1.5 yrs Post tummy tuck, Foul odor coming from belly button area. What can be causing this and how can it be treated?

Thank you for your question regarding 1.5 yrs Post tummy tuck; foul odor coming from the belly button area. What can be causing this? The foul odor is probably indicative of an infection. The infection is probably due to a spitting suture. Since you are a year and a half out from your abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, the spitting suture is probably related to the rectus abdominis muscle repair. Without pictures or a physical examination, if I had to guess, I believe your body is rejecting your muscle repair permanent sutures. Alternatively, the skin may have eroded above the tummy tuck permanent sutures. The erosion or rejection of the sutures may have led to a small opening which then caused the sutures to become secondarily infected. I would suggest a board-certified plastic surgeon examine you. Typically this is treated with oral antibiotics and antibiotic cream. Most cases resolve in this fashion. However, if this becomes persistent, you may need the removal of sutures and later revision repair of the muscle. I hope this helps answer your question regarding 1.5 yrs Post tummy tuck, Foul odor coming from belly button area.

Please see your surgeon or primary care physician as soon as you can. This sounds like an infection. It is not normal, being so long after surgery, and should be addressed sooner than later.

Hi Bgt86,
Drainage from the belly button is not normal...it's unclear whether this is related to your prior abdominoplasty, but new drainage, pain, and odor should prompt an evaluation.
I'd suggest calling either your plastic surgeon or primary care physician to be evaluated as soon as possible.
Hope this helps.
Best,Christopher Pannucci MD MSBoard Certified Plastic SurgeonPlastic Surgery NorthwestSpokane, Washington

There are many potential reasons for your condition. To properly diagnose and treat this would require a physical examination. Schedule a visit with your surgeon who can better answer your questions and alleviate your concerns.

Based on your description, it sounds like you have an infection around your belly button. The most likely culprit is infection of the suture used for the muscle plication. I would recommend seeing your plastic surgeon for them to determine the exact cause and treatment plan.

Dear Bgt86,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I would get in contact with the plastic surgeon who performed your procedure. It is likely that the surgeon used permanent sutures for the plication portion of your procedure (it is common practice) and that suture is infected and is the root of the problem.

If this is the case...that suture would have to be removed.

Hope that helps.

If your belly button opening is small, skin oils and flaked skin cells are piling up inside. There is a small chance that an absorbable suture is still trying to work its way out and causing some drainage. Either way, please clean inside gently with a q tip and paint with Betadine solution. Please let your surgeon examine you.

Is hard to know without pictures and examination, but could be that Your body has started to spit out one of the sutures used around this area. My recommendation would be to return to her surgeon. They likely will be able to tell whether this is the case. Otherwise continue to clean with soap and water

Hi, thanks for the great question. A new infection a few years after surgery isn't common, but can be the cause of the symptoms you described. It's no possible to tell without an exam. I would recommend going back to your doctor to have him/her take a look. If you can't get in with your surgeon soon, it's worth making an appointment with your PCP. If it is an infection, better to get it treated sooner rather than later.