Is It Possible to Do a TT Revision by Refloating the Umbilicus if It Was Floated in the First Surgery?

         The float procedure inherently decreases the distance between the belly button and the pubic area and the transverse scar.   Thus, a refloat is usually a very poor idea.  However, without an exam, it is not possible to know.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tucks and tummy tuck revisions each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.

Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

The short answer is yes a secondary abdominoplasty can be done by refloating the umbilicus but there is a limit to how much more the skin can be tightened because your umbilicus will become unnaturally low in position.  If a secondary abdominoplasty is tried where maximal skin is removed  and the umbilicus is left in place (so now there is a circumferential scar around the umbilicus) there is a good chance that the umbilicus will not survive because of poor circulation. It may be best to leave it alone and live with the redundant skin. Make sure you consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon if you do wish to proceed.

can be done but your belly button will be lower, much lower and would best be excised and you can then consider a belly button reconstruction later.  Are you willing to do this to allow yourself the maximal removal of skin?

Dear bbredo,

it is difficult to answer without a picture.

yes you can have a revision. It would be best if you could obtain the operative report of the first surgery though just so the next surgeon can read all the details.

sometimes just liposuction might improve the abdomen and flanks contouring, which is a quicker and simpler recovery.

but again this can only be determined at the time of the consultation with a BC Plastic Surgeon who will be able to assess the amount of subcutaneous fatty deposits versus skin laxity.

good luck,

Florence Mussat

312-751-9000

The biggest problem with refloating the umbilicus is having it too low.  If have successfully converted patients from an umblical float to a standard abdominoplasty.  The risk is some ischemic necrosis of the umbilicus itself but in my experience it has been minimal and worth the risk for the vastly improved abdominal contour.  

You can revise the TT and re-float the BB, however the risk is such that the BB cound 'float' too low in an effort to reduce the upper abdominal laxity. The BB looks right in one location only, in line with the hip. If the skin is lax above, the BB should stay put and the skin moved down around it. Umbilical stenosis is actually the lessor risk to umbilical loss. With a long wait, three to six months, the BB can survive the revision and yes we have done it. Risk is simply that, and must be kept in relationship to the potential gains.