Forceps pop out of woman's bellybutton

A woman who underwent cosmetic surgery to flatten her stomach found a piece of metal protruding from her belly button after a coughing fit.

X-rays revealed the presence of 10cm long surgical forceps that had been left in the woman's belly during the surgery five months earlier.

The French woman in her 30s had experienced severe cramps following the cosmetic operation in October, but this was attributed by the surgeon to post-operative pain, which is normal for an invasive procedure.

She was operated a second time to remove the forceps.

According to the woman's lawyer, the surgeon who performed the first operation said he would perform the removal surgery free of charge as a Valentine's day gift. He is being sued for the mistake.

This article was published on Wed 16 February 2011