How long after a tummy tuck, can you remove the belly button stitches?

When the belly button is brought out through the abdominal skin during an abdominoplasty, it must be sutured into place. However, this suturing can be accomplished with a stitch that runs around the belly button but underneath the surface of the skin and dissolves in 4 to 6 weeks. Yes, there has to be a scar around the belly button, ideally placed down in the depressed area of the belly button contour, but there is no need for external sutures around the belly button that require removal and can potentially worsen the scarring around the belly button. If external sutures are placed, ideally they should be removed in approximately seven days. Best wishes.

Thanks so much for your inquire,

If dissolvable stitches are used around the belly button, they don’t need removal and will gradually dissolve on their own over a few weeks.

If non-dissolvable stitches are used, they are generally removed around 7 to 14 days after surgery.

Most surgeons will schedule a follow-up visit within the first week or two after surgery to assess healing and determine if any stitches need removal at that time. It’s essential to follow your surgeon's specific instructions and attend all follow-up appointments, as they will monitor your belly button and overall healing progress.

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

Most of the stitching is dissolvable and woven under the skin to prevent stitch marks. Stitches around the belly-button are non-dissolvable and typically removed two weeks post tummy tuck surgery.

This depends on your surgeon. It can be anywhere from a week or more, depending on your recovery rate and the type of sutures used. If your sutures are absorbable, they don’t require removal.

Thank you for your question regarding belly button stitches after a tummy tuck. Typically, the stitches around the belly button are removed around 10 to 14 days post-op, depending on how well your incision is healing. However, this can vary depending on the specific technique used by your plastic surgeon and your own healing process.

It’s essential that you follow your surgeon's specific post-op instructions. Sometimes, dissolvable stitches are used around the belly button, which won’t need to be removed manually. If the stitches are not dissolvable, your surgeon will advise you when they should be taken out, typically during one of your follow-up appointments.

Make sure to attend all your post-op visits to ensure that healing is progressing properly. If you experience any signs of infection, like redness, increased pain, or discharge, contact your plastic surgeon immediately.

I hope this helps answer your question!

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

You can remove the belly button sutures 1 week following the surgery. Healing of the incisions takes up to a 1 year. You should begin scar cream at 2 weeks.

Your surgeon must determine when is best to remove stitches depending on the technique he/she used and also your progress.
Be encouraged.
Dr. Cardenas

You need to ask your surgeon. Usually sutures are absorbable and do not need to be removed. However, if non absorbable sutures were placed, then your surgeon can tell you when they need to be removed.

I leave the external sutures in the umbilicus for about 2 weeks.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for your inquiry! The umbilical PDS suture that is knotted is removed at 2 weeks post-op or will fall off on its own. All other sutures in the umbilicus are dissolvable.