Belly button revision. Is there any way to make this belly button look better? (Photo)

Question

Im 11 months post op and very unhappy with my bellybutton after tummy tuck. Its too small, formed a thick scar, stiches were not hidden well on inside and i cant wash and dry it well because its too small. Dr thinks its fine but willing to revise. And your professional opinion is there any way to make this bellybutton look better, more real, more natural without making it too big at this point.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Naked surgeon:   Belly Button surgery and correction

Dear Body Builder

What is an umbilicoplasty?

An umbilicoplasty is correcting a belly button after abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck.  This involves reshaping the belly button to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Umbilicoplasty: may also refer to reshaping the existing belly button to improve its appearance. Umbilical hernia repair: If you have a hernia, it may need to be repaired during the procedure.

FAQs; frequently asked questions about umbilicoplasty

Who is a candidate for umbilicoplasty?

Candidates for umbilicoplasty are individuals who are unhappy with the appearance of their belly button due to factors such as excess skin, scarring, asymmetry, or protrusion.

What is the recovery:?

Recovery time will vary depending on the extent of the surgery and individual healing abilities. You will need to follow post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon, which may include wearing a compression garment and avoiding strenuous activities.

How much does it cost?

The cost of belly button correction as part of abdominoplasty is included in the cost. Revision or correction cost varies depending on factors such as the   surgeon's expertise, geographic location, surgical facility fees, anesthesia and the extent. of the procedure. On average, the cost can range from $2,000 to $5,000 dollars.

Insurance coverage?

Generally, cosmetic procedures like belly button correction are not covered by insurance unless there is a medical necessity, such as repairing a hernia.

Will there be visible scarring?

Incisions are typically made around the belly button, so scarring may be present. However, I will sew the edge in toward the deeper fascia which usually will hide most of the new incision.

How long does the procedure take?

This can vary but for a simple revision in the office with local anesthesia, this will generally take 1-1.5 hours.

When will I see the final results? As with most surgery, the incision is healed in the first week, the tissue will soften up over 4-6 months and any redness generally fade over 12 months.

Surgical Options: Depending on the specific issues with your belly button, the surgeon may recommend one of several techniques:

There are several techniques used in umbilicoplasty, including:

Hooding correction: Addressing excess skin around the belly button.

Reduction: Decreasing the size of the belly button.

Flattening: Creating a flatter appearance of the belly button.

Symmetry correction: Balancing the appearance of asymmetrical belly buttons.

Reshaping: Altering the shape of the belly button, such as converting an "outie" to an "Innie."

Revision of scar tissue: If you have scarring around the belly button from a previous 	surgery, it will need to be removed and start fresh.

Incisions are typically made around the belly button, so scarring may be present. However, I will sew the edge in toward the deeper fascia which usually will hide most of the new incision.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented  scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve  the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture.  Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.
 
Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear bodybuilder2017,
I understand your concern. However, without a proper assessment, it would be difficult to determine what went wrong. It is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for further assessment or ask for a second opinion. Only after a thorough examination, you can get proper recommendations and advice.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

Dear bodybuilder2017, thanks for sharing your concers, as my profesional opinion yes we can do a revision of your belly buttom to provide it with a better shape. Make sure you go on consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Hope this helps and best of lucks. Dr. Luis Mejia.

Belly button revision. Is there any way to make this belly button look better? (Photo)

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