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I Love my Belly Button. Is There a Way to Have a Tummy Tuck and Keep Mine?

asked 1 year ago by Jupiter5457 in Jupiter, FL
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 519 times
Tags: belly button

I lost over 60 lbs 10 years ago and am considering a Mommy Makeover, though I do not have kids. I'm 5'5" and 125.

19 answers to I Love my Belly Button. Is There a Way to Have a Tummy Tuck and Keep Mine?

+2

Belly button shapes and tummy tucks

It is usually necessary to make an incision around the umbilicus during a tummy tuck.  The exceptions are the Hybrid tummy tuck, where there is no necessity for a belly button incision, and some endoscopic techniques. It is important to see what style your prospective surgeon has in dealing with belly buttons.  There is considerable attention to detail in reconstructing a belly button properly.
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+2

Belly button after tummy tuck / abdominoplasty

You will keep your belly button after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. The skin is moved but your umbilicus stays in place. 
Frank Agullo, MD

El Paso Plastic Surgeon

www.elpasoplasticsurgery.com

+1

Umbilicus in tummy tuck

When a tummy tuck is performed, the umbilicus is not removed it is acutally free formt he surrounding tissue and then re-inset once the skin is pulled down.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can keep your navel with a tummy tuck.

The conventional abdominoplasty leaves the navel attached to the abdominal wall and reestablishes it through the abdominal wall as part of the operation.  It should look close to, but no exactly like yours preoperatively.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly button position & appearance after tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

What happens with a tummy tuck, is that the belly button is dissected free and kept on its stalk and repositioned into the appropriate position after the tissue has been re-draped. Almost always the umbilicus, because of separation of the rectus muscle, or redundancy of the skin in the periumbilical region, is not as attractive as desired. It sounds like that in your case, you are very happy with its appearance and need to communicate that with your surgeon. One of the tell tale signs of an... more
William F. DeLuca Jr, MD

Albany Plastic Surgeon

www.delucaplasticsurgery.com

+1

Tummy tuck: same belly button but different button hole

When performing a fummy tuck you will keep the same belly button (umbilicus) with a full tummy tuck. However it will exit the skin in a new location (button hole). A mini tummy tuck will tend to leave the belly button untouched. A midi tummy tuck or fusion between the two may "float" your existing belly button down to a new location. See the linked video for a description and before/after photos.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

You will continue to have your own belly buttom

As you can see in all the answers you will continue to have the same umbilicus after the surgery, however the way the "new belly bottom" is inset is very important, because you should be able to cover your lower abdominal scar with your underwear, the umbilicus will be visible if you decide to wear 2 pieces bikini or tank tops. When consulting your surgeon you need to ask for pictures of belly bottoms after abdominoplasty if they do not provide several of them, it probably... more
Victor Manuel Perez, MD

Kansas City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Your belly button is the same, but can look different with a tummy tuck

Dear Jupiter5457, Keeping your belly button is the standard way a tummy tuck is performed. Note that 'keeping' is the key word that may mean something different to you vs. your surgeon. When a tummy tuck  is performed, there is an incision made around your navel so that it is detached from the surrounding skin. It is still attached to the underlying muscle layer, however, and will remain in the same location after surgery. In the course of performing the tummy... more
Lawrence Tong, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

The Tummy Tuck Belly Button is YOUR OEM Belly Button

Many women MISTAKENLY assume that a NEW belly button is created when performing a Tummy Tuck. In reality, that is not the case. In a Tummy Tuck, the tummy skin and fat are lifted from the underlying muscles AFTER the belly button was separated from the skin allowing it to stay attached to the underlying abdomen. The separated muscles are brought together thereby flattening the tummy and narrowing the waist. The skin is then pulled down and the excess of it is removed from the bottom while... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck

You will keep your belly button.  It never moves, the skin is draped over it, and then it is brought back out.
David A. Lickstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly button can be key to the perfect tummy tuck

You do indeed keep your own belly button in a tummy tuck procedure. It stays right where it is, and after all the skin excess is tailored and trimmed away, the belly button is brought out in its 'anatomic' location to complete the procedure. The belly button must be inset to ensure the shape is characteristic, and the scar is hidden. The belly button can make or break the result as the lower scar can be concealed, though often the belly button cannot. Review your surgeons results... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly button is the signature of a good tummy tuck

Many people have a hard time picturing exactly what happens with a tummy tuck, but it is your same one, in the same place. However, because it is separated from the skin that surrounds it, and then brought out through a new opening, it can look different. This is where the finesse comes in, as there are specific things that can be done to make it look natural and attractive.
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Your old belly button is reused.

As the others have said, the old belly button is reused. I like to sink the belly button into the tissue a bit to reduce the visibility of the scar around the belly button and had good success with that. The key is not to make the hole for the "new" belly button too big.
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly Button is Retained in Tummy Tuck

The umbilicus or belly button is almost always retained in a tummy tuck and can usually look much the same after surgery (although there will be a scar around it).  Congratulations on your weight loss.  I think you will be happy with the results of your tummy tuck.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly button shape and tummy tucks

In a tummy tuck you always keep your belly button. I prefer to make my belly buttons hooded superiorly and notched inferiorly so not to show a circular scar. If you lost over 60 lbs, you most likely have loose skin around and above your belly button and this tends to be in a more horizontal orientatation. The umbilicus or belly button stays were it is attached to the abdominal wall, but the loose skin is removed. This necessitates an incision around the belly button. When I inset the... more
George Marosan, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck and Belly Buttons

The Belly Button or Umbilicus is one of the most important considerations in tummy tuck surgery, a bad belly button can ruin the entire surgery, It is, in fact your own belly button that is retained during a tummy tuck, but it can be shaped different ways. Make sure you discuss what you want with your surgeon and also, ask to see pictures so you can see your surgeons actual results. Different surgeons handle the belly button differently and you need to make clear what you want. Good Luck.  more
Johan E. Brahme, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck

You will still have your own belly button, only with a scar around it.  If you have a "lower" abdominoplasty (some call it a min), then you will have a scar and will keep your belly button as is!
Shahin Javaheri, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

You don't get a "new" belly button with a Tummy Tuck

It is a big misconception that you get a "new" belly button during a tummy tuck. In fact, it is your original belly button - just brought through a new opening.
Matthew Schulman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can keep your belly button with a tummy tuck / mommy make over.

When a full abdominoplasty is done, the belly button is left in the same position.  An incision is made around it, leaving the belly button attached by its stalk to the fascia of your stomach.  After the loose skin of your stomach has been trimmed off and before the final closure of the incision is done, the belly button is located and brought out through a new opening but at the same level as it was before.  Differant suturing techniques can give you an "outie, an... more
Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

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