3 weeks post op, belly button infected? Pelvic area really hard, seroma? (Photos)

Wound healing around belly buttons are often fraught with minor problems.  From the pictures you provided, it would be my opinion that the redness is not actual infection but a combination of wound healing and infestation of normal skin bacteria.  The yellow creamy stuff you refer to is often a combination of degenerating skin and fat cells.With reference to the hardness in the lower pelvic area, this is very common at three weeks and is usually due to fluid buildup within the tissue itself, whereas a seroma is free fluid in a pocket surrounded by a fluid producing wall. The difference between normal post surgical swelling and a seroma is best determined by a Board Certified plastic surgeon.  I recommend you consult your personal plastic surgeon to differentiate whether your induration (hardness) is part of the normal process or is a situation that needs greater attention.

It may take several months for a tummy tuck patient’s scars to soften, for sensation to return, and for relaxing of the tight sensation in the abdomen. In the case of extensive surgery, abdominoplasty recovery can be uncomfortable and may take longer. Scars may stay red, become thick or widen. It can take 12-18 months for the scars to settle.



These can be improved with topical treatments such as BioCorneum, Scar Guard, Scar Fade and Mederma. Redness can be improved with laser treatments and the scars can be kept narrow with products such as Embrace.  On occasion, keloids or hypertrophic scars can develop and will need treatment including Kenalog, 5FU and laser.If you find that you are experiencing an infection it would be best to visit your surgeon to have the area examined for the infection. If an infection is starting it would be best to visit your surgeon in case antibiotics or other treatments are needed. Good luck.

Thank you for your pictures and questions. Sorry to hear you are having problems after your surgery. I would say that I am not sure that your belly button is infected, but it does appear that it has some lack of blood flow and thus some lack of appropriate healing. This problem may get worse before it gets better. The hardness that you are feeling could be some fat necrosis or some post-op fluid (seroma). You need to follow closely with your plastic surgeon and follow his or her recommendations on how to care for your surgical sites.Hope this helps!

Hi there, it does appear that your belly button has a small wound from your photos. A small separation can occur during the healing process that will produce some drainage and redness. I would continue to follow up with your surgeon and follow their recommendations for best healing this wound. As far as a seroma that is difficult to tell from a photo and would be best determined by your surgeon in person. If present these can usually be drained in their office for you. 

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  Though nothing replaces an in-person examination, it appears that your belly button is having wound healing difficulties and has separated along portions of it's incision.  This has resulted in some redness that should be monitored by your surgeon to ensure its resolution. Voice your concerns to your physician as they can provide you with reassurance and wound care instructions.  Hope this helps.

There is no obvious sign of concern of your belly button area at this early stage in recovery. Your surgeon will give you instructions for care when the sutures are removed and should be notified of changes. A seroma is a collection of fluid under the skin. It can be confirmed with an ultrasound and aspirated in the office if present. Be sure to closely follow your surgeon's post op instructions and discuss your concerns.

Based solely on the images, I would tend to not think your belly button is infected. Obviously, this assessment is best made by an in person exam by your operating surgeon. Sometimes a patient can have mild separation of the skin edges in a belly button and the body will need to fill those areas in. These is initially done with kind of a protein "goop" that can resemble pus but is not really a sign of an infection. If the area was infected, I would expect to see more redness and tenderness in the surrounding skin, rather than just the protein discharge between the edges that are trying to heal. If you were my patient and I came to the same conclusion after an exam, I would encourage you to wash the belly button with soap and water daily and moisturize it with a bland moisturizer like Vaseline or Aquaphor until it heals in.

Regarding the lower firmness, that is much harder to draw any conclusions from based on your picture. Sometimes, patients can have firm spots near the incision from the dissolveable sutures, as well as fluid collections and infections. Other times, some of the fat may inside may get stressed too much and those cells can die, creating a firm spot of scar tissue known as fat necrosis. I would encourage close follow-up and re-evaluation of this area by your surgeon if it continues to concern you.

Thank you for your question. Although those pictures are very helpful, they don't substitute a need for examination to see what is going on.  Follow your surgeon recommendations. In regards to the bellybutton, sometimes local wound care is needed after a tummy tuck. In regards to the "hard area" you are referring to, that normally resolves with time if it's just inflammation and the normal healing process. Be patient and voice all your concerns with your surgeon. Good luck.