Patricia Jackson from northern England was not happy with her appearance because regardless that she had lost weight, she still had saggy skin and fat on her stomach so in 2005, she decided to have a tummy tuck. Also known as abdominoplasty, the surgery is often sought by patients who have loose or sagging tissues as a result of pregnancy or weight loss.
During Jackson's surgery at the Hospital Group in Birmingham, doctors removed the excess skin and fat from her abdomen but did not create a new belly button because there was not enough skin left over after her operation, a common occurrence in such surgical operations. Unfortunately, the doctors also left old parts of Jackson's navel inside of her and this later caused pain and itching.
Jackson related that everything seemed to be fine a year after her operation but in a follow up check-up a year later, her surgeon, Edgardo Schiavone, noticed that her scar looks bad and admitted her to the hospital. An ultrasound scan confirmed that there was an infection. Jackson experienced pain and foul-smelling fluids leaked from her stomach but the doctors thought these were caused by an infected stitch and not because her old belly button was left inside her.
The situation went worse in 2011 when Jackson boarded a plane from Portugal to the UK and noticed blisters around the area where her old belly button should have been. During the course of her flight, Jackson's mid-section burst and a foul-smelling liquid leaked from her causing passengers to complain.
Jackson proceeded to the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax after the plane landed where tests revealed that her old belly button, which was left inside of her, became infected and was responsible for the pain and leaking.
Jackson underwent another reconstructive surgery, given a new navel and now no longer experiences leaking problems. In January this year, she was awarded over £20,000 as settlement from her surgeon for the botched cosmetic surgery.
Jackson said that she came forward to raise awareness about the risks associated with cosmetic surgery. Other potential risks of abdominoplasty include persistent pain, nerve damage and blood clots.
"The result of my case means that awareness has been raised and it can hopefully change patient care in the future," Jackson said.
