Options to correct stomach after Mini Tummy Tuck?

I had a Mini Tummy Tuck 6 weeks ago. My belly button looks like a long line and surrounded with loose skin. I also have a bulge over the incision. My plastic surgeon said I cannot have a full Tummy Tuck anymore because he cut the belly button from the stalk. The only blood supply to the belly button now is through skin, so he can't cut skin around it. What are my other options do I have to correct my stomach?

Options to correct stomach after Mini Tummy Tuck?
3 answers to “Options to correct stomach after...”

A: Belly button after mini-tuck

Steven H. Williams, MD

Thanks for your question - This is a challenging situation.  Once the umbilicus (belly button) has been separated from its native blood suppy it makes repeat abdominoplasty more challenging because you cannot reposition the umbilicus relative to the abdominal skin. A repeat mini in combination with... more

A: You can have a full after a mini tummy tuck but you may need neo-umbilicoplasty

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

This is a difficult problem and you may want to risk losing your belly button and having a neo-umbilicoplasty performed. Your surgeon is correct and you may want to obtain other opinions to corroborate this. However, it really depends on how unhappy you are with the appearance with your abdomen.

A: How attached are you to your belly button?

Brian K. Brzowski, MD

Juliana, Looks like you are realizing the limitations of the mini-tummy tuck. I don't think that there is much question that your tummy would have the flattest appearance if you went back and did a full Tummy Tuck. Liposuction of the abdomen without removing the excess skin would improve things, but the bulge... more

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