How do I get rid of the skin or fat below my belly button? (Photo)

Question

I’m in my early 30’s, 5’10”, 133 lbs. I have either loose skin or fat under my belly button.,. I have had 3 children & had a full hysterectomy as well (not sure if that’s related). How can I get rid of this spot under my belly button? I would prefer something noninvasive but will consider other options as well.

Andrew Ray, DO · Answer

Non surgical options that will improve your skin as it is now to a degree that is worth the money do not exist. Unfortunately with the laxity that developed in your lower abdomen the microneedling etc wont improve the quality to a point that it is worth the cost. A minimal surgical alternative would be considering a mini tummy tuck with a small amount of liposuction and skin tightening. This means you would have a small scar below your underwear line but no scar around your belly button. This is a type of surgery that is only good for about 10% of patients, but for those like you where the majority of the problem is below the belly button it is a wonderful option.

The link below is for a regular tummy tuck, but if you ever care for a consult with someone the differences and examples can be discussed with you.

The link below is for a regular tummy tuck, but if you ever care for a consult with someone the differences and examples can be discussed with you.

Gregory Lakin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. To address loose skin and fat below the belly button, especially after multiple pregnancies and a hysterectomy, a combination of treatments may be necessary. Starting with non-invasive options like RF treatments such as Morpheus can help improve skin tone and firmness without surgery if you have very mild skin laxity. If you're considering a surgical option, you can opt for a tummy tuck combined with liposuction. This procedure involves tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin and fat. While it does require recovery time, a tummy tuck is typically the most effective treatment for significant loose skin below the belly button.

Ryan Rebowe, MD · Answer

The only way to reliably get the skin below the umbilicus taken care of in your situation would be an abdominoplasty. After 3 children, the elastic component of the skin is more or less gone. While some will try and sell you minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments, it is likely that you will be highly disappointed. While committing to an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) can be a big mental jump, it really is an incredible tool for body shaping and improving fit in clothes.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Here are a few options that you might consider:

1. **Exercise**: Regular physical activity, especially strength training and cardio, can help burn fat and tone muscles in your body, including the abdominal area. Exercises like planks, sit-ups, and leg lifts can target your lower abdominal muscles.

2. **Healthy Diet**: Consuming a balanced diet rich in lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help lose overall body fat. Avoiding processed foods, sugars and saturated fats can also be beneficial.

3. **Hydration**: Drinking plenty of water can help with digestion and metabolism, which can aid in weight loss.

4. **Non-Invasive Procedures**: There are several non-invasive procedures that can help reduce fat and tighten skin. These include CoolSculpting, which freezes fat cells to eliminate them, and radiofrequency treatments, which can help stimulate collagen production to tighten skin.

5. **Surgical Options**: If non-invasive methods don't provide the desired results, surgical options such as a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or liposuction can be considered. However, these procedures come with more risks and longer recovery times.

6. **Consultation with a Professional**: It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional or a certified fitness trainer to get a personalized plan based on your health history and current physical condition.

Please note that having a full hysterectomy could have caused some changes in your body composition, and this might be contributing to the problem area you're noticing. It's always best to consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new fitness or diet regimen.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

An in person evaluation is best but if the fullness of the abdomen is from excess fat then liposuction should improve it.  However it may result is more skin laxity.  The best procedure would be a tummy tuck which would remove the excess fat and skin as well as correct abdominal wall laxity.  Many of the stretch marks will also be removed.  Obviously that is a more invasive option.

Bradley Hall, MD · Answer

This is a very common problem that I see with patients. After having children I suspect you have some diastasis of the lower abdominal wall (below the belly button) and that may be contributing to the lower abdominal bulge seen on the lateral image. From what I can see, I think it's likely that you have excess skin and fat in that region that would be best treated with a mini-abdominoplasty. More non invasive options I not think will sufficiently treat that area as the skin has already been stretched from pregnancy and I don't think the area would contract sufficiently with those options. Those options would also not remove any of the stretch marks. 
The advantages to having a mini-abdominoplasty in your situation are that they muscles can be repaired below the belly button, and excess skin (and some of the stretch marks) can be removed all with a well concealed incision that won't be visible in clothing. 
That procedure would require you to probably take a week off of work. The good news is that you won't have to hunch over for any period of time like you would following a standard full abdominoplasty, you'd be able to stand up straight and lay flat right away. I think that's the best option to get you a great result. If you were to try non invasive options I think it would honestly probably cost more also as you may not be happy with one treatment and try multiple treatments that would cost more than a mini abdominoplasty and still wouldn't give you as good of a result

Lisa Vuich, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question, and this is a very common concern. The best procedures for this are considered "minimally invasive". My suggestion would be a procedure called BodyTite which combines radiofrequency skin tightening with targeted liposuction. There is no need for general anesthesia, it is all done with just local lidocaine infusion.

Daphney Gracia Antony, MBBS, DipDerm, MScSurg(Ed) · Answer

When it comes to non-invasive options, a combination of treatments gives satisfactory results. Injection lipolysis combined with one of the energy-based devices such as ultrasonic cavitation or coolsculpting can help get rid of fat. Multiple sessions over several weeks are needed to get significant results. Specifically in your case, adding on a few MNRF sessions can help with the stretch marks and laxity.

How do I get rid of the skin or fat below my belly button? (Photo)

Answers (9)

More Skin Tightening Questions

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS

Answers (9)

More Skin Tightening Questions

Best way to lift and tighten skin without fillers? (Photo)

What is best treatment for tightening facial skin post filler use?

Fixing botched liposuction - how can I tighten and smooth the skin? (Photo)

Best skin tightening treatments for body after 50 pound weight loss? (Photos)

Under eye wrinkles - no results after Ultherapy and Botox. What else could I try? (Photo)

How to fix loose skin from chin implant removal? (Photo)

WE SEND PRETTY EMAILS

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS