Belly Button Revision After Tummy Tuck

Question

I had a full tummy tuck w/ muscle repair, hernia repair and flank lipo 3 months ago. I am dissatisfied with my belly button. There isn't a hole, it looks like a piece of flat skin. Picture attached. Can I get a belly button revision after getting a tummy tuck? I am happy with my results otherwise. Thank you!

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

I would recommend waiting until a year mark and fully allow the abdomen to heal before embarking on a belly button revision.  You plastic surgeon would be the best one to attempt the belly button revision unless you are reluctant to go back.  In addition, you need some mild skin laxity to be able to manipulate the umbilical region.

Kurtis Martin, MD · Answer

Yes, this can be revised and should look better. However, you are very thin so getting an excellent result will be difficult.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Belly button scar revision is an ideal treatment to improve the appearance of the belly button after childbirth or abdominoplasty. As a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, I often am asked to fix a belly button after abdominoplasty by another surgeon. In this case, a new belly button will have to be created to improve the marsupialization of the belly button.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It appears that your scars are still fresh and swelling may make your belly button appear full and flat. Consider using the "marble trick" prior to undergoing additional surgery.

Derby Sang Caputo, MD · Answer

You should discuss this with your surgeon. You can do something with your BB under local anesthesia. In your case I would try to make it a little smaller and more oval. Good Luck,

Don Fontana, MD · Answer

First allow the area to heal. Your TT looks terrific. Due to your slender frame, the  belly button does not have the hood that is normally seen. Wait  an additional 6 months and  I believe a revision  can be done with a good outcome.

Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

Even though 3 months seems like a long time after tummy tuck, in reality, the tissues are still just beginning to heal and soften, and swelling and thickness are beginning to resolve.  Thus, you will need to wait a sufficient time to allow the tissues to stabilize before making any judgments about things like scars or the belly button, or deciding whether or not a revision is necessary.  Once the tissues have stabilized a plan can be developed to make the belly button look more like you want it to.  At the present time, in addition to swelling and thickening of tissues, one of the the things I see affecting the belly button shape is a lack of fatty volume around the umbilicus, thereby giving a flat appearance with no depth, or umbilication.  Thus, one of the strategies may involve the addition of some strategically placed volume around the belly button, such as with fat transfer.  This will increase the depth, or umbilication, of the belly button, and create a more natural looking abdomen for you.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon, and once your tissues have stabilized you and (s)he can go over all of your options if you want or need some improvement in the appearance of your belly button.  Good luck.

Garrett A. Wirth, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Belly buttons can be revised after tummy tucks, but you are too early in the healing process to do this.  Allow the tissues to settle into the final position over the next several months and look to follow up with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.For more information, please go to my website at:WirthPlasticSurgery.com

Francesco Campanile, MD · Answer

Although it may feel like you are completely healed up after
just three months, the truth is that the body will still make adjustments over
the next few months as well. There are solutions that can help you improve the
look of your belly button, but I would recommend giving it a little more time
to see how your skin continues stretching before considering additional
procedures. By about six full months after surgery, you can schedule a
follow-up with your surgeon to address appearance concerns if you still feel
the look of your belly button has not improved by that time.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

The problem with your umbilicus is that there is no depth to it and the margins are everted instead of inverted. There should be some degree of hooding at the top and some depth to the stalk. Since you are early in the post operative recovery phase I would give this time to resolve. Six months down the road you could consider a revision.

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