As I look at photos of tummy tucks, I'm seeing several different belly button looks and placements to recreate the belly button. I find some of them unattractive and a dead give away. What are the different methods involved and how can you be sure your surgeon gets this important bit right?
Answer: Belly button There are many techniques for
Helpful
Answer: Belly button There are many techniques for
Helpful
May 14, 2018
Answer: Best technique for a "new" belly button. Patients are sometimes surprised that a tummy tuck does not make a new belly button. It just brings your belly button out through a new opening in the skin. Most preoperative belly buttons in TT patients have a horizontal orientation due to excess skin and a skin fold right at the belly button location. I try to make a slightly vertical oblong opening for the new belly button because it looks more youthful. I also trim the deep fat around the new opening to contour this area. Also, scar management is super important. A wide or dark scar around the most awesome belly button is a TT give away. I have my patients tape their scars until they are faded and also warn against sun exposure until the scar has faded. Also, the belly buttons that tend to be most difficult to deal with surgically are those in which the patient has had major weight loss (because the belly button stalk is really long and floppy) and belly buttons with previous scars or belly buttons associated with an umbilical hernia. Sometimes the little belly button is the hardest part of an abdominoplasty!
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
May 14, 2018
Answer: Best technique for a "new" belly button. Patients are sometimes surprised that a tummy tuck does not make a new belly button. It just brings your belly button out through a new opening in the skin. Most preoperative belly buttons in TT patients have a horizontal orientation due to excess skin and a skin fold right at the belly button location. I try to make a slightly vertical oblong opening for the new belly button because it looks more youthful. I also trim the deep fat around the new opening to contour this area. Also, scar management is super important. A wide or dark scar around the most awesome belly button is a TT give away. I have my patients tape their scars until they are faded and also warn against sun exposure until the scar has faded. Also, the belly buttons that tend to be most difficult to deal with surgically are those in which the patient has had major weight loss (because the belly button stalk is really long and floppy) and belly buttons with previous scars or belly buttons associated with an umbilical hernia. Sometimes the little belly button is the hardest part of an abdominoplasty!
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
