Spitting Stiches Around Belly Button? (Photo)

Question

My belly button has had a hard time healing. The skin where it is stitched has been opening and I have been told to do debridement and cleanse with alcohol to promote drying. During a cleaning stitches came out, very small thin clear fishing line looking sutures and the other looked like thick thread. The part that I removed stitches from is already healing but the split is happening all the way around and I see the thick stitches that I can't remove them by pulling. Can I safely snip them out?

J. Brian Boyd, MD · Answer

There is certainly delayed healing of the belly button, but healing should ensue provided you stop pouring alcohol into the wound!

	Alcohol is excellent for destroying bacteria on the intact skin surface, but if it gets into an open wound it kills cells and retards healing. Rather wash the area daily in the shower with a bland soap, dry it off and apply antibiotic ointment (e.g. Polysporin ointment).

Maisam Fazel, MA, MBBChir, FRCS · Answer

It seems you may have an infection. There may also be a small possibility that the blood supply to the new belly button may be reduced. I would advise seeing your surgeon.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Why are you self treating??? Go see your operative surgeon ASAP for suture/wound care! I do not understand why you have not been followed in the post operative period???

Stephen Salerno, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your questions and photos.

	It appears that your sutures have come out too early from the belly button or you have had a minor infection which is now causing the wound edges to split around the belly button.  I would not remove the deeper stitches that you can see and I would make an appointment with your plastic surgeon and seek some attention or send them a photo.  The wound will heal adequately with some attention to dressings however you will have a constructed belly button with some scar and may require a revision in the future.

	Stephen Salerno

Michael S. Hopkins, MD (retired) · Answer

The thick thread-like sutures are probably the culprit for what is happening around your belly button. The picture you posted doesn't look too bad. This will likely heal well with continued local care like you are doing. The thread-like sutures can become contaminated with skin surface bacteria and will often fester until they are removed or they dissolve. I suggest you give your surgeon a call and ask to be seen. This type of situation is not that uncommon and can be addressed in the office easily.

Spitting Stiches Around Belly Button? (Photo)

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