Can Belly Button Be Repaired During Mini Tummy Tuck?

Another option is to undergo a mini tummy tuck in which the surgeon can "float" your belly button. This means detaching it to be able to dissect all the way up (which allows the surgeon to fully plicate your muscle separation) and also to redrape the abdominal skin fully (think of pulling a sheet up in the air and letting it smoothly redrape over the bed vs. just pulling from the middle down. This enables your surgeon to smooth out the skin above the belly button as... more

It is a common feeling among patients that they "don't need" a procedure that sounds too big for them. This is common in facelifting, breast lifting and tummy tucks. So many times however, your intuition is wrong and you make the mistake of trying to find a doctor who will do what "surgery you want" rather than telling you what you need to get the "result you want." Mini tummy tucks are truly rare and create a unique deformity that can only be fixed by a... more

It is difficult to accomplish all that one wants to achieve with a mini abdominoplasty. It is hard to tighten the muscles above the umbilicus unless the skin is undermined and elevated. This can be elevated with floating the umbilicus and this would let the skin and umbilicus to move downward after the upper muscles were tightened surgically. this would allow a limited adjustment to the previously loose upper abdominal skin. There is also a very limited... more

It is difficult to say what could be done for your umbilicus without an exam because the photo does not show much.

Based on the information you provided and your photo, you seem like an ideal candidate for a full (standard) tummy tuck procedure rather than a mini tummy tuck. I suggest consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss the best and safest possible options for you. A mini tummy tuck only involves work below the belly button which may cause the upper abdomen area to be more prominent. The area above the belly button ends up becoming the problem area once th lower abdomen is... more

From what you are discribing, it sounds like there is some skin laxity above the belly button. By the description, I would say you do need a full tummy tuck. You really need to see a board certified plastic surgeon to go over in detail what needs to be done for you to achieve your desired results. A mini tuck is not performed often because it is the procedure of choice for very few people. I always say why perform the lesser operation if is going to give you a lesser result or not give... more

The mini cannot provide any significant improvements to the belly button. In your case you may have to proceed with a procedure that is more than a mini but less than the traditional "full" tummy tuck. This may leave you with a small vertical scar in addition to the horizontal scar. However, this will be the only way to address the loose umbilical skin, see video

Patients often think they don't need a full tummy tuck if they are relatively close to their ideal body weight. You describe a lower abdominal pooch and a "wrinkled" belly button. It is very likely that laxity (looseness) of the abdominal wall muscles is a contributing factor to those issues. Failure to tighten the abdominal wall muscles may prevent complete correction of the abdominal pooch and belly button. There are three basic components to a full tummy tuck: removal of all... more

From your description, it is hard to tell what procedure you need. If the only excess skin is around the belly button, liposuction may be the only thing you need. A mini-tummy tuck may pull the lower abdominal skin tight enough to correct your problem if the only excess skin you have is in the lower abdomen. However, if the problem is too much skin superiorly, the only option may be a full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). The only way to determine this is with a full consultation with a board... more

Although you most likely are a candidate for a mini, you will probably see a much better result from a full abdominoplasty. Both procedures will tighten your belly button and flatten your lower tummy bulge however the full abdominoplasty will remove 5-6 times as much skin and flatten your entire tummy much more. The downside is a slightly longer scar and a slightly longer recovery. If you are finished with your family, a full tummy will not only improve your appearance more it will last... more

It is possible but without any photographs we can not accurately answer these concerns. Go see 3 boared surgeons for their expert opinions. Regards and Good Luck.

I am not sure that a MINI-Tummy Tuck would get you the cosmetic result you want and deserve. A Mini-Tummy Tuck is an over-used operation which is best used in women with minimal skin excess / looseness and either no muscle separation or mild separation limited to under the belly button. Attempting to use a Mini-Tummy Tuck in women whose muscle separation extends higher results in a flat lower tummy and a bulging upper tummy with an abnormal belly button location. In your case you state... more