If I have a dead belly button am I at a higher risk for other necrosis issues? (Photo)

Question

I had a full Tt with mr on February 13, 2014 my belly button is a bluish black color and my ps says to put Vaseline on it twice a day.. If I do get the dreaded dead belly button does that mean I am more at risk for other forms of necrosis

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

You do appear to have necrosis of the belly button. This is almost certainly because not enough vasculature was left intact that was supplying your belly button with oxygen. The chances of you having problems with this elsewhere are very very low. Luckily, the tissue will likely die and a scar will form that looks pretty much like a belly button anyway. If you were going to have a problem, this was a good one to have.

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

Please follow up with your surgeon.  If that is not possible or you need another opinion then Please find an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
and member of the Aesthetic Society using the Smart Beauty Guide.  These Plastic Surgeons can guide you on all
aspects of facial surgery, breast augmentation and body procedures including
tummy tucks or mommy makeovers!

A tummy tuck can be done as a solitary procedure.  Many times the results are enhanced by adding
liposuction to the hip and love handle area. 
A tummy tuck is also done in combination with a breast augmentation in a
mommy makeover.

Michael Law, MD · Answer

Patients should be monitored very carefully in the few days and weeks after surgery. At the first sign of any concern you should contact your plastic surgeon's office immediately. I
would strongly recommend using an ointment with antibacterial properties, such
as any over-the-counter antibiotic ointment (e.g. generic ‘triple antibiotic
ointment’) instead of Vaseline.  Most plastic surgeons use permanent
sutures to tighten the abdominal wall, and some of those sutures are
immediately adjacent to your new umbilicus.  Umbilical stalk skin necrosis
means that the barrier between these permanent sutures and the outside world
may be breached, creating the possibility of internal suture infection.
Antibacterial ointment will not only reduce the likelihood of an infection, but
will also promote the healing of the umbilical stalk if some of the stalk is
still viable (i.e. it has enough blood flow to survive).The
blood flow to the umbilical stalk and the blood flow to the abdominoplasty skin
flap are completely different.  So umbilical stalk necrosis does not mean
you are at high risk for abdominoplasty skin flap necrosis.  If the skin
of your lower abdomen just above your suprapubic abdominoplasty scar is pink
and you are ten to fourteen days postop, then there is no need to worry about
skin flap necrosis.The
best course of action is local wound care as mentioned above and frequent
visits to your plastic surgeon.  Regarding the long–term appearance of
your new umbilicus: the sutures through the skin adjacent to your belly button
will create permanent suture marks if they are not removed soon.  Ask your
surgeon if that can be done in order to avoid a pattern of dot-like scars
around your new umbilicus which will make it look like a surgical belly button,
not a natural belly button.  It is possible to place umbilical skin
sutures so that they pass through the dermis only (and not the epidermis) on
the abdominoplasty skin flap side of the umbilical closure.You
may ultimately require some form of revisional surgery once the belly button
wound has healed, but in most cases a definitive secondary procedure cannot be
done for at least  6 months or so.  So you will need to be patient,
take good care of the wound, and see your doctor frequently as this issue
evolves.

William H. Gorman, MD (retired) · Answer

It appears that you definitely have necrosis of your umbilicus. However, it does not mean you will have other issues with necrosis. I suggest you follow the advice you receive from your plastic surgeon and allow the wound to completely heal before more surgery is performed. Umbilicoplasty can eventually help you to have a decent appearing belly button.

If I have a dead belly button am I at a higher risk for other necrosis issues? (Photo)

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Answer: Dead Belly Button

Answer: Dead Belly Button

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If I have a dead belly button am I at a higher risk for other necrosis issues? (Photo)

Answers (4)

Answer: Dead Belly Button

Answer: Dead Belly Button

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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