Patricia Jackson An elderly British woman in whose body surgeons left her own navel Country: Great Britain

Biography of Patricia Jackson

Patricia Jackson is a 68-year-old British woman from Bridlington, Yorkshire. In 2005, she decided to undergo a tummy tuck surgery at a private clinic to improve her appearance. During the surgery, the doctors tightened her abdominal muscles but did not create a new belly button for her, citing a lack of material. Little did she know, they also left a piece of her old belly button inside her body.

For the first year after the surgery, everything seemed fine for Patricia. However, she began experiencing pain and discharge in her abdomen area shortly after. Doctors were unable to determine the cause until 2011, when her belly button suddenly exploded while she was on a flight back home from Portugal. It turned out that the decaying piece of her old belly button was the culprit all along.

After the incident on the plane, Patricia sought medical help and was treated for a serious infection. By 2011, she finally felt well enough to go on a vacation to Portugal. However, before boarding her return flight, she noticed blisters where her belly button should have been. The skin split open, releasing pus, and causing discomfort for Patricia and other passengers.

Once the plane landed, Patricia contacted her brother, who took her to a hospital in Halifax for treatment. Due to her lack of trust in her previous surgeon, she later transferred to a hospital in Hull. There, it was discovered that her ongoing health issues were a result of the leftover piece of her belly button.

Patricia underwent reconstructive surgery and received a new belly button, which resolved all her health problems and improved her confidence. She reached a settlement of £22,500 with the surgeon, thanks to the assistance of her lawyers at Fletchers Solicitors. However, the traumatic experience has left Patricia with a fear of future surgeries and a fear of repeating the same nightmare.

Jeanette Aspinall, the head of Fletchers Solicitors, emphasized that Patricia's case highlights the potential risks of cosmetic surgeries and the importance of proper medical oversight during and after such procedures.