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Looking into Getting the Full Abdominoplasty but Worried About Belly Button. What Can I Expect? (photo)

asked 4 months ago by mommyoflove28 in Simi Valley, CA
Latest answer by Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Question viewed 182 times
Tags: belly button, expectation, worried

Thank you all for your quick responses on my last question. I know that I need to get the surgery now, the only thing I am wondering is about the belly button scar and shape. My mom recently had her tummy tuck done about 8 months ago but her belly button hole looks SO small and is such a tiny circle, it doesnt look real. Is this normal? because I have seen it often and if I am going to go to the lengths of this surgery, I want to make sure I can have a tummy I can show off again. Advice?

12 answers to Looking into Getting the Full Abdominoplasty but Worried About Belly Button. What Can I Expect? (photo)

Belly Button after Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty is usually an Inny

Thank you for your important question. The Belly Button or Umbilicus is the most visible part of a Full Abdominoplasty or Tummy Tuck procedure. If the Belly Button is not reconstructed properly during the Tummy Tuck you will be very unhappy with your result. The best method I have found to create an attractive Belly Button during Abdominoplasty is to suture the stalk of the belly button beneath the skin to the muscle underneath. This pulls the belly button into an Inny... more

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

Your navel should look natural after an abdominoplasty

Look at before and after photos provided by your surgeon to get an idea of how the navel will look after abdominoplasty. You should see many. If you don't like them, get another opinion.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Belly button

You apppear to be a good candidate to undergo an abdominoplasty, and you are wise to scrutinize how the umbilcus is dealt with as part of the procedure. This si paricularly true if you expect to wear a 2 piece bathing suit. There are many different techniques for designing the new umbilicus. Some surgeons use a circular pattern, others use a diamond shape or a heart. As far as the size of the umbilicus, I tend to err on the side of a smaller umbilicus. As... more

Ronald J. Edelson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Belly button appearance after tummy tuck, your choice and let the surgeon know.

Hello, again and thank you for your question and the photos. No, you do not have to have a small belly button after tummy tuck. The scar around the belly button can be in the shape of a circle or a diamond but doesn't have to be small. A small belly button doesn't look natural and can be very difficult to keep clean. Ask your plastic surgeon to show you pictures of his/her tummy tuck for verification. Cosmetically, it has actually been researched and shown that... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Scar

You are a great candidate for a full tummy tuck. The concern about the belly button outcome is understandable because this cannot be hidden in a bikini. They are so many different techniques surgeons use to create certian size and shapes for the belly button. Discuss what you like and what you do not like with your surgeon. Also discuss and early post-operative protocol to minimaize the scarring. Good luck, I am sure you will look great.

Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.colenmd.com

Belly Button Appearance often the Sign of a Skilled Tummy Tuck Surgeon

Hi there- The appearance of the belly button after a tummy tuck is often what separates skilled, experienced and talented surgeons from those lacking these attributes... I agree with Dr. Johnson- look at lots of photos of patients operated on by the surgeon you choose, and communicate to them the importance of your belly button outcome.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Finessing the belly button with tummy tuck

From the pictures you posted there is no question that you will get the best result from a full tummy tuck. You are correct to point out also that the appearance of the belly button is important, and I would consider it a signature of a well-done abdominoplasty. There are specific things that can be done to achieve this so be clear with your plastic surgeon about your expectations.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Belly button worries with tummy tuck

There are many ways to approach the belly button with tummy tuck, and the effect can be critical, as you can hide the lower scar, but the belly button. We suggest you look at the website of tummy tucks done by your surgeon to gauge how it will be approached and how things worked out, and you should like what you see. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Shape

Different surgeons do the umbilicoplasty portion of the procedure differently. It is best to look at postoperative pictures from different surgeons to get an idea of how each does the belly button.

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Belly Button Shape after Tummy Tuck

It appears that you are a good candidate for a tummy tuck. The shape and size of the belly button depend on the design of the open at the time of the tummy tuck. There are many ways to make that opening and every surgeon has his/her own way of performing that portion of the procedure. The best advise I can give is to visit with a couple of board certified plastic surgeons and review the results as well as ask questions of how they manage the belly button. Dr. ES more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Belly button after a tummy tuck

The size of the opening of the belly button during a tummy tuck can be controlled by the surgeon in many cases. If there is excessive scar tissue that forms, that can constrict the belly button down and in most cases, after waiting for the tissues to soften, it ca be revised to be made larger.

Julio Garcia, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck and Appearance of Belly Button?

Thank you for the question and pictures. You are not alone in being concerned about the appearance of the belly button after tummy tuck surgery. The appearance of the umbilicus after tummy tuck surgery is of critical importance to many patients. Essentially, it is the only scar visible when patients are wearing undergarments or swimming suits. It can be a telltale sign of a patient who has had abdominal plastic surgery. As much as possible, it is best to keep the belly button... more