Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Question

So i had a tummy tuck 2 week and 4 days ago.. My belly button went from looking decent considering surgery.. To this.. Spoke to my physician 10 days after surgery and he told me to clean it with peroxide and neosporin 2 x Q daily. Now ive been doing that.. And it seem to be getting worse.. My sister freaking out saying the white tissue is dead.. And i should get a second opinion. So here i am.. Fyi.. I also scheduled an appointment with my primary care physician..

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear myaususieI'm glad you are following this closely with your surgeon. Although you are having slightly delayed wound healing issues around your belly button, you can be comforted that this is not uncommon and essentially always resolves on its own with basic wound care. The umbilical blood supply is often a little compromised in every abdominoplasty and when combined with the tension of closure, small areas of delayed healing are common. Be patient and follow your surgeons instructions. You bellybutton will heal well !!!

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

Firstly, don't go to your primary care physician, who is he to take any role about a surgical case in plastic surgery? you patients sometimes lose the plot.Second, freaking out and panic helps nothing.Thirdly, yes, you are experiencing a well know and not uncommon complication after tummy tucks, it is a partial umbilical necrosis, nothing to make drama.Finally, the treatment applied by your surgeon is correct; probably he will make close follow up and you MUST apply and obey any of his prescriptions, he is the ONE to rule over your postop: either if it is smooth and uneventful or more/less complicated.

Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB · Answer

Though it does look kind of bad, it actually is not. You will have a delayed healing. The best thing that you can do is to remain in-constant touch with your PS Best of luck.

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

First, stop using
Neosporin, in many patients it can cause an allergic reaction making the wound red
and inflamed. Second, you do look like some of the tissue has not healed well
and may either need to be cleaned up by your surgeon or followed closely.

Ron Hazani, MD, FACS · Answer

Due to the tension at the time of the closure some amount of the skin edges may become necrotic. This minimal loss of skin is being replaced with protein deposits. This is unlikely to be an infection. Treat it with peroxide and neosporin and follow up with your surgeon.

Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Answers (9)

Answer: Tummy Tuck Post Op Care

Answer: Tummy Tuck Post Op Care

Answer: Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Answer: Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Answers (9)

Answer: Tummy Tuck Post Op Care

Answer: Tummy Tuck Post Op Care

Answer: Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Answer: Belly Button, is it healing after Tummy Tuck? (photos)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.