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

Dear Ladybug914,

I understand your concerns about this unexpected post-operative symptom, especially as it's occurring several months after your tummy tuck and muscle repair. It's important to remember, first and foremost, not to panic.

While it's not entirely normal for the belly button to start draining fluid eight months post-op, it isn't unheard of either. This could possibly be due to a small seroma or a suture abscess. The smell could suggest that there's an infection, but only a proper medical assessment can confirm this.

You should immediately reach out to your plastic surgeon or a healthcare professional and describe the issue to them. They might advise you to come in for an appointment so they can examine the issue directly. In some cases, if it's an infection, they might prescribe an antibiotic for you to take.

Remember, it's crucial not to attempt any self-diagnosis or treatment at home. This is a situation where professional medical advice is necessary.

I hope this provides some guidance on your next steps. Always remember, your doctor is there to help and guide you through such situations.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Hello,
Thank you for the question. This might be due to chronic infection, or drainage from suture, or even normal healing if a skin area reopened. You should visit your plastic surgeon for assessment.
I wish you the best.
Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACSDouble Board Certified Plastic SurgeonHouston, TX.

Call your surgeon for an in-person evaluation and possibly a culture of the fluid to determine if there is an infection present.

Hi there-

late drainage from a belly button scar after abdominoplasty could be that one of the deep sutures used in your corset has gotten infected. Thankfully this is an extremely rare occurrence, but luckily in many case the offending suture can be removed under local anesthesia.

I hope this helps

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!