I Love my Belly Button. Is There a Way to Have a Tummy Tuck and Keep Mine?

Question

I lost over 60 lbs 10 years ago and am considering a Mommy Makeover, though I do not have kids. I'm 5'5" and 125.

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

It is usually necessary to make an incision around the umbilicus during a tummy tuck.  The exceptions are the Hybrid tummy tuck, where there is no necessity for a belly button incision, and some endoscopic techniques.

	It is important to see what style your prospective surgeon has in dealing with belly buttons.  There is considerable attention to detail in reconstructing a belly button properly.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

The conventional abdominoplasty leaves the navel attached to the abdominal wall and reestablishes it through the abdominal wall as part of the operation. It should look close to, but no exactly like yours preoperatively.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

When performing a fummy tuck you will keep the same belly button (umbilicus) with a full tummy tuck. However it will exit the skin in a new location (button hole). A mini tummy tuck will tend to leave the belly button untouched. A midi tummy tuck or fusion between the two may "float" your existing belly button down to a new location. See the linked video for a description and before/after photos.

Frank Agullo, MD · Answer

You will keep your belly button after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. The skin is moved but your umbilicus stays in place.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Many people have a hard time picturing exactly what happens with a tummy tuck, but it is your same one, in the same place. However, because it is separated from the skin that surrounds it, and then brought out through a new opening, it can look different. This is where the finesse comes in, as there are specific things that can be done to make it look natural and attractive.

George Marosan, MD · Answer

In a tummy tuck you always keep your belly button. I prefer to make my belly buttons hooded superiorly and notched inferiorly so not to show a circular scar. If you lost over 60 lbs, you most likely have loose skin around and above your belly button and this tends to be in a more horizontal orientatation. The umbilicus or belly button stays were it is attached to the abdominal wall, but the loose skin is removed. This necessitates an incision around the belly button. When I inset the umbilicus I often find that I have to "downsize" it to make it look good. A bad belly button with a scar around it that shows can make the abdominoplasty look less than ideal. Certainly you can see a lot of examples of average or ugly belly buttons on the internet.

Matthew Schulman, MD · Answer

It is a big misconception that you get a "new" belly button during a tummy tuck. In fact, it is your original belly button - just brought through a new opening.

Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD · Answer

When a full abdominoplasty is done, the belly button is left in the same position. An incision is made around it, leaving the belly button attached by its stalk to the fascia of your stomach. After the loose skin of your stomach has been trimmed off and before the final closure of the incision is done, the belly button is located and brought out through a new opening but at the same level as it was before. Differant suturing techniques can give you an "outie, an innie" a belly button flush with the skin surface or a hooded belly button, so whatever your belly button looks like now it should look like after. See a board certified plastic surgeon and review their work.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

When a tummy tuck is performed, the umbilicus is not removed it is acutally free formt he surrounding tissue and then re-inset once the skin is pulled down.

Victor M. Perez, MD, FACS · Answer

As you can see in all the answers you will continue to have the same umbilicus after the surgery, however the way the "new belly bottom" is inset is very important, because you should be able to cover your lower abdominal scar with your underwear, the umbilicus will be visible if you decide to wear 2 pieces bikini or tank tops. When consulting your surgeon you need to ask for pictures of belly bottoms after abdominoplasty if they do not provide several of them, it probably means they do not pay enough attention to this important part of this procedure and you should see another surgeon. Good luck

I Love my Belly Button. Is There a Way to Have a Tummy Tuck and Keep Mine?

Answers (19)

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