Would Lowering the Belly Button by 1 to 2 Inches Look Unnatural or Funny?

Thanks for the great question -
You belly button is attached to deeper structures and in itself typically cannot be moved more than about an inch in any direction. Your surgeon is likely referring to moving tissue around your belly button -
The key point here is the difference between a mini-tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck addresses the skin below the belly button. This can be a good option for patients that do not have a great deal of extra tissue above the umbilicus and who do not have rectus diastasis (which is a separation of the rectus abdominus muscles (the muscles that make up your six pack) - this is a common issue after childbirth).
A full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can be a better choice for patients with addition skin above the umbilicus or who have significant lateral positioning of the rectus muscles. The scar can be longer but it is a much more powerful techniqe in terms of improving your abdominal contour.
I hope this helps!

Hello Juliana5,

Thank you for your inquiry about the potential side effects of lowering the belly button during a mini tummy tuck procedure. It's important to address your concerns and provide you with accurate information.

Lowering the position of the belly button by 1 to 2 inches is indeed a significant adjustment and should be approached with caution. The belly button is anatomically connected to the fascia, the connective tissue that surrounds your abdominal muscles. Moving it more than an inch in any direction, whether higher or lower, can disrupt its natural position and potentially lead to complications.

In general, lowering the belly button more than its anatomical position can result in an unnatural appearance and may appear disproportionate to the rest of the abdomen. Additionally, excessive manipulation of the belly button during surgery can increase the risk of complications such as poor wound healing, infection, or changes in sensation around the area.

It's possible that your plastic surgeon may be referring to adjusting the position of the skin around the belly button rather than physically moving the belly button itself. This approach can help improve the overall contour of the abdomen without compromising the natural appearance of the belly button.

Before proceeding with any surgical plan, I recommend discussing your concerns and goals in detail with your plastic surgeon. They can provide you with a thorough explanation of the proposed procedure, address any questions or uncertainties you may have, and ensure that your expectations align with realistic outcomes.

Ultimately, the decision to undergo surgery and make adjustments to the belly button position should be made with careful consideration and in collaboration with your plastic surgeon.

I hope this information helps guide your decision-making process. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

The side effects of lowering or "floating" your belly button with a midi or marriage abdominoplasty (half mini and half full)  are that if you decide that you want a full tummy tuck at a later date, it will likely compromise the circulation of the belly button making it more likely it will necrose. You are a candidate for a float procedure if you have a high belly button (one that lies above a line drawn across the top of your hip bones) and you can leave at least about 10 cm of skin between the belly button and incision. While 1 inch is normal 2 inches may be lowering it more than I would recommend.

Mini tummy tucks address loose skin and fascia between the navel and the pubis.  Only the occasional patient has this as an isolate problem. Most patients need the entire abdomen addressed for a suitable result.  If I were you I would get another opinion.

Mini TT will slightly lower your belly button, since it is being pulled down from the surgery. It is likely best for you to have a full TT. However, since you did not provide a picture, it is very difficult for us to give you specific advice. Also, if you only have a mini TT, then I doubt that you surgeon is "tightening [your] whole stomach muscles." The incision is the same as the full TT, so I often wonder why patients and surgeons are so obsessed with "mini TT." Unless, they are just misinformed?

A mini tummy tuck essentially removes just a portion of the skin below the belly button. This technique involves either leaving the belly button alone, or "floating" the belly button by cutting it free from the abdominal wall. If the belly button is "floated", this often leads to a very unnatural look as the belly button can appear much too low on the abdominal wall. Mini-tummy tucks are appealing, but in reality are much less common than a full abdominoplasty. A key to whether or not you may need a full abdominoplasty is whether you have laxity or excess in the skin/fat above your belly button. If you do, a full abdominoplasty is far more likely to give you the results you are looking for.

When a woman has a significant of loose skin of the tummy and split 6 pack (Rectus) muscles, a Mini Tummy Tuck is usually a cop out and a bad idea. In the words of a former chief resident of mine, intentionally paraphrasing the OLD ABC World of Sports (in which a ski jumper falls badly) a Mini tummy Tuck is usually " The agony of victory...". Put yet another way.; If you want mini results - have a mini operation.

Classically, the ideal belly button should be in the midline on a transverse line spanning the hips approximately 10-12 cm from the clitoris. When it is pulled lower , especially with a flattened lower tummy and a now bulging upper tummy (classic Mini Tummy Tuck result), the result looks weird.

A tummy tuck is a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During this procedure, we never actually detach the belly button from the underlying muscle. The belly button remains in place of the skin around the belly button will move downward. If done properly, the belly button incision can be well hidden and attractive. At this stage, it is best to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon was a great deal of experience with abdominoplasty and belly button revisions. They can assess the tissue around your belly button and the laxity of your abdominal wall. If you have enough looseness, it may be possible to perform a revision of the abdominoplasty where the tissue is redraped and a new belly button is created. Other options also include an umbilicoplasty to rearrange the tissue around the belly button itself
To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:

I am not usually a fan of the mini-tummy tuck. Most patients that present with this request usually need a full tummy tcuk. The mini does not tighten the upper muscle or pull the skin from above the umbilicus significantly. "Floating the umbilicus" in a mini, in my opinion does not always look so great.

My comment is to assess whether the skin above the umbilicus is loose. If not, and it is only loose below the umbilicus, limited abdominoplasty should work well. If the upper skin is loose, the umbilicus may have to move down in order to tighten both the upper and lower abdominal skin. In my practice, most patients like this would prefer standard abdominoplasty, leaving the umbilicus at its prior location.
I like the other suggestions to mark the potential lower position and look carefully at yourself in the mirror. Best wishes.