Worried About Belly Button After Mini Tummy Tuck

Betty,
Don't worry. You are only two weeks after surgery. Your skin is very tight and also very swollen. This will distort your belly button to some degree. It is unclear from your question whether there is an incision around your belly button. If you had a "mini tummy tuck," then you should only have an incision at your panty line. In either case, however, you will be very surprised how much the skin will relax and appear more natural after several weeks to months. I hope this is helpful.

You surgeon has given you good advice.  The appearance of your umbilicus will definitely change over the coming weeks to months.  This is due to the stretching of skin and resolution of edema.  Be patient!

You ask a very common question.Without question, the skin after tummy tucks relaxes. It can take some time and two weeks is still extremely soon after surgery in terms of healing time. Also, remember that there is still considerable swelling underneath the skin that you might not even realize. This swelling also makes things "tighter" but as this resolves the tissues loosen. At three months post op you should have a better idea of the result. Have patience and good luck.BRK

One of the advantages of a mini
abdominoplasty is the absence of peri umbilical scars.  In an effort to avoid these scars
compromises are sometimes made. 
Theses may include not tightening the upper abdominal muscles or
removing excess upper abdominal skin.

In the early post-operative period
this can result in a transition zone between the tight lower abdomen and
relatively lax upper abdomen.  This
transition occurs at the point where the umbilicus is fixed to the skin and
this is why distortion occurs in this area.

The vertically oriented line of the
umbilicus with adjacent folds is the type of distortion that would be expected
under these circumstances.  This is
an entirely normal phenomena and should improve with time as the lower
abdominal skin relaxes.  In some
cases remodeling can be facilitated with the use of stents and modified
dressings.

It’s still very early in the
post-operative course and remodeling will probably
occur.  Be patient and make sure
you discuss the issue with your surgeon.

It is very common for the belly button to get stretched during a mini-tummy tuck.  This results in vertical orientation of the belly button.  This will gradually settle with time as the lower abdominal skin loosens up.  Also, a vertically oriented navel is meant to be more attractive than a round or horizonatl navel.

At two weeks out from surgery, it is too early to tell what your final result will evolve into...I am sure your surgeon prepared you for the changes you will see immediately after surgery and what to expect in the coming 3-6 months and even beyond as most scars are fully healed at 12 months. Although tough to swallow, time is sometimes the best medicine...keep up with your surgeon's recommedations as he/she has the best view or vantage point to monitor your progress.
Good Luck!
Dr. C

Frequently the belly button is not relocated during a mini-tummy tuck; rather some of the skin below it is removed and the belly button itself becomes stretched. During a full tummy tuck, an incision is made around the belly button and it actually gets relocated. The surgeon has much more control of the ultimate shape during this inset process and the "slit-like" appearance is rare.

In a mini tummy tuck the skin is stretched and the muscle is tightened. This has the effect of making the base of the belly button narrow but gathering the overlying skin creating the appearance you describe. The only alternative is to redrape or eliminate the redundant skin by doing a full tummy tuck. It may be possible that your skin relaxes. Others find the use of the "marble trick" (taping a marble inside the belly button) to be useful but this really tends to work better in a full tummy tuck patient.

Congratulations on your surgery! I know it's hard to not worry when you see contour irregularities but you are very early in your recovery and more time is needed. Continue to follow your surgeon's instructions. You should see improvement over the course of the next few months as healing continues and tissues settle.

Hi BettyThanks for your question and sorry you've been having this concern.Two weeks is quite early in the post-op period, so your concerns may be just due to swelling. That said whether the belly button will improve will depend on what technique was used for the procedure and your PS can reassure you about that. So pls follow his or her instructions during this healing period.I hope this helps.....