Lump Above Belly Button Post Tummy Tuck

Question

Hi, I had ask a similar question in another post, but never posted photos. I am now 8 months post tummy tuck with umbilical float. My belly button sits 2 cm lower, than before. What is bothering the most is a small lump I have above my belly button. I cant do any core work without discomfort and it feels like is going to pop out when I cough or sneeze. Also when I contract my muscle laying down it pops out like if it was my muscle. My surgeon told me it was my muscle, but i am not sold. help!

Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. Notwithstanding your concerns, you have an excellent tummy tuck result and figure.  Muscle tightening can cause discomfort for some time after surgery especially in fit patients like yourself. It resolves with time.  Your belly button looks normal.  It is difficult to tell from the photos, but you may have some fullness above the belly button below the sternum.  This is most likely the muscle as your surgeon suggested in someone in shape like yourself. Another potential cause is a bursa or inflammation if your recovery was complicated by a seroma...this is unlikely if your recovery was uneventful.  It is best to discuss this matter further with your surgeon.  You trusted him/her to care for you and they delivered an excellent result.  There is no reason to not trust their judgement and counseling at this point.  Best wishes on our recovery.

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

The area could be your muscle and just some inflammation from the sutures used to tighten the muscle.  Sometimes it can take up to 6-8 months before they calm down, longer in a few cases.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

There are many possibilities for a lump after a "floating" tummy tuck. This could be the stalk of the belly button from its previous attachment. Often times a small umbilical hernia is present. These small hernias can become more pronounced when the abdominal wall is contracted. If a muscle plication was performed, sometimes the muscle and fascia can form a bit of a "knot" in the midline. This knot improves over time as the abdominal wall heals. Scar tissue, fat deposits, and sutures are all less likely causes. Overall, your result is great. Give yourself several more months and see how this changes. In most instances, these sorts of issues resolve without any intervention.

John P. Di Saia, MD · Answer

Hello,

	 

	You probably have an area in your muscular repair in which the muscle was either not repaired at all or where the repair is not as tight. You are seeing this area "pop out" when you strain down. See your surgeon to confirm this and to discuss what you might want to do about it.

	 

	Best Regards,

	 

	John Di Saia MD

Hugh McLean, MD · Answer

Your tummy tuck results look awesome. I can think of two possibilities for your problem (though I am sure there are others). One may be that your are feeling a knot from the sutures used to repair the muscle. Sometimes the body reacts to that by forming scar tissue, and sometimes it reacts badly and forms a granuloma, that may need removal. The other possibility is that you have a hernia at the site of the "stem" of the umbilicus. The "popping out" you describe suggests that. Your surgeon might want to clarify this with an ultrasound.

Lump Above Belly Button Post Tummy Tuck

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Lump Above Belly Button Post Tummy Tuck

Answers (7)

Answer: Muscle repair lump

Answer: Muscle repair lump

Answer: Tummy tuck with a lump

Answer: Tummy tuck with a lump

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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.