How common is it to cut across the umbilical stalk during a full Tummy tuck?

There are 4 different categories of abdomens which can describe types of surgical interventions. THere are some cross overs and each does not represent an exclusive technique for that individual body type. Modfied abdominoplasty can be useful for patients who wish to minimize scarring around the umbilicus and have limited tissue which can be removed inferior to the umbilicus. The belly button is "floated" and inset lower depending on the patient anatomy.Recommendations for discussing your best option with your plastic surgeon.

Thanks for your question. There is always a risk of surgical accidents. The umbilical stalk should be preserved in order to reconstruct the neoumbilicus. Severing the stalk would be considered below the standard of care for this operation. Hope this helps,Dr. ResultsMiami, FL

If only minimal excision is need then cutting the umbilicus and floating it down can work well: no scars. There aren't that many people that are suitable. If you are then great. It does take some getting used to the new position. Only you will notice. No one else knows where your belly button used to be!

Dear aphrodite51The technique is commonly referred to as floating the umbilicus. The advantage is not having scars around the bellybutton. It is used in mini-tucks when there isn't adequate skin for a full tummy tuck. It is best in women with long torsos who have a high belly button to begin with.The disadvantage is that you cant have a revision full tuck without loosing the belly button for years. At this point, the more important question is are you happy with the result?

Thank you for your question. In the vast majority of cases a tummy tuck calls for an umbilical transposition, or cutting out of the belly button and recreating it at the end of the case in a similar position as before surgery.  There are surgeons who will transect, or "float," the belly button and reattach it to the abdominal wall instead.  The benefit is that there is not a scar around the belly button, and when repaired can look just as before.  The only caveat to this is that the amount of skin that needs to be removed can not be very much because once the skin is pulled downward, the belly button is carried with it, and may end up far too low on your abdomen.  Your belly button should be within a couple of centimeters above or below the top of your hipbones.  Hope this helps   

as the majority of the respondents have indicated.  It is an aesthetic decision based on your particular anatomy, both at the skin level and underneath.  Give yourself a chance to heal so that you can see the full results, and enjoy your new figure.

Cutting the umbilical stalk for a tummy tuck is referred to as ' floating the belly button' and generally performed if you only have a small amount of tissue to be resected below the umbilicus and your umbilicus is in a high position to start to accomodate moving it down on the abdominal flap. It is only rarely used because generally it does not address any of the upper abdomen and very difficult to tighten the muscle through this approach but it is performed. Hope you are happy with your result !

Hi,  I have found that only in an occasional case that this is the preferred approach.  Some surgeons are more comfortable in doing this separation.  So, to answer your question, it is used for certain cases and in your case, I would assume that it was the best way to handle your case.  However, one of the drawbacks is that the belly button now "drops" from its birth position and it can look low on the torso.  I do not find this attractive in my patients so I discuss the different options to any patient that I might be considering the floating belly button.  But in my practice, I use it very rarely.  I find the vertical line created by the belly button opening stretching downwardly  is more attractive than the lowered position of a belly button removed from its birth position.  I want to be clear.  This is MY opinion and approach.  Others differ.  You asked your question with regard to a full tummy tuck and not a minituck and that is the object of this comment.  Be open with your plastic surgeon.  Ask the advantages that he/she thought would be achieved in your cases by the approach used.

The umbilicus can be managed two different ways during abdominal body contouring.  The most common method is to make an incision around the stalk, leaving the umbo attached to the abdominal musculature.  The skin and soft tissue is then elevated, mobilized toward the pelvis, trimmed and tailored.  A new opening is then made to reinsert the belly button through the flap.  Some patients however, have changes to the abdominal wall with adipose deposits, muscle laxity, or even a diastasis, in the setting of only mild skin excess.  In these patients there is a more limited skin envelope, prohibiting the removal of all of the skin from the pubis to above the belly button.  Consequently, a variation of an abdominoplasty is performed, permitting tightening of the muscle, contouring of the soft tissue, with excision of a more limited amount of skin.  In these cases, the umbilical stalk is transected and transposed, usually only a short distance inferiorly, and then reattached to the muscle wall.  This allows for the restoration of a youthful abdominal contour without a scar around the belly button.  Usually the method to be used can be determined pre-operatively and discussed with candidates for surgery.  Hope this is helpful. Good luck with your continued recovery.

Thanks for your question. I usually float a patient's bully button when performing a mini-abdominoplasty. In these patients, they don't have enough skin removal for a conventional abdominoplasty. I recommend you discuss with your surgeon to clarify, limited tissue mobility. In my opinion, patients who are  anatomically good candidates for floating their bully button have a lot of distance between the lower portion of their belly button and the pubic bone. Essentially they are long waisted with a long torso. This pre-operative body set-up when coupled with excess abdominal skin below the bully button usually means I can lower the belly button while removing excess lower abdominal skin. Its very important when floating the belly button to avoid distorting the appearance of the abdomen by lowering the belly button excessively while removing excess abdominal skin.Therefore, the anatomic set up of the patient along with the amount of skin to be removed is essential to achieving the desired result.