Is it possible to make the circumference of my belly button smaller? (Photo)

Question

I am almost four months post op and I think my belly button is too big! I am a petite woman, I wish my surgeon could have made a smaller, delicate belly button! It looks too elongated and too open. It is about 1,5 cm long and 1,1 cm wide. Is it how is supposed to be? Can the circumference Of belly button be made smaller in the future?

Farah Naz Khan, MD · Answer

Remember that it takes a good year (and sometimes even longer) for your scars to mature and start fading. It can also take a good 6 months to a year for all the swelling to resolve. I would suggest you wait another 6-8 months to see your final shape and then discuss with your operating surgeon your options for a revision. You have a nice shaped belly button and the scar should fade with time! Good luck

Joshua Lampert, MD, FACS · Answer

The scar around your umbilicus still looks rather pink.  You are only 4 months out.  I would probably wait 8-12 months for most patients that desires revision of their umbilicus.  Scars soften and improve with time.  I would wait and see an ABPS board certified plastic surgeon to be appropriately evaluated.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

The circumference of your belly button is already borderline small.  It would onot be wise to make it smaller.

David Bogue, MD · Answer

This is a difficult correction and depends on the anatomy of what's left. If the belly button stalk is long enough, it may be possible to shorten the stalk which will narrow the width and pull in the belly button. However, there's no guarantee this would work. From your photos, it does not appear overly large and it may not bother you as time goes on.

Scott D. Holley, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your photo, I believe that the size of your belly button appears very appropriate.  I also think your surgeon did a very nice job in shaping/insetting your belly button.  It does appear that you have some thickening(hypertrophy) of the scar which is not unusual 4 months following surgery.  You may want to try a scar gel or silicone gel pads to reduce the scar visibility.

Peter Kreymerman, MD, FACS · Answer

This is a common question I'm asked by some patients who have had a previous abdominoplasty by another surgeon.  Everyone makes their umbilicus slightly different and I personally tend to make them smaller as patients often prefer this.  Revision options are possible.  Please discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon, but on review of your photo I do not see that your umbilicus is out of the realm of typical.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Making a natural looking bellybutton is perhaps the hardest part of a tummy tuckWhen I consult patients in how to look at before-and-after pictures of various surgeries, I tell them to specifically look at the belly button and the overall design of the incision as good parameters of how to judge results.Some people's bellybutton anatomy makes it very difficult to make it small during a tummy tuck.I tend to push for my bellybuttons to be on the smaller side.There are a few techniques to make the bellybutton smaller, but it is difficult to make dramatic changes once it's been created.Though you are not fully pleased with your outcome, I have certainly seen much, much worse bellybuttons than yours.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Vincent D. Lepore, MD (retired) · Answer

Your belly button scar is still quite red and immature and at four mouths post op it is still too early to consider a belly button revision.  However, from your photos, your belly button size looks to be within normal limits.  I would probably not recommend that you make it smaller.  Topical silicone scar sheeting or possibly hydrocortizone cream or injections would be a better option.  Best wishes.

Francis (Frank) William Rieger, MD (retired) · Answer

Thanks for the question.  As was pointed out in another consult, your scar is still red and will fade over the next several months.  By the way the size may shrink to some degree as the months progress.  I believe that it would be too small to reduce the size of the belly button.  Please be aware that you best source of an opinion about this should be your operating Plastic Surgeon.Best of luck to you!

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