I have an ugly keloid in my belly button after getting a hysterectomy. Might I get another in my belly button after TT? (Photo)

    You may not have any issues with poor scarring at all, but this is difficult to predict.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Hello Bene40-Keloids don't usually occur around the belly button, but hypertrophic scars can occur. These scars are usually easily treated with a little Kenalog injection. If you get a tummy tuck, a bit of a hypertrophic scar may again occur, but just make sure that you and your plastic surgeon catch it early (in first three months) so you can consider injecting it with Kenalog earlier. I would not let this concern stop you from getting a tummy tuck if you desire the changes it can give you and you have found a good surgeon. Good luck.

It is possible to get another keloid either at your belly button or across a portion of your abdominal scar after a tummy tuck. Silicone gel and tape used after surgery can minimize the appearance of scars and keloids. Occasionally steroid injections are needed after surgery to also reduce the recurrence rate of keloids.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

And abdominoplasty will completely redo the umbilicus. The picture demonstrates a scar 10 days after surgery in active remodeling. It will change substantially over time.

Keloid scars can occur in one area and not others, and often will reoccur after excision so it might reoccur after an abdominoplasty. If your keloid is really a hypertrophic scar and was associated with delayed wound healing or infection at your first surgery, it may not reoccur when reexcised. If it recurs, steroid injections and profractional laser treatments can improve it.

That looks more like hypertrophic healing rather than a keloid.  You have since demonstrated that you can carry out normal healing (lift).  You will not necessarily have hypertrophic healing again.  Good luck.

Thank you for your question and that is the strange thing about keloids - you can get them in one area and not in another. In this situation your keloid may have been related to the wound creation and after care following your hysterectomy and should not occur again with an abdominoplasty

Dr. Corbin

There is no way of knowing if you will or will not develop a keloid post TT.  There is a risk that you will develop a keloid post surgery. The question to ask yourself is, how will I live with this keloid when it does occur?  At this point in time the treatment of keloids may improve but usually  does not eradicate  the problem.