Told have to have belly button REMOVED completely with Tummy Tuck and umbilical hernia repair surgery. HELP!

Question

I'm scheduled to have an umbilical hernia repair and an abdominoplasty (TT) with flank lipo. However, my recent visit with PS, I was informed that the general surgeon would be doing hernia repair and bc of this the PS will need to remove my belly button entirely. I would not have a belly button. I'm frantic and want to know if that's necessary or can it be done to save my belly button. I had watched some surgeries on the same procedure with no removal of the belly button??? Concerned.

Gregory T. Lynam, MD · Answer

I agree that most of the time one can preserve the umbilicus. When I do not want to risk a poor hernia repair just to save the umbilicus then I make a new one it can look better then the original. Good Luck!

Don W. Griffin, MD · Answer

Sometimes the blood supply to the belly button is altered by the hernia causing there to be minimal blood supply to the belly button after the surgery. This can result in the belly button not living and creating an infection risk especially if you have mesh placed to repair the hernia. So, to answer your question, sometimes you don't have to remove the belly button, but other times, you do.Your surgeon who has examined you is the only one who can make the decision

Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS · Answer

Belly bitton removal is very rare. There may be problems with circulation due to the hernia. Discuss more with your plastic surgeon or consider a 2nd opinion.

Peter E. Johnson, MD · Answer

Tummy tuck procedures often involve a repair of an umbilical hernia with the repair of the diastasis. We do these procedures regularly without the need of a general surgeon and can always spare the natural umbilicus. Your concern is understood and might need a revisit.

Ronald A. Lohner, MD · Answer

Without photos and more specifics, this question is absolutely impossible to answer.  I have resected the umbilicus myself with a tummy tuck. I also have repaired it with modified and full abdominoplasty techniques.   Having been fully trained and boarded in general surgery as well as plastic surgery, I have performed tummy tucks along with hernia repairs my entire career.  In this situation, I can answer patient questions that relate to both procedures.  I would recommend that you either get your two surgeons to address your concerns or find one that can perform both for you. Best of luck

Anh Lee, MD, FACS · Answer

This is something you need to clarify with your PS because this is the person performing your surgery.  A belly button can be created and you should ask about that.

Kemil Issa, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Most of the time the umbilicus can be preserved but it depends to much with the size of the hernia, usually it can happens that during the surgery the PS or GS discovers that the hernia is to big and the risk of having umbilicus necrosis is higher because the blood flow would be not the same after the correction of the hernia. Because of this an umbilicus reconstruction should be done.Regards.

Robert T. Buchanan, MD (retired) · Answer

I have done quite a number of abdominoplasties with umbilical hernia repair and have never sacrificed the umbilicus. I usually do the hernia repair myself. However, even if the facility requires a general surgeon present, the plastic surgeon should be able to guide the general surgeon to where the belly button can be salvaged. I would, therefore, strongly seekingg another opinion.

Told have to have belly button REMOVED completely with Tummy Tuck and umbilical hernia repair surgery. HELP!

Answers (8)

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