Can I Stretch my Belly Button with Ear Gauge?

Question

I had a tummy tuck 2 years ago and was left with a tiny belly button. Its so small I could only use the stick of a Q-tip to clean it. I seen people stretch their little ear holes to these huge gaping holes and wondered if I could use the same technique to stretch my tiny belly button.

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Before I went the route of a do it yourself fix, I would call a plastic surgeon in your area as this might be improved with an umbilicoplasty. It might even be able to be improved under local anesthesia in the office.

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

The answer is yes, you can stretch it with foam ear plugs and even smaller gauges.  However, if it is too tight you may need surgical revision and steroid injection.

Jaime Perez, MD · Answer

Hello. Stretching out a small belly button is possible. Massage the area and use a marble as a gauge. If after this your belly button still looks unacceptable a revision may be done under local.

	Jaime Perez, MD
	Tummy Tuck Specialist
	Plastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

Stenotic belly buttons are usually from scarring. Stretching rarely helps in this situation and scar revisions employing z-plasties are usually more successful. Talk to your surgeon about this to see what he/she can offer you.

Douglas Hargrave, MD · Answer

Tiki,

	There are many nonsurgical ways to stretch your bellybutton.  The first question to answer is if this happened because of scar thickening.  If so, the stretching techniques are less effective.  This is something that your surgeon can determine.  The best first step would be to proceed from there.

	Best wishes, Douglas Hargrave ,M. D.

Can I Stretch my Belly Button with Ear Gauge?

Answers (9)