I got a tummy tuck in March of 2021. I'm left with a bad belly button. What can be done? (Photo)

Dear labellavita04,
based on your photos, it looks like you would benefit from belly button revision surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Labellavita
From the Naked surgeon: Belly Button surgery and correction



What is an umbilicoplasty?

An umbilicoplasty is correcting a belly button after abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck. This involves reshaping the belly button to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Umbilicoplasty: may also refer to reshaping the existing belly button to improve its appearance. Umbilical hernia repair: If you have a hernia, it may need to be repaired during the procedure.



FAQs; frequently asked questions about umbilicoplasty



Who is a candidate for umbilicoplasty?

Candidates for umbilicoplasty are individuals who are unhappy with the appearance of their belly button due to factors such as excess skin, scarring, asymmetry, or protrusion.



What is the recovery:?

Recovery time will vary depending on the extent of the surgery and individual healing abilities. You will need to follow post-operative instructions provided by your surgeon, which may include wearing a compression garment and avoiding strenuous activities.





How much does it cost?

The cost of belly button correction as part of abdominoplasty is included in the cost. Revision or correction cost varies depending on factors such as the surgeon's expertise, geographic location, surgical facility fees, anesthesia and the extent. of the procedure. On average, the cost can range from $2,000 to $5,000 dollars.







Insurance coverage?

Generally, cosmetic procedures like belly button correction are not covered by insurance unless there is a medical necessity, such as repairing a hernia.



Will there be visible scarring?

Incisions are typically made around the belly button, so scarring may be present. However, I will sew the edge in toward the deeper fascia which usually will hide most of the new incision.



How long does the procedure take?

This can vary but for a simple revision in the office with local anesthesia, this will generally take 1-1.5 hours.



When will I see the final results? As with most surgery, the incision is healed in the first week, the tissue will soften up over 4-6 months and any redness generally fade over 12 months.









Surgical Options: Depending on the specific issues with your belly button, the surgeon may recommend one of several techniques:

There are several techniques used in umbilicoplasty, including:

Hooding correction: Addressing excess skin around the belly button.

Reduction: Decreasing the size of the belly button.

Flattening: Creating a flatter appearance of the belly button.

Symmetry correction: Balancing the appearance of asymmetrical belly buttons.

Reshaping: Altering the shape of the belly button, such as converting an "outie" to an "Innie."

Revision of scar tissue: If you have scarring around the belly button from a previous surgery, it will need to be removed and start fresh.



Incisions are typically made around the belly button, so scarring may be present. However, I will sew the edge in toward the deeper fascia which usually will hide most of the new incision.

Our office has many different treatments for scars depending on the depth of atrophy or hypertrophy. Scars require a combination approach using our HI DEF protocol which uses a combination of lasers, topical scar modulation, and RF treatments to pixelate scars, improve contour, reduce hyperpigmentation, and improve the visibility of the scars so that they are no longer visible in ambient light. Everyone has a unique pattern of scarring and we employ our HIDEF technique to improve texture, color, contour, and topography. We often use a combination of treatments that begin with a careful examination to examine the micro texturing of the acne scars. Atrophic scars and indented scars can benefit from injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Sculptra, and Restylane with or without subcision to remove tethered scars and atrophic depression. Hyper-redness in scars can be improved with V beam laser, Excel V, BBL, IPL, and Venus RF to improve the redness and reduce the visibility of deep scars. Fractional Thulium laser and clear & brilliant can also reduce the inflammation and redness of the scar when combined with topical therapy. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel, erbium, and CO2 laser can be combined with radio frequency and also fractional RF to improve textual issues and microtopography. Subcision and TCA cross are also used for deep ice pick scars and narrow valley scars in order to improve the micro texture. Above all, our combination approach with our clinical nurses and board-certified plastic surgeons can improve the quality of your skin by using at home Melarase creams combined with PRP treatments in our office to improve your skin quality and tone. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with an experienced team of experts in order to reduce your scarring.

Finally, hyperpigmentation of scars can be improved with at-home Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads to help reduce active PIH and melanin deposition.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon