Why Does My New Belly Button Seems a Little Odd over a Month After Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Question

My new belly button seems to be healing well but I can't help but think this is not what it should look like even at this early date. It has no depth and pulls slightly to my right. Given how damaged it was by pregnancies, I did not expect perfection. Is this pretty typical of a healing belly button? (And yes, I am 99.9% thrilled with my results. My "before" photo is gruesome!)

Dana Goldberg, MD · Answer

Your surgeon has left enough skin around your belly button that your incision line is visible, and you can see two different types of tissue. Also, it's hard to tell whether your belly button is fixed to the muscle layer (which can help it look more sunken and natural).  

	 

	You can talk to your surgeon about revision under local anesthetic if you don't like how it looks after it heals, but give it 6-9 months because it may change a lot as it heals.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Umbilical design, incisions, and reconstruction is an area of intense concern to many plastic surgeons, and much has been written in our peer-reviewed literature regarding this topic. Many good designs and innovations have made this area one that can yield great results in most patients.

	The circular "bullseye" belly button incision is still quite common, and many surgeons utilize this with fair to great results. It's the "fair" results the rest of us are trying to eliminate with less-wide incisions, more creative incision patterns, and more precise closure techniques.

	The good news is that your circular scar is still immature, and can be expected to soften, fade, and decrease in visibility over time. Your surgeon put it in the middle where it belongs, but your pregnancies can (and probably did) distort position and exact midline position. Your muscle repair has helped this significantly, so slight sideways "pull" is both normal and not uncommon, as complete correction is not always possible.

	Your overall result is excellent, and your surgeon is to be congratulated, not criticized for the umbilical appearance, especially this early in your recovery. Revision is possible when the scar has completely matured (6-12 months), and avoiding sun exposure (including tanning beds) will keep your scar from turning permanently dark. Yes, your circular scar has a wider diameter than I would prefer in my own patients, but your skin/fat layer is relatively thin, and it's harder to create a nice deep umbilical "funnel" with a hidden scar in a patient with a thin fat layer and short distance from abdominal wall to skin surface.

	For surgeons trying to create a more hidden and beautiful umbilicus reconstruction with tummy tucks, there are techniques that can help them achieve these results and happier patients. But time and scar maturation makes most belly buttons turn out just fine, so be patient! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

You had a very over stretched abdominal wall with extra skin and multiple stretch marks.  If you had very little in the way of subcutaneous fat it is difficult to create the depth of the umbilicus.  I always pay particular attention to the umbilical size, shape and contour.  This is the part of the incision that can not be covered by the underwear or bathing suit bottom.  The biggest problem is that any result will be only as good as the material that the patient brings to the operating room table.  After you are well healed you may consider a revision of the umbilicus.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

Planning the way the belly button is inset is as important as planning the incision line during a tummy tuck. Some will look better than others, however your belly button is a bit turned out, and after everything is well healed after several months you just might benefit from a revision.

Thomas A. Narsete, MD (retired) · Answer

With only 1 month after surgery it is early to predict the final result. Give it a few months. Discuss this with your surgeon and decide if you want a revision. All the best

Why Does My New Belly Button Seems a Little Odd over a Month After Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Odd belly button after tummy tuck

Answer: Odd belly button after tummy tuck

Answer: Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

Answer: Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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Why Does My New Belly Button Seems a Little Odd over a Month After Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Odd belly button after tummy tuck

Answer: Odd belly button after tummy tuck

Answer: Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

Answer: Cosmetic Surgery is an Art and a Science

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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