Tummy Tuck or Belly Button Surgery?

We can of course only make general comments without examining you. Belly button surgery (umbilicoplasty) is not commonly done, and any improvement would be limited to the belly button itself; it doesn't work to try and tighten skin around it. A full tummy tuck would include improving the belly button, as well as removing stretch marks, but you would need to be seen in order to determine if that is a good option.

A tummy tuck is the only thing that can remove the loose skin and stretch marks around your umbilicus.  Unfortunately you don't have near enough extra skin to do this procedure.  And no lasers have shown to have any significant improvement of this issue as well.  Uuugh

Thank you for your question.  Belly Button surgery or umbilicoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that repairs your belly button, to improve the appearance.  It only affects that area so if you are concerned about loose skin anywhere else this will not be targeted.  You would need a full examination to ensure you are fully aware of the procedure outcome. Just looking at your picture it doesn't appear that you would have enough skin laxity for a full tummy tuck.  All The Best 

Belly Button surgery (umbilicoplasty) by itself only takes care of stretch marks and loose skin in the immediate area (few inches) of the belly button.

Our office specializes in belly button repairs. One option is laser tightening. A surgical option is a concentric umbilicoplasty to correct the redundant skin. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

At the risk of sounding overly critical, it looks as if your belly button is very wide which is an indication that your muscles are separated and/or you may have an umbilical hernia. This is combination with your description of loose skin and stretch marks makes you a decent candidate for a tummy tuck. However, it is difficult to tell from the picture if you would do well with a midi/marriage or full abdominoplasty. Meet with 2 or 3 surgeons to determine the best option for you.

From your frontal view, you seem to be a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. You're thin, with very little excess fat. As you mentioned, though, you have loose skin, stretch marks, and an abnormally-shaped belly button. In addition, there's a visible gap between your midline abdominal wall muscles, which probably causes a bulge which is visible on your lateral view.
An abdominoplasty incision would be designed low, within the bikini line - you would also have an incision around the belly button. The midline abdominal wall muscles would undergo a plication (tightening) and all of the loose skin would be removed. The belly button would also be reshaped.
As I stated earlier, you're a very good candidate for a tummy tuck. You would benefit from consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck.

I have never seen a good result from excising skin only from around the umbilicus.  They tend to spread and distort the umbilicus.  If loose skin bothers you the only thing that would probably accomplish your goal is a tummy tuck. But of course an exam is in order.

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. A bellybutton surgery can change the shape of the bellybutton but does little to the extra skin around the bellybutton itself. A mini tummy tuck can read/write the skin of your abdomen and the area around your belly button. This is often the best option for patients who have some extra skin, especially in the upper abdomen but do not require a full tummy tuck. Your best bet is to work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience in abdominoplasty, liposuction, umbilicoplasty, and body contouring techniques.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:

Dear Self houston,
I would be hesitant in recommending anything until I could examine you. On the frontal view you APPEAR to have had surgery on your belly button; there appears to be a scar around and a scar at its 6 o'clock position. Also, you appear to have a vertical scar along your right side (junction between the upper and lower quadrants). I would like to know more about your medical surgical / history?
Before recommending a tummy tuck - you would need to complete your family. There is no sense in going through this operation and then undoing it with a subsequent pregnancy.
Another factor to consider is skin laxity. To me, it does not appear as though you have a major laxity of skin. Although a tummy tuck in you would repair the muscles, and could re-create a nice, "inny" belly button is is also likely to leave you with a short vertical scar of where your belly button USED to come out before the skin was pulled out. With low hip underwear like the kind you are wearing, with hip hugging jeans and with less skin laxity (IE no real pooch), we place our transverse scars lower and cannot always remove the skin which USED to be around the belly button. The result is a short vertical scar.
I hope this answered your question.