Why Is My Belly Button Black After a Tummy Tuck?

After going through the process to have a tummy tuck, you want your belly to look sleek and sexy. But, as with all medical procedures, abdominoplasty has potential complications, including a belly button that turns black.

• See your doctor if your belly button turns black post-surgery.

Identification

• Some pain and bruising is to be expected after a tummy tuck operation. However, if your belly button is severely darkened (beyond a bruised appearance), it may be the sign of a rare complication called umbilical necrosis.

Definition

• Umbilical necrosis is a condition caused by a damaged blood supply to the belly button during the surgery. The lack of blood supply causes tissue death.

Theories

• A uncommon complication, umbilical necrosis is seen more often in smokers. A University of Texas study showed that the risk of umbilical necrosis in abdominoplasty patients was 27.5 percent for smokers compared to 11.8 percent in non-smokers.

Considerations

• Umbilical necrosis is a likely explanation for a black belly button after a tummy tuck. However, there are other possibilities including scarring and hyperpigmentation. See your doctor for an official diagnosis.

Treatment

• Your doctor will determine the treatment plan after diagnosing the complication with your belly button. Umbilical necrosis often requires additional surgery.