Difference Between Traditional Tuck and Floating? Are There Any Issues With Reattaching The Belly Button?

What is the difference between traditional tummy tuck where cut outside around button and new techniques where button is floated underneath? My doc says can put back same place and reattach stalk? Whole idea bugs me but not sure why? Can you work around the stalk to get to upper muscles and not cut it or does the stalk have to be cut because it is in the way? Only other option is endoscopic which not really done right? Does the stalk serve any purpose my doc says no issue because reattached.

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floating belly button comparison

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by dsc1

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The Umbilical Float vs. Traditional Transposition

The ideal candidate for a full tummy tuck is one who has moderate to severe excess skin in the upper and lower abdomen with associated laxity in the muscles and fascia. A low transverse incision is made and a lower abdominal skin flap is raised. To access the upper abdomen, a circular incision around the belly button is made – leaving it attached to the abdominal muscle wall by its stalk, which is now its sole source of blood supply. Access to the upper abdomen is now present, and the... more

Tummy Tuck and belly button management

Hello Kellyc22, There are compromises associated with each type of tummy tuck and you will need to decide what's most important and what isn't. Determining which procedure is the right one for you is complex and is based on your anatomy and what you would be willing to accept. A very thorough discussion between you and your plastic surgeon should help clarify all the important points. There is nothing wrong or bad about floating the umbilicus... more

Floating belly button technique

Many of the floating belly button results show an abnormally low belly button-- remember the belly button must be lowered by the amount of tightening produced in the upper abdomen. Also, the umbilicus can appear flat and unnatural after a true 'float' technique, probably when the blood supply to the umbilical stalk is disrupted and the remaining belly button involutes. For that reason, we prefer to perform a modified full abdominopasty in such patients rather than a 'float'. more

Tummy Tuck

Your doc is right. He/she is giving good advice. Listen to them and they will have you on the right track. The only issue is if you want the navel to have a certain shape and you should express this desire to the surgeon so they can create the shape you want if in reason.

Both techniques work depending

Standard tt: incision around bb leaving a hole in the skin. This gives access to the muscle for tightening. The skin is pulled down far enough to remove the part with the hole. If can't get the hole out, it will be sewed, leaving a small vertical scar. This is the most common tt. Altered tt: TT incision is made, lifting skin up to bb. The stalk is divided allowing access to the muscles for tightening. The skin is pulled down and the bb stalk is... more

Standard Tummy Tuck vs. Umbilical Float Tummy Tuck

I really enjoy doing both of these procedures but they are mutually exclusive in who is a candidate. The standard tummy tuck patient has a pannus, or overhanging skin/fat that is significant enough such that the top incision will be made at the top of the belly button. The muscles can be sutured in the midline allowing for tightening and a new opening is made in the pulled down skin for the belly button to be resutured to. I find that the umbilical float tummy tuck is ideal... more

A floating belly button

From the number of responses your question has attracted you can tell that this is an interesting technical point. In brief there are some limited indications for leaving a floating belly button. It does reattach quite rapidly. But personally I do not like the idea as, as a surgeon I won't have a precise control about where the belly button is going to re-attach. If it sticks to a wrong place (not in the midline or too high or low) it can spoil the result of an otherwise... more

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

4 reviews

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck versus a Mini-Tummy Tuck

What you are really asking about is a mini-tummy tuck versus a full tummy tuck. The full tummy tuck is ideal for excess skin above and below the belly button, excess fat and stretched out muscles. In order to remove the excess skin above the belly button, the skin around the belly button is cut, the belly button stays where it always was and the skin is pulled down toward the pubic area like a window shade - excess skin is removed and the belly button inserts in the skin, by making a... more

Difference Between Traditional Tuck and Floating? Are There Any Issues With Reattaching The Belly Button?

As you can read "free floater" very poor option it has very few "perfect" candidates. Best to have in person evaluations from boarded PSs in your area.

Difference between results of a traditional tummy tuck and a floating tummy tuck

A traditional tummy tuck keeps the umbilicus intact while the floating tummy tuck disconnects the umbilical stalk allowing it to move inferiorly if necessary. There are many problems with the floating tummy tuck. One the umbilicus may be moved to a lower, usually abnormal position. Second, the umbilicus usually has a flatter, unnatural appearance. A traditional umbilicus remains connected to the deep tissue which will allow the umbilicus to have more of an... more