Bulging around belly button - how can this be improved without a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Question

I am a white, 36 year old female, never have had children. I had liposuction on my thighs and stomach 7 months ago. My thighs look good. My stomach looks ok. It is only slightly smaller than before, maybe half an inch in the waist. I have some bulging on top of my belly button area, which I assumed was excess fat and could be revised somewhat. I just had my final post op appointment today with my surgeon, and she told me that it is skin laxity and that, other than a tummy tuck, it is permanent. I was very strict with my faja. I wore it 24/7 for 2 months, then 12 hours a day for another month, to avoid any skin complications. My surgeon said Profound RF (deep microneedling with radio frequency) might help with the skin laxity, it might not. There is zero way to know. I never had bulging in my stomach area before getting liposuction. I absolutely do not want a tummy tuck, so that is out of the question. Do you have any advice for me at this point?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Further photos or an exam would be needed for the best recommendation.  Some possible options could be BodyTite, umbilicolplasty, or Morpheus8.  BodyTite uses RF technology both above and just below the surface to tighten the skin.  An umbilicoplasty would involve excision of the excess skin with an incision around the belly button.  Morpheus8 combines RF technology with microneedling to improve overall skin tone and texture. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you to see if you're a candidate.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear casshein,

it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. If you are considering treatment, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

It is impossible to give you good evaluation without in person consultation or series of photos. Area around BB is notorious for residual bulging after liposuction; it is difficult in some patients to "clean" that area due to fixation of BB to the deep muscle fascia. Once result is mature and swelling/scarring after liposuction has soften, liposuction with a small cannula can significantly reduce bulging. In some cases laxity and bulge may be result of hernia. Good luck.

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS · Answer

Actually, there is a way to know whether (insert any 'skin tightening' device name you like) will take care of your problem: pinch your skin into a roll until the rest of your belly skin is nice and tight. Then, relax your pinch so you can see how far apart your fingertips are from one another. Anything more than a quarter to half inch, and that's being generous, will be too much for the machine to 'tighten'. In other words, it would be a waste of time and money to consider doing any of that. Plain and simple, you need a tummy tuck. Your picture tells me everything I need to know about your skin laxity and functional excess. And no, there is no such thing as 'not having enough skin' for a tummy tuck.

Bulging around belly button - how can this be improved without a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Bulging around BB after liposuction

Answer: Bulging around BB after liposuction

Answer: Skin tightening fantasies

Answer: Skin tightening fantasies

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Bulging around belly button - how can this be improved without a tummy tuck? (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Bulging around BB after liposuction

Answer: Bulging around BB after liposuction

Answer: Skin tightening fantasies

Answer: Skin tightening fantasies

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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