Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Question

After my tummy tuck surgery I had no belly button. I look like a freak.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If you do hundreds of belly buttons and tummy tucks a year, you run into this issue due to previous hernia repair and umbilical devascularization.  Neoumbilicoplasty can be performed in a variety of ways.  For a full tummy tuck, the umbilicus must remain attached to the abdominal wall to maintain its blood supply so it is still there. There are a multitude of ways to create a belly button.  Every plastic surgeon will have a different skill set, but umbilicoplasty is fairly straightforward. Find a board certified plastic surgeon with who performs hundreds of tummy tucks and umbilicoplasties each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Deborah Sillins, MD · Answer

I would contact your surgeon asap. He might had forgotten to bring it out. If there was a blood supply issue he still wold have lade the foundation for a belly buttom

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  Unfortunately this is not normal and should be addressed with your surgeon.  If there was a concern about the umbilical blood supply it may be removed during the surgery but you should have been apprised of this risk.  Call your doctor, they are your best source of information and reassurance.

Lawrence Iteld, MD · Answer

Preservation and creation of a youthful, "innie" belly button is an essential part of a well performed tummy tuck. There are rare cases when the original belly button can not be preserved, such as a large hernia or inadequate blood supply. In these cases, a new belly button can be created using the abdominal skin with excellent cosmetic results. Please discuss your concerns with your original surgeon or seek a second opinion from a Board Certified Plastic a Surgeon in your area. Good luck.

Mathew A. Plant, MD, FRCSC · Answer

No, your belly button should not disappear after a tummy tuck. Typically it is brought out through a new opening in the skin, but it should always still be there. I'd suggest booking an appointment with your surgeon to be examined and have your questions answered. If you don't trust your own surgeon as a result of this, I would seek a second opinion from a board-certified plastic surgeon near you. Best of luck!

Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck? (Photo)

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Answer: Belly Button

Answer: Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck?

Answer: Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck?

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Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Belly Button

Answer: Belly Button

Answer: Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck?

Answer: Is your belly button suppose to disappear after a tummy tuck?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.