Should Belly Button Look Like Hole After Tummy Tuck?

Question

Are new belly buttons after Tummy Tuck supposed to look like holes, or do they differ with amount of skin placed in the center of them?

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

The "hole" appearance is a function of several different technical aspects of the procedure.
Every plastic surgeon makes the incision differently and according to personal preference: Some use a round hole, others a vertical slit while others a horizontal slit. Some physicians use a C-V type incision while others use an inverted V.
Another important factor is the thickness of the fatty layer at the incision and if any De-fatting is performed.
Another issue is the healing of the scar. Sometimes a tight circular scar can make the hole appear more prominent. Occasionally steroid injections will help to soften the thick scar.
Lastly, if you do not like the final appearance, a scar revision can per performed. I would suggest waiting a minimum of 4 months before thinking about revision

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

During abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) the belly button is left in place while the skin around it is dissected free and removed during the procedure. So the inside of your belly button should look the same. Depending on how much skin is removed, the external portion of your belly button may look different. Good luck.

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

1. Type of scar -  A round scar will make the belly button look like a donut with a hole in the middle. I do not like this scar, but it works for other people. It can contract and get very tight.
2. Thickness of your abdominal skin flap - If the skin flap is thick and the skin has to be"sunk in " to reach the belly button
3. The belly button stalk is cut too short - Then the abdominal skin has to be "sunk in" to reach the belly button.
The center (what's inside of the scar) of the new belly button is supposed to be your "old" belly button, so it should look like a normal belly button.

Sirish Maddali, MD · Answer

After a tummy tuck, the belly button is repositioned in a new spot. In order to do that, we need to cut around the old one, tighten the abdomen skin, make a new hole for your belly-button to come out through, and then finally stitch it in place. As already mentioned, the technique to do this varies from surgeon to surgeon. In addition, the way you heal, wound infections, scar tissue, etc., all contribute to how you are going to eventually heal.
The new belly button will always look different from before the surgery. Before the surgery, the skin is loose and sagging above and below the bell -button. Now the skin is tight above and below, and attention is directed to the belly button since you can see it better. In general, it will always be an "inny" and you may see the scar around the edge of where your surgeon did the stitching.
You should not have any REAL holes, just a belly button. The belly-button may be deeper and longer than before, but that is normal. If the opening made at the time of surgery was too small, and the scar tightens as it heals, it can make the belly button too small in appearance. Wait for 6 months or more for the tissues to relax, and then consider a minor revision surgery. Good luck.

Nina S. Naidu, MD, FACS · Answer

However, it depends on how you're defining the "hole". In general, you should have an "inny" belly buttom after a tummy tuck, so if that's what you mean, it's normal. If you feel that the belly button is too small, or that it looks abnormal in some other way, this can be corrected at some point after surgery. I would recommend that you discuss this with your surgeon. Best wishes.

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

Even when the surgeon does the belly button the same way in all patients the belly button can still look different in each patient. There are certain patient factors that contribute to the final result. The healing that occurs, the tension around the belly button, the way a patienty scars ar just a few.
Yes, the belly button can look like a hole and it is probably due to tight scar tissue around the belly button. It can be improved with additional surgery.

Scott E. Kasden, MD, FACS · Answer

The navel after tumy tuck should look like a normal navel, only more youthful.  It should be an "inny"  There should be no holes, and every thing should be healed.
sek

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD · Answer

The depth and size of the tummy tuck hole at the location of the new belly button is quite variable. However, you do not mention if this hole was present immediately after surgery or presented weeks later as a "final" result. Certainly a small belly button can resemble a narrow hole as a planned result of surgery. But it can also result from circular scar contracture or from loss of the belly button from necrosis. You should discuss this with your surgeon.

Should Belly Button Look Like Hole After Tummy Tuck?

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