Healing belly button after tummy tuck The healing process of your belly button after a tummy tuck can be quite painful, but there are ways to make it less so. The first part of your recovery will be about five weeks, and during this time you need to take care of yourself and stay off your feet as much as possible.
You should also avoid strenuous activity for at least two weeks after surgery, including work and exercise. You must also eat a healthy diet that’s high in protein, vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and essential fatty acids. In addition to healthy eating habits, you may want to try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen before bedtime each night for two weeks after surgery (unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon). Some surgeons may prescribe antibiotics before or after surgery if they feel they’re necessary; make sure you ask your doctor what he or she thinks would be best for your body type and situation specifically!
Read on to learn more about Healing Belly Button After Tummy Tuck, How To Treat Infected Belly Button After Tummy Tuck and Smelly Discharge From Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Healing Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
So, you’ve decided to get a tummy tuck.
But you still have some questions about the procedure — including about what happens to your belly button after a tummy tuckTrusted Source.
Many people wonder this exact thing, as a botched belly button can make the tummy tuck not worth it at all. Rest assured that in most cases, the belly button won’t be altered or moved, instead the skin and muscle around it will be tightened.
If you opt for a mini tummy tuck, the whole procedure will take place below the belly button, which is a good option for those who are just concerned about a small pooch in the lower belly.
Tummy tucks and the belly button
During the tummy tuck procedure, an incision will be made in the low abdomen through which fat and stretched skin will be removed, and any loose muscles will be sewn together. Another incision will usually be made around the belly button.
The remaining upper skin is lifted up as high as the rib cage and pulled down like a window shade to the lower skin near the pubic bone. The skin is now stretched tight and the surgeon then chooses the new ideal position to place the stalk of the belly button.
Your belly button is actually attached to the muscles below. During the procedure, it’ll stay attached to its “stalk.” In most cases, the surgeon will create a new opening for the belly buttonTrusted Source, especially if its shape has become distorted after weight gain or pregnancy.
If this isn’t done well, the belly button may end up looking distorted — either too flat, too deep, or the wrong shape. So, it’s important to ask your surgeon to see their portfolio and ask about their ideas for your naval.
If you’re healed from a tummy tuck and still dissatisfied with your belly button, you may consider an umbilicoplasty, which is a surgery to change the appearance of the belly button.
Post-surgery care
Your doctor should give instructions on how to care for your belly button after a tummy tuck. This may include cleaning the area with warm water or a saltwater solution.
It’s normal for the area to look swollen and even a bit crusty after surgery, and it may take as long as 6 months for the belly button to heal.
When to see a doctor
Call your doctor right away if you notice signs of infection in the belly button after a tummy tuck. These signs include:
- The belly button looks too constricted or too open.
- Pus or discharge is coming from the naval.
- Your belly button protrudes for more than a few weeks.
- You feel something hard behind the naval.
- The belly button looks distorted or “off.”
- The scar feels painful or becomes more prominent.
- You notice blood at the incision site.
The bottom line
A tummy tuck can be a good way to flatten the stomach and tighten muscles in the abdomen that may have gotten loose from pregnancy, weight gain, or just general aging, but many people wonder what’ll happen to the belly button as a result of the procedure.
Normally, an incision will be made around the naval and it’ll be lifted and put back in the appropriate place to fit the new shape of the stomach. Other times it may be necessary to make a new opening.
It’s always a good idea to see before and after pictures from your surgeon and pay close attention to the belly button area when viewing them.
How To Treat Infected Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
If you have a history of bacterial infections in your belly button, you may also be at greater risk for developing a chronic infection. This is because the bacteria that cause these infections can also attach themselves to tissue and cause abscesses. If you have undergone a tummy tuck procedure, you need to be aware of any changes in your belly button and take steps to treat them immediately.
Treatments for Bacterial Infection
The first step in treating an infected belly button is to identify the type of infection present. If you suspect an infection, contact your doctor right away so that he can make an appointment with a specialist who can determine whether or not your condition requires antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotics are especially important if there is an open wound on your belly button because they are effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Your doctor may prescribe either penicillin or amoxicillin, depending on what type of infection he suspects (Gram-positive or Gram-negative).
Infected belly button after tummy tuck
If you have a wound that’s been left open for too long, it’s important to treat it with a topical antibacterial cream. This will help prevent infection and speed up the healing process. You should apply the cream to the wound twice daily until it heals. Once you start treating the wound, there’s no need to apply any other ointments or creams on top of it.
You may also want to try using a hydrocolloid dressing (e.g., Tegaderm). These are made from a material similar to wet gauze, but they’re less likely to be absorbed into your body and more likely to stick well at the site of your incision. They’re also less likely than regular gauze to raise red flags for your doctor during your visit for checkups and other procedures.
Smelly Discharge From Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
There are a number of medical conditions that can cause a smelly discharge from belly button after tummy tuck. Infection may be the most common issue, but it should not be ignored. Other causes include:
Infection
An infection in the area after surgery can cause thick, yellow-green discharge that may smell bad. This is typically caused by bacteria or yeast and can be treated with antibiotics.
Fungal infections
If you have had a tummy tuck, it is possible to develop a fungal infection in your new abdominal muscles or skin. This type of infection is often accompanied by redness and swelling, as well as an unpleasant odor that resembles fish or dirty socks. You may also experience pain when urinating or passing stool due to inflammation of your bladder wall. Treatment for fungal infections includes using an antifungal cream or oral medication such as ketoconazole (Nizoral) or fluconazole (Diflucan).
Rash
The most common rash that occurs after surgery is caused by irritation from wearing tight clothing around your waistline for several weeks after the procedure. This type of rash usually appears as small red bumps on your abdomen, back and upper arms
I am sorry you have had such a bad experience. I say this because you are not alone. There are many women who are having the same problem as you.
The main reason is that there is infection in your belly button after tummy tuck surgery. The infection may be caused by bacteria or fungus and it can be very painful and uncomfortable.
It is important to take antibiotics after tummy tuck surgery because they will help prevent this kind of infection from taking place again. It also helps if you take an anti-fungal cream after the surgery, but it does not always work as well as antibiotics do.
If you have had an abdominal wall lift (tummy tuck), then it’s important that you wash your belly button area with a mild soap immediately after surgery and then keep it clean by applying antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) on it every day for at least one week after surgery until all signs of infection have cleared up completely.