8 months post op & belly button just started draining a bit of smelly fluid, what should I do?

Sometimes people can develop a bacterial infection associated with sutures used to close the skin or even deeper layers. In many instances the suture will simply dissolve and the problem will resolve on its own. In some situations the sutures actually need to be removed. Antibiotics may help with the drainage and may help resolve the issue as well. You should make an appointment with your surgeon and be evaluated in person to develop a care plan. This is not an emergency room problem but something that should be evaluated if it is not getting better.

Thank you for your question. In some cases, reaction to the stitches occur while you are healing. If it is not treated in a timely matter, it may cause infection. Please check with your surgeon to make sure there’s no infection

drainage from the belly button so far out from your surgery often times can be an infection of the stitch that was used to tie your muscles together. Many surgeons use permanent sutures to tie the muscles together, myself included. These can on occasion become infected, and usually the first symptom will be what appears to be a pimple, which then drains some purulent fluid. Sometimes you can actually even see the suture which may be a black or green color. It’s important to go to your surgeon because they may have to remove the suture.

Thank you for submitting your questions, I'm sorry to hear that you're having this postoperative experience. Drainage from the belly button can be caused by multiple things. It could be a reaction to sutures just beneath the skin. It could be a deeper fluid collection that is trying to drain itself out from that area. It could be an infection or reaction to sutures used with the muscle repair. I definitely recommend you see your plastic surgeon or another board certified plastic surgeon to seek treatment. Good luck and thanks again for reaching out.

I would call your surgeon to be seen and evaluated. There can be lots of explanations for this depending on how the belly button was inset after surgery, but there is no way to know without being examined by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck to you!

Thank you for your inquiry! Keep an open communication with your plastic surgeon regarding your concerns as you may need an antibiotic sent in for you. If you're unhappy with your results then we would be available to see you in person to evaluate and discuss your revision options. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals!

Most likely the foul smell is from either a stitch that didn't dissolve and is coming through the thin navel skin, or there is a pleat in the navel itself that is somehow scarred down and the skin can't "breath" and is dead skin cells are collecting in the pleat. Either way, this can easily be remedied in the office with a local anesthetic. While you wait for your appointment with your surgoen, make sure that when you bathe or shower, clean the inside of your navel throroughly, then dry it, and then use a cotton tip applicator with some rubbing alcohol to sanitize the area.

Hello, thank you for your question! I would recommend contacting the surgeon who performed your surgery. This could be something as simple as removing a suture or it could be something that is more involved and will need surgery and an antibiotic. However, the best thing to do would be to contact your surgeon as they know how they conducted surgery and could help you the fastest.

If you're experiencing smelly drainage from your belly button 8 months after surgery, it's essential to take action. Here are some steps you can take:

Keep the area clean: Gently clean the area around your belly button with warm water and mild soap. Make sure to pat it dry thoroughly afterward.
Avoid touching or picking at it: Try not to touch or pick at the area to prevent introducing bacteria or irritating the wound further.
Monitor for other symptoms: Keep an eye out for any other symptoms such as redness, swelling, increased pain, or fever. These could indicate an infection, and you should seek medical attention promptly if you notice any of these signs.
Contact your healthcare provider: It's crucial to contact your healthcare provider or the surgeon who performed the operation. They can evaluate the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. They may recommend coming in for an examination or provide guidance on how to manage the issue at home.
Follow medical advice: Follow any instructions or recommendations given by your healthcare provider closely. They may prescribe antibiotics if an infection is present or suggest other interventions to help the wound heal properly.
Remember, it's better to err on the side of caution and seek medical advice promptly rather than wait and potentially allow a problem to worsen.

The first thing you should do is contact your surgeon and let them know what is going on. If this is not possible, at the minimum, you should seek the care of a board-certified plastic surgeon and let them take a look. Many times sutures that we use for a diastasis (muscle) repair during an abdominoplasty are permanent sutures. These sutures can (very infrequently) get contaminated and lead to granuloma or abscess formation. Many times lower incision or umbilicus (belly button) drainage is the first sign many months out. These are very rarely infections that lead to any systemic illness, but could be a problem that needs to be addressed operatively.