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: What is the best technique for recreating the belly button during a tummy tuck? Thank you for your question. You are right, a belly button can be a give away of previous surgery. We all strive to recreate a normal looking belly button and this depends on technique used, patient's ability to heal (infection, partial necrosis, scarring ability). I prefer to use an upside down lazy "V" or chevron incision to bring out the BB. This creates superior hooding and the lower abdominal flap I create is brought inside the BB to not end up with a "Target" sign. See web reference below.
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Answer: What is the best technique for recreating the belly button during a tummy tuck? Thank you for your question. You are right, a belly button can be a give away of previous surgery. We all strive to recreate a normal looking belly button and this depends on technique used, patient's ability to heal (infection, partial necrosis, scarring ability). I prefer to use an upside down lazy "V" or chevron incision to bring out the BB. This creates superior hooding and the lower abdominal flap I create is brought inside the BB to not end up with a "Target" sign. See web reference below.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
March 26, 2017
Answer: Belly button options abound as do the incisions used to allow the belly button to be inset but as you appreciated, the scars around the belly button are a dead giveaway. If your belly button isn't attractive, or deep, you may consider giving up your belly button and having one reconstructed later. This produces a inverted V shaped shallow belly button that is not surrounded by a scar.
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March 26, 2017
Answer: Belly button options abound as do the incisions used to allow the belly button to be inset but as you appreciated, the scars around the belly button are a dead giveaway. If your belly button isn't attractive, or deep, you may consider giving up your belly button and having one reconstructed later. This produces a inverted V shaped shallow belly button that is not surrounded by a scar.
Helpful
March 27, 2017
Answer: Tummy tuck and belly button Great question and you are right: the belly button is important since it shows more often. A couple general rules that I follow: not too big, natural shape, and an "innie" is preferred. Sometimes if there is a hernia, revision surgery, or other issues, the belly button itself may not look as natural. If you have a normal one that's an "innie" now, it should stay that way and look great after TT.
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March 27, 2017
Answer: Tummy tuck and belly button Great question and you are right: the belly button is important since it shows more often. A couple general rules that I follow: not too big, natural shape, and an "innie" is preferred. Sometimes if there is a hernia, revision surgery, or other issues, the belly button itself may not look as natural. If you have a normal one that's an "innie" now, it should stay that way and look great after TT.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Belly button There are many techniques for
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Answer: Belly button There are many techniques for
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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
