PS but was only told to see a doctor. There was no type of reassurance/explanation. I did not injure myself, that was the only question she had asked me nor do I really sleep on my stomach. My stomach hurts internally since the bleeding, sharp, mostly aching pains. There's a lot of blood at times, dripping. Is life threatening or what can it be?

Don W. Griffin, MD · Answer

Is your surgeon in the USA and is she board-certified? I am shocked that she would not see you at this point to evaluate this. It is probably not anything serious, but may require local wound care to help it heal. I would contact her again and ask to be seen. If she won't see you, find another surgeon in your area that will see you.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

I am shocked that your PS would not see you. Did you have surgery in another country? Is your plastic surgeon even board certified? Bleeding from the belly button 5 weeks after a tummy tuck is certainly abnormal. This needs to be seen by a plastic surgeon (preferrably the one who did your procedure). If you did have surgery in another country, hopefully others will read this. Discount plastic surgery usually means discount care. Be wary.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

First you need immediate medical attention. Second you will be charged pre visit due to you had out of country surgery. I charge $500 to be seen Plus additional fees for care. See if you can find a PS to render care or fly back to DR for care from those surgeons.

Wendell Perry, MD · Answer

You do need to see your surgeon. And if you can't see that surgeon you should be seen by someone else. When you do a tummy tuck and make a new bellybutton you're suturing the bottom half of the old bellybutton to a new top half. If this wound opened it could bleed from that tear or you could have had a hematoma all along that's finding its way out. The urgency with this problem could be an infection. So if you have any signs of infection like redness, fever, chills are even pain you should deal with this as soon as possible.

Megan Jack, MD · Answer

It may be a suture that came loose or something similar to that. Not clear if the discomfort you are feeling is related to the bleeding or coincidental but you should definitely get in to see your doctor as soon as possible just to be reassured that everything is ok.  Given you are only 5 weeks postop your plastic surgeon should see you--tell them you are concerned there is a problem. If they refuse (which hopefully they will not), at least try to get in to see your primary MD before the weekend.

Help!! I'm bleeding from my belly button after a Tummy Tuck. What could this be? (photo)

Answers (5)