8 weeks post tummy tuck and belly button hasn't healed, what do I do? (Photos)

Question

I had a tummy tuck with muscle repair and flank lipo 8 weeks ago. I will post a pic of my belly button at 5 weeks and one today at 8 weeks. There's inflammation and crusting but no pain. Sometimes it'll smell bad, like a stinky foot lol. I'll put some water and peroxide mix about onxe a week to kill that smell/bacteria. I'm wondering if my belly button will ever heal. I'm also having extreme pain to the left of it. Not sure if it's a nerve or related to my belly button. I'm going to make an appt

Rohit Jaiswal, MD · Answer

Hello- thanks for posting the photos. 
Problems with the belly button healing can sometimes be seen after tummy tuck surgery. This is related to a problem with the blood supply to the area which may have been disrupted during the surgical dissection or repair. Usually local wound care is all that is required if this is the case, as the area tends to go on to heal. 
It does appear in the second photo that the area has healed in and scarred, though an in person exam would be needed to know for sure. Regular washing with soap/water can help cleanse the area and reduce bacterial burden on the skin. I would suspect this will continue to improve with time; one caveat is that if there is any drainage from the area, it must be evaluated and likely cultured immediately. It is best to schedule an appointment with your surgeon for an exam and a discussion of any needed treatments. 
Best, 
Rohit Jaiswal, MD
Plastic Surgeon 
Las Vegas, NV

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you very much for your
question, and congratulations on your recent abdominoplasty procedure. At eight
weeks post-op, your belly button may not have had the proper time to fully
heal. However, I recommend contacting your operating surgeon for an in-person
follow-up evaluation. He/she can assess your umbilicus, and recommend
appropriate wound care. Until you have seen your plastic surgeon, stop using
hydrogen peroxide on the healing tissues of your belly button, as it can be
damaging to the new skin cells.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Hello!  Thank you for your question!  It did appear in your first photo that you had some partial necrosis of your belly button. Certainly, necrotic tissue may lead to infection. Although your next photo does show some healing of the area, your description still sounds concerning. I would recommend seeing your surgeon for examination as well as advice on local wound care. That may be all that you need, but an in person exanimation is warranted given the issues that you describe.  Best wishes for a wonderful result!

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

First, I would make certain that your Plastic Surgeon is okay with the use of hydrogen peroxide. Continue to follow his recommendations as it seems that healing is going in the right direction.

Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS · Answer

First, I would stop using Hydrogen Peroxide because it is actually toxic to skin cells.  While this will definitely kill the bacteria, it can also kill the newly growing cells, as well.  Next, I would confer with your Plastic Surgery and have he/she and their team develop a wound care protocol that will help you heal this as quickly and as optimally as possible.Also, nutrition plays a huge role in how you heal after surgery.  So make sure that you are consuming a clean diet with a good amount of healthy protein!I hope that helps and wish you the very best!Gregory A Buford MD FACSBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and questions. This often can take several weeks to heal. During that process you need to follow closely with your plastic surgeon and adhere to his or her advice regarding wound care. I would not advise using peroxide as this can be harmful to cells involved in the healing process.Hope this helps!

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

It appears that you have been healing since the 5 week photo.  The edges look good but hard to tell how it looks on the inside.I would continue with keeping the area clean as you are and have you plastic surgeon evaluate the area to make certain that there are no exposed sutures down there.  That may be the cause of the smell you are having.Hope that helps.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Purpleraven,based on your photos and description, it sounds like you are having a problem with prolonged healing. Sometimes it can happen after a tummy tuck and it heals well. I would suggest you to keep your belly button clean and consult your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery

Vishnu Rumalla, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry, but without an exam it is hard to advise.  I am glad you are seeing your surgeon as the odor concerns me.  Good Luck.

Luis M. Rios Jr., MD · Answer

Sorry for your troubles.It looks like you had a tummy tuck eight weeks ago. From your 5 week postoperative picture, it looks like you had some mild umbilical healing issues. This can occur after tummy tucks. At eight weeks, it appears that the wounds have healed but the umbilicus is tightening up a bit. You also report some pain and drainage from the umbilicus.Sometimes the belly button can have some issues after a tummy tuck. If the blood supply is affected, the edges of the umbilical incisions can open slightly. The good news is that your umbilicus survived and is now on the way to recovery. It's going to need some love and care so that it can become the belly button you want.I would discuss some options with your surgeon. If the umbilicus has foul drainage, have your surgeon take a good look to make sure there are no signs of infection or healing problems. If the incisions are still in the process of healing, you can ask if he might consider prescribing you some dankin's solution to help clean and disinfect the umbilicus. Dankin's solution is a mild bleach that promotes wound healing, stops the odor and kills bacteria. Be careful not to get it on your clothes, since it is a bleach.As fas as the tightening of the umbilicus is concerned, you might ask your surgeon if he might consider using a silicon spacer (silicone round ball) that looks like a marble to help keep your belly button open.Be proactive and have your surgeon help you. If both of you work together, you can help the belly button heal. Remember, scars can take two years to heal, but there is nothing wrong getting started on scar treatment now.Good Luck!

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