Tummy tuck vertical incision to remove old belly button? (Photo)

Usually there is enough skin to remove the old bellybutton keyhole although sometimes it is tight and you have to recovery for 1 week not fully straight and walking a bit bent over. Do you have prior scarring or surgery that would limit the skin stretch?

Thank you for your questions and photos. From your photos, it appears that you would have enough skin and are good candidate for a tummy tuck (scar below bikini line) with 360 liposuction. A tummy tuck will address excess skin & repair of the abdominal muscle. The abdominal wall can be weakened after pregnancy and (or) significant weight gain & loss. By repairing the muscle, not only does the appearance of your abdominal area improve, but your core strength as well. The repair of the muscle will cinch your waist like an inner corset, lift your pubic mons area and accentuate your curves. Liposuction will remove excess fat from unwanted areas with some skin retraction. Your expectations and health will dictate the best procedure(s) for you. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals. Best of luck!

Dhaval Patel MD
Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

South Barrington
Oakbrook Terrace
Orland Park

Hi Firstkitty,

Thank you for your question regarding whether you should undergo a tummy tuck with a vertical incision to remove your old belly button. Thank you for your history and your pictures. The main purpose of a tummy tuck is to fix the abdomen. I would ask you specifically what bothers you about your abdomen. Once you have an objective idea of areas you want to address, then your tummy tuck can be individualized or personalized for your maximum benefit. Also, why are you looking to remove your old belly button? In analyzing your pictures, you have mild to moderate abdominal skin excess, mild to moderate abdominal fat, and moderate rectus abdominis weakness, especially below the belly button. Also, you have excess skin and fat on your lateral torso (from under the bra to the top of your hips).

Why not just do a standard horizontal tummy tuck? This would include an incision low in the groin and higher over the hips. Tissue dissection would be done to the sternum, and the rectus abdominis muscle would be repaired and plicated. Your excess abdominal skin would be pulled flat. Most plastic surgeons would agree that a horizontal tummy tuck would achieve the best results for your tummy.

You do not have much vertical excess of your abdomen. Most plastic surgeons would not suggest a vertical abdominoplasty. The vertical tummy tuck leaves a highly visual scar and is very difficult to conceal. Most plastic surgeons would agree that much more skin can be eliminated with your horizontal tummy tuck compared to the vertical incision you are describing.

Another alternative for your central abdomen (especially for the skin and fat on your side, which hangs from just below the bra strap to the top of the hips) is called an hourglassing procedure. Some plastic surgeons call the hourglassing procedure a vertical torsoplasty. During the hourglassing or vertical torsoplasty procedure, an incision is made from underneath your armpit (or in your case just underneath the bra) and is extended to the hip. During the vertical torsoplasty, a large ellipse of skin and fat is removed from your sides. The vertical torsoplasty does several things. The procedure eliminates excess skin and fat from your sides. The vertical torsoplasty pulls the tummy laterally and flattens the abdomen. Also, the vertical torsoplasty creates an hourglass body shape. The only thing the vertical torsoplasty or hourglassing procedure does not accomplish is the tightening of the rectus abdominis muscle. Most plastic surgeons would agree that muscle plication is a very important part of your reconstruction.

Therefore, most plastic surgeons would suggest a horizontal abdominoplasty with muscle repair. If you have already had the horizontal abdominoplasty with muscle repair, then most plastic surgeons would suggest the vertical torsoplasty with an incision just underneath your bra strap to the top of your hips.

I hope I have answered your questions regarding a vertical incision tummy tuck to remove an old belly button. Good luck.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen