Natural Looking Belly Button After Tummy Tuck?

It is difficult to tell. The belly button will definitely change as it heals, but in my experience, the belly button tends to get a little smaller as time goes on (scar tissue). So if your belly button is very narrow right now, it may get narrower.
One little "trick" that helps to keep the belly button from getting too small as it heals, is to keep a marble in it (I know it sounds crazy, but it keeps it "splinted" open). Obviously, do not do this without checking with your doctor first!

Hello, and thank you for your question about how your belly button will heal after a tummy tuck. First, congratulations on reaching the early stages of recovery — at just two and a half weeks post-op, you are still very early in the healing process.

It’s completely normal for the belly button to look tight, small, and like a "coin slot" at this point. After a tummy tuck, the skin and tissues around the belly button are pulled tight and repositioned, which initially creates swelling and tension in the area. The belly button often looks very narrow, flat, or closed early on — but this almost always improves with time as the swelling resolves and the scar tissue around the belly button softens.

Most patients notice their belly button starts to look more natural around 8 to 12 weeks after surgery, although it can take up to 6 months or longer for it to fully relax, round out, and settle into a more natural appearance. Massaging the area gently (only if cleared by your surgeon) and keeping the skin hydrated can also help once your surgeon advises it’s safe to start.

If, after about 6 months to a year, your belly button still looks too tight, small, or distorted, revision options do exist. However, the vast majority of patients are happy with the final shape once full healing is complete.

Right now, patience is key. You are exactly where you should be at two and a half weeks, and things will continue to improve over the coming months.

Wishing you a smooth and beautiful recovery ahead!

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons; Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery; Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame)

Please continue following your surgeon’s healing guidelines closely, attend all follow-up visits, and give your body the time it needs. Belly buttons — just like the rest of your tummy tuck results — truly get better with time.

Tummy Tuck navels can be mae oblong, square, triangular, or even into a vertical slit. They can even be made to look "hooded". A study in the Plastic Surgery Journal revealed that the elliptically shaped umbilicus is the most preferred and natural looking.