Tummy Tuck Revision: Q&A
Ask a QuestionUmbilicoplasty Revision for Slim Patient?
I recently had a full abdominoplasty with Muscle Repair. I'm 5'2 and 115 lbs. My plastic surgeon is board certified and is highly regarded, and his photos looked good. He told me on my first post-op visit that my belly button did not turn out well. It is a completely flat scar, with no depth or hooding. He is willing to do a revision but said he's not sure what he can do, since he says I have little subcutaneous fat. I'm reluctant to do a revision if he can't fix it, and am wondering if another doctor could fix it. Any advice?
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13 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
valentine69
in san francisco
+2
Umbilicoplasty after tummy tuck
At your height and weight, the thin layer of abdominal subcutaneous fat might have made it impossible to achieve any depth for the belly button. If, however, there is a little fat around the umbi it can be re-opened and stitched down to the muscles and the skin brought down to give more depth and character.
Remember that sometimes your body won't allow even the best plastic surgeon to give you exactly what you had hoped for.
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Umbilicoplasty After Tummy Tuck
I think your doctor shouldn't jump to conclusions. When I redo the belly button during a tummy tuck I suture or stitch the top of the belly button to the fascia or the thick layer of tissue over the muscle. This pulls the belly button down to create the depression that women have. However, unless it's 6 months out your surgeon is jumping to conclusions (unless he knows what happened during surgery).
So give it time and if it's not good after 6 months see someone who can create a good...
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Umbilicoplasty (Belly Button) revision
The outcome of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is commonly not only dependent on how we, the plastic surgeons, perform an operation ("play the cards") but also on your presenting anatomy ("the cards you deal us").
Post-operatively, a round belly button (not a vertical slit), " innie" with depth and hooding is the goal of a well done umbilicoplasty (which is part of the Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) procedure. But it is not always completely achievable.
The deep /...
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Your surgeon may be correct
The depth of your belly button depends on a couple of factors:
How short your umbilical stalk was in the first place, and if it was shortened intra-operatively.
How thick your abdominal flap was at the time the belly button was inset into it.
You describe yourself as thin, and certainly if you had a full tummy tuck, your abdominal tissues are stretched even thinner. If your belly button was not shortened intra-op (it probably was not, since you are not obese), then my advice would be to...
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How to make a nice umbilicoplasty on a slim patient
Your surgeon is right that making a nice belly button on a slim patient is very difficult, because there is no way to create the natural depth. The best thing in my experience is to try to create more of a hood across the top, which can be done under local anesthesia. it's worth giving it a shot because a nice umbiilicoplasty is one of the hallmarks of a good abdominoplasty and I am sure your plastic surgeon want to make it better.
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Hiding the Belly button scar in thin patients
Tough problem! A lack of subcutaneous fat is a contributing cause, or leaving the umbilical stalk to long may been a factor. To assist you further a photo would have been very helpful. Tacking the skin very close to the fascia and doing a little fat transfer might just do the trick enough to get you happy.
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Need to see the problem...
Hello,
In order to figure what might be possible I need to see what the problem looks like. An examination is better. There might be something to do but without looking at you it is hard to predict.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
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No definition of umbilicus
Without seeing photos of your before and after, it is difficult to tell you if it would be worthwhile for you to under go an umbilicoplasty revision. There are several things that can create a not-so-perfect belly button after abdominoplasty, and some can easily be corrected, and some are more difficult. If you have lost confidence in your surgeon, I would recommend getting a second and possibly even third opinion. You may end up having more confidence in your original surgeon if you hear...
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Umbilicoplasty following abdominoplasty
I have observed this in extremely thin patients. It is difficult to create a hooded or deep umbilicus there is no thickness to the walls of the umbilicus.
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A photo will be helpful
If your doctor does not feel comfortable to do the revision, I would suggest that you follow his advise. He has opearted on you and he knows the anatomy of your abdomin and also the reason that it did not turn as you both expected.
Please submit a picture.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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