Over 1 year post op - What is this weird bump inside my navel? (Photo)

Question

I had a tummy tuck over a year ago and just recently noticied this pink bump inside my belly button. I had a small hole in there and now this.… what is it? A hernia? A granuloma? Any advice would be appreciated.

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

An examination in person is warranted, and that is most likely a pyogenic granuloma possibly related to a chronic seroma. Alternatively (yet much less likely) it could be a hernia. If you have no symptoms of pain or abdominal discomfort, it is unlikely to be a hernia. That said, please get evaluated by your plastic surgeon or another board certified plastic surgeon or general surgeon, more appropriate than your PCP. Best of luck.

Mert Demirel, MD · Answer

A new pink bump inside the belly button more than a year after a tummy tuck should be examined in person. It could be granulation tissue, an irritated scar, a small suture reaction, an inclusion cyst, chronic inflammation, or less commonly a small infection or hernia.
A hernia usually feels like a deeper bulge that may increase with coughing, standing, or straining, and it may be reducible. A superficial pink, moist bump after a small hole is often more suggestive of granulation tissue or a suture-related irritation, but a photo alone cannot confirm this.
Because there was a small hole before the bump appeared, I would not pick at it or try to treat it at home. Keep the area clean and dry, avoid friction, and arrange an exam with your plastic surgeon or a general surgeon.
If there is drainage, increasing redness, warmth, pain, bad smell, fever, bleeding, or the bump is growing quickly, it should be checked promptly. An ultrasound can be useful if there is any concern for a small umbilical hernia or deeper tract.
My advice would be to have it assessed rather than guessing. Many superficial belly button bumps can be treated simply in the office, but the correct treatment depends on whether it is granulation tissue, retained suture, cyst, infection, or hernia.

Ira H. Rex III, MD · Answer

This seems to be a pyogenic granuloma.  These are usually very easily treated by some kind of destruction method.  This may involve a little curettage and cauterizing solution.  There needs to be some thought about what is under it and causing this chronic process.  May be a stitch needs to be removed?–Or may be they just are treated and go away.  Your plastic surgeon to be able to give you some excellent advice.

Yily De Los Santos, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

I completely understand your concern, especially because this appeared more than a year after your tummy tuck. Looking at the photo, the tissue appears to be a small area of pink, fleshy tissue coming through the umbilicus. A hernia would not be my first assumption based on this appearance.

One possibility is granulation tissue, sometimes related to a delayed reaction to a buried suture from the previous surgery. Another possibility is a small suture granuloma or chronic inflammation of the umbilicus. Since you mentioned that you initially noticed a small hole and then this bump developed, I would definitely want to examine the area in person to determine exactly where that tissue is coming from.

A hernia is usually associated with a deeper bulge and may become more noticeable when coughing or straining, so the photograph alone isn’t enough to diagnose one.

My recommendation would be not to pull, squeeze, cut, or try to cauterize the tissue yourself. I would have your plastic surgeon examine the belly button, and if there is any question about a deeper defect, an ultrasound can help clarify what is happening.

If you have pain, increasing redness, warmth, foul-smelling drainage, pus, fever, or rapidly increasing swelling, I would have it evaluated sooner.

Over 1 year post op - What is this weird bump inside my navel? (Photo)

Answers (4)

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