Is my belly button splitting? (photos)

Question

I worried my belly button is splitting. What do you think? What can I do to make it not get longer. It's the weekend I cannot see my Dr till monday

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Although it's difficult to see what exactly is going on, it seems to me like this is not a wound opening but rather a slight scar abnormality.  This is not an emergency and you can easily wait until you see your surgeon next week.

Ross Blagg, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for the pictures and question. It appears you have a wound but it doesn't appear the bellybutton is splitting. Place some antibacterial ointment on it, such as Neosporin, and see your doctor as soon as he/she is available to take a closer look. Best of luck in healing.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Thank you for your picture. You have an abrasion. I don't think your belly button is "splitting". I would cover it and call your plastic surgeon this weekend through his or her answering service to get opinions.

Peter Kreymerman, MD, FACS · Answer

Your belly button appears ok. The pictures aren't great and you didn't tell us how long ago you had surgery, but I think it will be fine. If you are concerned then definitely visit your plastic surgeon.

Pedro M. Soler, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and the photographs. From the pictures provided while difficult to discern it would appear as though there is an abrasion or a small laceration in the area of your umbilicus. I advise to keep it clean and apply antibiotic ointment to the area. Having said that each of us have our own way of managing the patient in the post operative period. I would recommend to contact your plastic surgeon, through the answering service, over the weekend. Best of luck.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Finally2015sept,

Thank you for your clinical post.  You have not mentioned how far
post-operatively you are.  However, from
the photos provided you appear to be in the first few weeks following the
surgery.  It doesn’t appear that your
umbilicus is in fact splitting.  The
discolouration may be slight venous compromise and keeping the area clean with
peroxide, topical antibiotic and a Band-Aid until you visit with your physician
would be all that is required.  If you
begin to see evolution in ongoing discolouration, more blueness or even black
colour, I would page your operative physician’s paging services, as it may be a
soft tissue profusion emergency.  I doubt
this will happen.  It appears that you
have some early post-tummy tuck wound healing around the belly button
restoration and you should end up with a great result.

For more information, please review the link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Is my belly button splitting? (photos)

Answers (6)

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