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Why Do Some People Lose Their Belly Button During Abdominoplasty?

asked 2 years ago by dhaley3626 in indiana
Latest answer by Armando Soto, MD
Question viewed 643 times
Tags: belly button

8 answers to Why Do Some People Lose Their Belly Button During Abdominoplasty?

+1

Loss of Belly Button with Tummy Tuck

Hi there- It is possible that the belly button may lose its blood supply during the procedure, or that the surgeon chose to remove the belly button in order to complete the operation. Both of these circumstances should be quite rare.
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Belly button loss is rare, but can happen

This can happen.  Certainly it is more common with extremely long thin umbilical stalks asscoaited with the morbidly obese.  Also those pateints who have had multiple hernia repairs are at high risk for complications with the umbilical stalk during abdominoplasty prcedures.
Robert Whitfield, MD

Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon
+1

Belly button loss caused by restricted blood flow

When you do a tummy tuck the tissue around the belly button is tightened as part of the muscle wall plication. The amount of tightening is a judgement issue of trying to get the best results. The time I have seen the most risk to the belly button is when a hernia in the belly button needs to be repaired at the time of the tummy tuck. Any experienced surgeon will tell you there is a risk of belly button loss, however, even if the original belly button dies a similar structure can be... more
Marcus L. Peterson, MD

Saint George Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rare loss of a belly button

Loss of a belly button during a tummy tuck would be extremely rare, it may be slight in patients with very large abdomens that hang a lot. Poor technique would be one reason but it should not routinely happen.
Walter D. Gracia, MD

Arlington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck Belly Buttons: noticeability and healing

The belly button is a natural scar that is the result of clamping off your umbilical cord at birth. It primarily consists of several blood vessels that clot and scar once the clamp is placed. Therefore the blood supply is compromised. When performing a tummy tuck the blood supply is further limited by a incising all the way around the umbilical stalk. It commonly heals poorly due to this blood supply and in very thin individuals the stalk may be small, absent, or extremely shallow. When the... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loss of navel with tummy tuck

There are two explanations.  One is that the blood supply was lost and the navel simply died.  The second is that the surgeon chose to remove the navel for technical reasons.
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Loss of belly button during abdominoplasty

Most resultant umbilical loss is due to poor surgical technique. Harming the blood supply to the belly button causing necrosis or death of the area. From MIAMI Dr. B
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Causes for Loss of Belly Button in Tummy Tuck

The belly button is the scarred remnant of the entry site of the umbilical cord. It has a dual blood supply: through the skin and on its walls from the abdominal wall musculature. Anything which disrupts this flow could cause in compromise of the belly button. Since in Tummy Tuck surgery the belly button is circumscribed and cut, the only blood supply remaining is that along the umbilicus walls. Prior hernia repairs or laparoscopic surgery could have weakened this supply so ones the skin... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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