Is this scar normal around belly button? (photo)

Question

Hi, I am 4 months post op tummy tuck. I think I have a big scar around my belly button. Is this normal for the stage I am at? Can my belly button be made smaller?

Mathew A. Plant, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Thanks for the excellent photos. In the close-up picture it appears as though you are starting to get a hypertrophic or keloid scar on the left side. The right side looks like it is healing nicely and as long as you keep it from sun exposure it should heal into a fine line. The left side however should be addressed sooner than later as worsening of this scar can potentially be prevented. You should talk to your surgeon about the potential to use silicone products, pressure garments or even steroid injections to improve this.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

From your photos it
appears as though you are developing a hypertrophic scar (aka keloid) on the
left side of the umbilicus. You should see your plastic surgeon sooner than
later to discuss treatment options. Commonly surgeons will inject it a keloid
with kenalog to reduce and minimize it.

Michelle J. Place, MD · Answer

Thank you for the pictures.  You do have some thickening on the right side of the belly button.  Steroid, silicone or scar massage can reduce the scar as you are still early in your healing process and scars can take up to a year to mature.  If you want to reduce the size of your belly button you can certainly remove the scar and make it a little smaller.  Belly button revisions usually end up with better scars as you don't have the tension and swelling in the area from the tummy tuck.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You appear to be developing some hypertropic scarring.  Do let your surgeon know, so he/she can inject the scar with a , Kenalog, to minimize it.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Appears as some scarring has occurred but ONLY IN PERSON opinions count. Seek them. Maybe more time or steroid injections would help.

Jason J. Hall, MD, FACS · Answer

You have some hypertrophic (overgrown) scar in this area, and your belly button appears a bit wide.  The scar itself can be injected with some steroid to help it flatten out, but if you desire a belly button that is more narrow, it can be revised surgically in a small office procedure.

Zach Barnes, MD · Answer

Your belly button scar does indeed appear more aggressive than usual on the right side. Its not uncommon at about 3-4 months to have your scars become slightly more red, swollen, and itchy but this does appear more than that. You can find some silicone scar strips at places like cvs, wal mart, target etc...these are good for controlling this issue and sometimes can help improve them some. Its good to wait until things have healed and mostly settled down before intervening. For this issue its best to wait at least 6 months, and should be able to be done under local. The scar can be excised if it does not respond to your liking to the strips, and you and your surgeon can do the strips and aggressive scar care from the get go, in the hopes it heals better this time (which it often does). Best of luck.

Is this scar normal around belly button? (photo)

Answers (7)

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