I recently had a tummy tuck when, rather than separating my belly button on the "skin side" and leaving it looking as before, my surgeon cut across the umbilical stalk and later reattached it about an inch below its' original location. This was done on account of limited tissue mobility and I'm wondering what that means. Does that mean poor skin elasticity?? Is this a common surgical decision during a tummy tuck?
June 18, 2015
Answer: How common is it to cut across the umbilical stalk during a full Tummy tuck? 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?
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June 18, 2015
Answer: How common is it to cut across the umbilical stalk during a full Tummy tuck? 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?
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June 17, 2015
Answer: How common is it to cut across the umbilical stalk during a full Tummy tuck? 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
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June 17, 2015
Answer: How common is it to cut across the umbilical stalk during a full Tummy tuck? 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
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