6 months post op - what are the best options for belly button revision? (Photos)

It is common to feel disappointed when the belly button does not heal in the way you hoped, even if the overall tummy tuck result is positive. Six months is still considered early in healing, and most surgeons recommend waiting 9 to 12 months before planning a revision so the tissues and scars can fully settle.
Having your original surgeon perform a revision is often a good choice, since they know the details of your surgery and tissue pattern. That said, seeking a second opinion is reasonable if you feel uncertain.
Yes, the belly button can usually be reshaped into a smaller, more inward and centered appearance. Umbilicoplasty, or belly button revision, is a focused procedure that removes or repositions scar tissue and re creates the inner contour. It is considered a minor surgery compared to a full tummy tuck, but it requires careful technique to achieve a natural look.
I have also shared a detailed video where I explain different types of belly button revisions and show examples of how they can improve the appearance after tummy tuck. This may help you visualize what to expect.
— Güray Yesiladali, MD

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding you being six months post-op and your options for belly button revision.  Thank you for your history and your pictures.  It is important to discuss with your plastic surgeon exactly what you wish.  Most plastic surgeons would suggest you find pictures on the Internet and bring pictures to your chosen plastic surgeon of belly buttons you like and belly buttons you dislike.  From your pictures, your belly button appears off-center.  Therefore, the position of your needs needs to be corrected.  The shape can be adjusted, within limits.  Technically, did you have a free, floating, or a traditional umbilicoplasty performed during an abdominoplasty?  These are key questions to know regarding blood supply, especially when considering revisions.  Most plastic surgeons would suggest you stick with your original plastic surgeon.  This is because your original plastic surgeon knows your anatomy and exactly what was done during the prior procedure.  Usually, an umbilicoplasty (belly button)  revision is a straightforward in-office procedure.  It is usually done under local anesthesia.  The belly button can be made more of an innie.  That means more skin is removed from the inside, and the depth of the belly button is decreased.  This maneuver can be performed if your umbilicoplasty was done traditionally.  During a traditional abdominoplasty, an incision is made around the belly button, and the belly button is pushed in.  Then the abdominal flap is pulled down, and the belly button is re-inserted into the abdominal wall flap.  There are hundreds of videos online to see exactly how this is done if you want to learn more.  The belly button revision would depend on whether you had a free, floating, or an incision made like a traditional abdominoplasty.  If your belly button were made during a traditional abdominoplasty, during the umbilicoplasty revision, an incision would be made around your prior umbilical scar.  Your umbilicus would be pulled out, and the excess skin would be trimmed.  In addition, a crescent area of skin needs to be resected from your abdominal wall to shift your belly button to a more midline position.  Time for a revision depends on you, your healing, your schedule, and your plastic surgeon’s suggestions and availability.  Most plastic surgeons would have you wait 6 to 12 months before an umbilical revision.  I hope my answer helps answer your question regarding what your options are for belly button revision 6 months post-op a tummy tuck. Good luck.      If you have any more questions regarding tummy tucks, abdominoplasties, or belly button revision, contact an experienced plastic surgeon.  Since the tummy tuck surgery is a big procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in performing tummy tucks.  Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 tummy tucks.  Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.  If you cannot find an experienced tummy tuck plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling out of state.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS. ( Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgery, American College of surgery, and International College of surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

Bellybutton revisions can actually be very difficult and complicated, depending on what needs to be changed. Waiting a year is sometimes a good idea because it allows the scar to soften so the tissue is more elastic. It may be beneficial to discuss with your surgeon about what can be helped or fixed and what your expectations should be as far as surgery and the results. May be understanding this would give you a better idea of whether you should get a second opinion. Good luck.

Belly button revision can be performed by your original surgeon if you trust them. However, if you have your doubts, booking consultations with other surgeons may help.

Yes, you will need a belly button revision. I would not wait a year, I believe 6 months is adequate time for a revision.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

it’s completely normal to feel disappointed when results don’t match your expectations, especially after such a big decision.
It’s okay to have your original surgeon do the revision if you trust their work and feel heard. However, if communication or results have been lacking, getting a second opinion from a revision specialist is also very reasonable.
Yes, your belly button can be revised to look more like an innie, depending on your skin, scar tissue, and anatomy.
While belly button revisions are common, they’re not always “simple” they require precision to reshape and re-anchor the belly button naturally. A skilled surgeon can absolutely improve it, but technique and experience matter.

It is possible to improve the appearance of the belly button through a revision. You may want to review before/after photos of your surgeon's work to determine if you want to also meet with other surgeons for multiple opinions. It is best to wait a year from your original surgery before considering a revision to allow for full healing.

This seems to be due to a long umbilical stalk.The best advice is to follow your surgeons recomendation and let him fix it.Sometimes, creating a whole new navel would make a more natural scar. All the mid line line scars on the abdomen - thorax, use to be thick and require close follow up.David Guarín MdPlastic SurgeonCali - Colombia

This one is tricky.

The button is nearly midline. Not all natural buttons are. There can be a few centimeters “off.” The repair of this is extensive in your case. Accept it.

As for the excess folds, that is easy office stuff. Just remove a little from each side if the actual button not the button hole.

The diameter can also be made slightly smaller but will have a small vertical scar component.

Most surgeons will discount or waive fees to enhance their own results.

Good luck.

The best chance of getting a good outcome from this procedure is during the first operation.
Sometimes revision surgery can improve the outcome, but often tissues are set the way they are from the first procedure.
To have access to all the tissues for a bellybutton revision, the entire tummy tuck needs to be redone, which is an excessive amount of surgery.
Without separating the skin and a fat layer from the abdominal wall The amount of change is slightly less.
Each person has a different unique belly button.
Those who have a deep bellybutton before surgery have a better potential for having a pulled in look after surgery.
If the belly button was shallow in the before pictures Then it’s more difficult to get the belly button to pull in on the skin.
It’s always a good idea to show proper before and after pictures when you want an assessment.
In my opinion, patients should judge surgeons tummy tuck results based on getting consistent, natural, looking belly buttons, and the design of the scar.
There may be room for some improvement with a bellybutton revision, but don’t expect too much.
Ask your surgeon to show you before and after pictures of previous patients, who’ve had a belly button revisions or how many times they’ve done it.
If you schedule second opinion, consultations bring before and after pictures to show the new surgeon.
Ask the new surgeon how many times they do bellybutton revisions, and again ask them to show you before and after pictures.
If they don’t have any before and after pictures of bellybutton revision surgery, then they may not have enough experience.
It’s not that common to do bellybutton revisions.
Improving the appearance of the belly button as a revision procedure is often technically challenging.
Each individual situation is often unique.
The rest of your tummy tuck looks quite good telling me that you probably have a pretty talented surgeon.
As I mentioned, some belly buttons are inherently more difficult to get a pulled in look from.
This is generally the case when the belly button is not deep.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD