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Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck

asked 1 year ago by Webdva
Latest answer by Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Question viewed 3,455 times
Tags: belly button, female, shape

Overall I am very pleased with the results thus far given the swelling. I'm curious on my belly button size (Is this normal, will it shrink and go "in-ward" as it heals?) I did learn that there was no ab repair in my Post Op visit. Since my abs were not protruding and or seperated (after three kids?) they didnt need repair. Is this also normal and or relate to any of my resulsts in any way I should be aware of? Thank You in Advance for your comment / feedback.

14 answers to Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck

TT plication

We get an interesting amount of questions about muscle plication on this forum. Your photos imply that you probably wound't have benefitted much from plication although your history suggests that the muscles are probably separated. If your abdomen is full and tight in the resting position from being overweight then there is no real point to plicating. It doesn't improve your figure as much if you are full framed. Photos can be decieving so only on... more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

Tummy Tuck Belly Buttons and Muscle Separation Repair.

Belly buttons should look normal and natural and non surgical after tummy tuck. Period. The most common error is to make belly buttons look far too large and gaping. The rectus muscle sepapation , I find, needs repaired to the midline in 95% of all abdominoplasties. Rectus = Abs in you terminology.

George Commons, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

www.pacfps.com

Belly Buttone size after tummy tuck

After and tummy tuck the belly button often looks larger due to swelling. Over time I have found that the size of the belly button does get smaller. In terms of your muscle repair, after having 3 children I would think that you would have some laxity and need the muscles sewn together in the mid-line.That is very standard for a tummy tuck for most people.

Sheila Bond, MD
Montclair Plastic Surgeon

bondplasticsurgery.com

Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck

After looking at your photos, it appears that the surgery itself was a success. As far as muscle plication, it is hard to say for sure whether or not it would have been necessary, pictures can sometimes be deceiving. I usually examine the patient prior to surgery to determine whether there is any diastasis, (muscle seperation) but ultimately it is what I find at the time of surgery that determines what I do. However, I must say that I think your belly button has been... more

Amy T. Bandy, DO
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Belly button and abdominoplasty

You are way to early to worry about the final rsult of your umbilicus. It will take some time for the swelling to dissipate.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Belly button can be key to a great tummy tuck

The lower tummy tuck scar can be concealed under clothing, but the belly button scar can be visible and make or break a tummy tuck result. It is important for those considering tummy tuck to pay attention to the belly button in the 'before and afters' as each surgeon may approach this area differently. I don't think that the diameter of the belly button scar will get smaller during healing, though the scar can become paler. Muscle repair too might have been nice. After full... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Unhappy with Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck

Regarding: "Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck Overall I am very pleased with the results thus far given the swelling. I'm curious on my belly button size (Is this normal, will it shrink and go "in-ward" as it heals?) I did learn that there was no ab repair in my Post Op visit. Since my abs were not protruding and or seperated (after three kids?) they didnt need repair. Is this also normal and or relate to any of my resulsts in any way I should be... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Swelling after a TT can make your BB look larger than it will be

Your belly button looks a little large, but it may well shrink as the swelling goes down. A circular scar often contracts inward. I cannot imagine why your muscles were not plicated. Your pre-op photos certainly show protuberance. In a woman who has had children I always tighten the muscles. It is part of my initial consultation discussion. If a woman specifically asks not to have it done it is noted in the chart.

Lori H. Saltz, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

Belly Button size and shape after Extended Tummy Tuck.

It's hard to tell from your picture, but could it be that you have a cotton ball or gauze dressing in your umbilicus? If so, this will be removed when your umbilical sutures are removed. Though I do not personally use this type of belly button bandage, I have seen surgeons who feel that they enhance the funnel shape by doing this. I'll bet everyone feels silly if this is indeed the case! Your (early) result looks good, though I too am curious why a rectus sheath... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Belly button size and shape after tummy tuck

Please keep in mind that your result will change a great deal in the coming weeks and months. It is possible your umbilicus will contract - only time will tell. It is the case that the occasional patient will not receive a muscle repair, but it is difficult to understand why you would not have. You need to keep in touch with your surgeon to ensure your questions are answered and you get the best possible result.

Eric Pugash, MD
Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.vancouvercosmeticsurgery.ca

Belly button size and shape after a tummy tuck

Thank you for your photos. The postoperative belly button looks large, unnaturally round and I doubt that it will shrink with time. Looking at your preoperative photos, you do have muscle laxity and I'm surprised that your plastic surgeon did not do a muscle plication. All these I discuss with my patients during the initial consultation and the preoperative visit. I design the belly button on my patients differently to create a more natural look, hide the scars and not to look like... more

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Size / Shape After Extended Tummy Tuck

Thanks for the photos. Hard to tell if the bb will shrink, lets hope. As for MR, if you were told you would have it than I still do not understand why it was not done? From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck questions

The size of the belly button after a tummy tuck depends on how big of a hole the doctor cuts in the skin at the end of the surgery for the belly button to come back out through. Yours does look a little big but might shrink some over the next few months. I personally can't imagine a person with your starting point, who had 3 kids, who didn't need at least some muscle tightening. I would have done some for sure.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Belly button after Tummy Tuck

You appear to have had a great result from a tummy tuck. Yes belly buttons often look larger in the early post operative setting. This is often due to swelling. Allow everything to heal before analyzing things too much. It is not uncommon for women not to need the abdominal wall plication (ab repair). It is up to the discretion of your surgeon and what he sees at surgery to decide whether you would benefit from one. good luck I am sure you will look great. more