I had a single incision sleeve through my belly button 15 days ago. I noticed two nights ago after a shower my belly button was a lot redder than its been and I had a tiny hole here is a picture.

I called my surgeons office but explained I had already planned on going to see my PCP yesterday because she wanted to see me two weeks after surgery she swabbed me to see if it was infected (she didn't think it was) and recommended I put bacitracin on the hole and gave me a tetanus shot.

I took a shower last night and realized the hole has gotten bigger and now looks like this

When I had called the surgeons office yesterday they said wait to see what my PCP said well i emailed my surgeon the pictures and he said do what my PCP said there's not much we can do and if it gets worse go in to see him. Im not really satisfied with that answer because I don't want it to get worse! I want it to start getting better now! Has anyone had this happen to them? Im growing very concerned as I've read online a dehiscence like this can completely open your entire incision and I don't want that to happen. Any advice is appreciated. Is there another type of doctor I can see? I was thinking wound specialist but what would they be classified under in my provider directory because I'm not seeing anything listed as that. Thanks in advance!

I don't think it's dramatic enough to need a wound specialist yet. Maybe it's just the picture doesn't seem too bad. If you are diabetic Then maybe. You can always go to your local drug store and get some steri strips to put on it to help keep it closed up a bit. Just keep it clean and keep your eye on it. Your healing from the inside out so it could look rough for a minute. Do they want you to keep it uncovered so it can heal? @@CE24

No @@Elode I was told to keep gauze over it with the bacitracin being reapplied twice a day. Although I am not a diabetic i do have PCOS and was on a diabetic medication (taken off since surgery) and I do have MS. Im young, only 24, but I'm worried about it healing properly because of my MS and my compromised immune system.

@@CE24 Ok, I see. I would do what your PCP says. Of course keep an eye on it but give it some time to Close up. If it's not hot to the touch or has any signs of infection it will probably just Heal up. The belly button is usually a warm and moist place (especially if you have any extra skin on the belly) it's harder for the skin to heal in places Like that. I'm sure they probably told you not to soak in any water ect...just keep it clean and don't touch on it too much. Hopefully it will be closed up before you know it!

Okay thanks, im on the "smaller end" of the losing game im at 202 right now. Im just upset this happened as i had no issues really up until it. I also am regretting my surgeon choice I feel like this is just very much a business to him. I would have assumed he would have at least wanted to see me and he basically told me unless it gets a lot worse not to bother and that irritates me.

Thanks for the advice @elode.

I am surprised that your PCP did not apply steri-strips himself. I had four incisions, all sealed with just surgical glue and steri-strips....no stitches, no staples. You can buy the steri-strips over the counter.

I am surprised that your PCP did not apply steri-strips himself. I had four incisions, all sealed with just surgical glue and steri-strips....no stitches, no staples. You can buy the steri-strips over the counter.

I had steri strips on my surgeon took them off one week post off. Everything has been closed until two night ago when this little hole formed.

I have had 22 surgeries to date, thus LOTS of incisions. And lots and lots (thousands) of stitches.... One thing I have noticed is that not all wounds heal the same. I have had 3 surgeries through my belly button, and NOT the sleeve (too much scar tissue). I have had holes develop, and I think the reason is the scarring pushing up from underneath makes it look like the "hole" is getting larger, when in fact it is actually healing from underneath. Scar tissue is thicker, denser material than the tissue that was originally there, so misshapen formation is not uncommon, and eventually the scar will smooth out with a little ridging over the area where the scalpel was used. The skin on the body is not necessarily the same in one area that is is in another area. Skin that has been stretched from weight gain will not be of the same thickness necessarily as skin in an area the hasn't been stretched so much. So it seems reasonable that scarring will heal differently and may even look different on different parts of body. One thing to look for as a danger sign would be draining. Redness is common, to a degree, because the skin is angry it has been disrupted and it is in pain. Now it has to heal, and it wasn't planning on that! Just keep an eye on it, it will be painful for awhile, it is a deep scar. Always contact your Dr.s, even if they say the same thing over and over again, if you have concerns - it's what you've paid them for! Good luck to you, And keep us informed!

Just keep an eye on it and try not to worry. If it starts to feel warm to the touch or oozing yellow then call your PCP back. Otherwise just give it time to heal.

Okay thanks everyone! It was just healing fine and now this!! Just a little upsetting to say the least. I will keep you all updated.

I had steri strips, the surgeon told me to leave them uncovered and let them fall off on their own. It took 2 weeks and each time one fell off, I put peroxide on to help keep infection at bay and they healed nicely. I didn't have anything done in my belly button though. Your pictures look like it's infected. See what your PCP says.

I had steri strips, the surgeon told me to leave them uncovered and let them fall off on their own. It took 2 weeks and each time one fell off, I put peroxide on to help keep infection at bay and they healed nicely. I didn't have anything done in my belly button though. Your pictures look like it's infected. See what your PCP says.

As did mine but as I mentioned my surgeon took them off at my one week visit that was not my decision but his as the one who did the surgery. I was also strictly instructed to not put any type of alcohol or peroxide on the skin as it breaks it down and does not promote healing. I was also swabbed for infection and it is not infection, it is not oozing nor has it ever, I have no fever, and it is not warm to the touch. My surgery was also over two weeks ago and this just started happening. And my PCP is the one I went to, did you read my original post before commenting or what?

Edited March 11, 201511 yr by CE24

I had steri strips, the surgeon told me to leave them uncovered and let them fall off on their own. It took 2 weeks and each time one fell off, I put peroxide on to help keep infection at bay and they healed nicely. I didn't have anything done in my belly button though. Your pictures look like it's infected. See what your PCP says.

As did mine but as I mentioned my surgeon took them off at my one week visit that was not my decision but his as the one who did the surgery. I was also strictly instructed to not put any type of alcohol or peroxide on the skin as it breaks it down and does not promote healing. I was also swabbed for infection and it is not infection, it is not oozing nor has it ever, I have no fever, and it is not warm to the touch. My surgery was also over two weeks ago and this just started happening. And my PCP is the one I went to, did you read my original post before commenting or what?

I was told the same thing about peroxide. I think it's just going through an ugly phase. Try not to worry since you don't have any other negative issues occurring.

I had the same problem with one of mine and it looked like that and was pussy and my DR said to just put gauze on it and it will heal on its own which it did. I would not worry too much Im almost 6 months out and the one that I had an issue with healed just fine. Its just a little scary knowing its an open wound..

And remember, it is healing from the inside out, and the inside - being the most susceptible to problems - may heal faster than the outside. Thus the "erupting"-like surface. If you notice that you have a temperature, call your Dr., as that can be a sign of infection. But from what you've described, it sounds like you're on a normal healing path. Have you ever had serious surgery, with deep wounds, before? That may be a way to gauge your healing, as well.

Kate the NP here- once it opens up a little like that it is not a good idea to try to close it with steri-strips. As someone said above, it Ned's to heal from the inside out. Rinse it with peroxide and than make sure it is dry ( alcohol wipes will help that) then try to keep it as dry as possible - covered lightly with a gauze pad. If the drainage turns a nasty color it is infected. It's hard to tell from this picture but it looks very superficial. Of course, your PCP should be your primary source of advise, but this doesn't look, from a picture anyway, that is is anything near dehiscense.