How can I correct the loose skin above my belly button? (Photo)

Question

I am 25 with two children and I’m pretty decent shape. I work out regularly however, I have loose skin above my belly button that is very unsightly. What would be the best procedure to correct this?

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

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank-you for your question and photos.
A mini tummy-tuck is an excellent option for individuals with an abdominal bulge due to muscle weakness, fat accumulation, and mild skin laxity. Whether or not you are a candidate is best determined by an in person consultation. With this procedure, liposuction is performed, the muscles are tightened, and a small amount of skin is removed. The procedure is termed "mini" due to the fact that less skin is removed and the scar is slightly shorted than that of a full tummy-tuck. As a mini tummy-tuck removes less skin than a full tummy-tuck, there is less tightening of the abdomen compared to a full tummy tuck. A mini tummy tuck does not tighten the skin above the umbilicus. The incision of both mini and full tummy-tuck are designed low in the bikini line to be hidden by even minimal clothing. A full tummy tuck will give a better result when:
There is more than just a little bit of looseness due pregnancies or weight loss. 2. Significant abdominal muscle weakness due to separation (diastasis) 3. Stretch marks in the lower abdomen. 4. Distortion of the belly-button 5. Significant fatty accumulation is the abdomen requiring more liposuction.
The incision for a full tummy tuck is slightly longer than that of a mini, but the abdomen is much tighter. Mini tummy tuck is an excellent option for candidates who meet these criteria. For the majority of women, a full tummy tuck is a better option. On this site, the patient satisfaction rate for a full tummy tuck is 97%. This compares to 89% for mini tummy-tucks. A mini tummy-tuck is an excellent option for an appropriate candidate. The difference in satisfaction rates most likely represents our attempts to stretch the indications and offer a mini-tummy tuck for individuals who would have done better with a full tummy tuck. I am currently using a new technology for skin tightening that is very promising for tightening the skin of the tummy, avoiding a scar altogether.  The J-plasma (Cool Helium Plasma)  is a minimally invasive technique combined with liposuction that is producing significant tightening.  I would recommend a consultation with a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic surgery and has extensive experience in body contouring.
I hope this information helps you and best of luck!
Andrew Lyos, MD, FACS

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

If you are looking for a non-surgical way to tighten your loose belly skin then a combination of ThermiTight and Laser resurfacing will give you some improvement. Make sure you see an experienced physician provider for an in-person consultation and evaluation and to minimize risks of complications. Best wishes.

Annika Crosby, MD · Answer

Looks like a mini/full tummy tuck would be of benefit and would be up to a plastic surgeon biut, if you are looking for a non invasive or minimally invasive procedure...then skin tightening with the Lutronic infini (RF with microneedling) would be a good option! We have one in our clinic and the lutronic infini would also treat the stretch marks as it is indicated.  Please, consult with an experienced provider who can best advise you.

Richard E. Moore, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and posting your pictures. A mini-tuck will likely give you the best result. Alternatively, you can consider one of the minimally invasive skin tightening devices such as J-Plasma or BodyTite. These energy based technologies can achieve a very significant tightening but it is less impressive where diffuse stretch marks are present.
I hope this was helpful - Dr. Moore.

How can I correct the loose skin above my belly button? (Photo)

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Answer: Loose skin around belly button

Answer: Loose skin around belly button

Answer: Skin laxity around belly button

Answer: Skin laxity around belly button

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How can I correct the loose skin above my belly button? (Photo)

Answers (6)

Answer: Loose skin around belly button

Answer: Loose skin around belly button

Answer: Skin laxity around belly button

Answer: Skin laxity around belly button

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Skin Tightening

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