I want to know is it safe to have a belly button revision done 3 years after tummy tuck? (photos)

Question

I recieved a tummy tuck, muscle repair and lipo on my flanks 3 years ago. After my surgery my husband and I didn't get the proper instructions to care for my bellybutton after my surgery. My bellybutton got infected and healed very ugly and now I have a keloid surrounding my bellybutton. I did receive steroid treatment after to shrink it but I stopped because it started to change my skin color on the injection areas. My bellybutton scar is thick and it hurts.

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question and pictures. I recommend my patients to wait at least six months between surgeries, if your surgery was three years ago I believe it's safe to get a navel reconstruction now.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question and pictures.  Yes, patients normally wait minimum of 6 months before allowing to have revision surgery, so if you are three years then I cannot see why this wouldn't be ok.  All The Best

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Giving3454,
It is hard to tell for sure without an examination but based on your photos, it looks like you might benefit from scar revision surgery. Belly button reconstruction is the most delicate part of tummy tuck surgery. I spend a lot of time on belly button reconstruction so that my patients get the best possible outcome. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  Based on your photographs, you may benefit from a surgical scar revision of you umbilical scar.  This decision should be based on a detailed discussion with equal input from both you and your surgeon.   Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   
 
 Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. The short answer is yes, is should be safe to consider a revision of your belly button scar at this point. That being said, you need to meet in-person with a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to discuss if there are options available to you that will meet your goals. Best of luck!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

Yes, the scar and umbilicus can be revised. The scar is not keloidal, but is hypertrophic. Care should be taken in terms of scar care after surgery.

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I want to know is it safe to have a belly button revision done 3 years after tummy tuck? (photos)

Answers (6)

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