
Originally Posted by
mimib
Hi,
I had tummy tuck surgery about a year ago and wound up getting necrosis, which is when there is no oxygen in that area of the skin; the result is the skin turns black and the area needs to be debrided (cleaned out)...this was done 3 times. From the first day, my belly button area has never felt right; it has swelling above, up to under my boobs and below, down to the horizontal scar. Within the last few months it has been swollen and hard and the skin around the belly button is red/gray sort of...hard to describe. Lately it feels like my umbilical cord area is being pulled out of my stomach...lots of pressure. My surgeon sent me to a nurse that does lymphatic massage. I have since learned from her that there is a condition called lipedema, where the fat cells are different and don't have as much oxygen. She thinks that has affected the healing which has been extremely slow. If you google lipedema it give good information about the condition; this was in the area of the necrosis (dead skin). As far as the belly button soreness, swelling, etc...no one seems to believe me that this is a problem. I finally squawked so much about it that my surgeon is sending me for an abdomen ct scan. But yes, I have felt the same thing and I don't know how to fix it. If I'm on my feet alot during the day it seems to increase the pressure, etc..., at night. Don't feel like you're alone because I'm feeling it too.
Mimi
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