Abdominoplasty, or a tummy tuck, is a cosmetic surgery procedure designed to tighten and tone the abdomen, by removing excess skin and strengthening the abdominal muscles. Many women pursue this procedure after significant weight loss or post-pregnancy, which is why it is commonly a component of a ‘mommy makeover.’ Regardless of your reason for choosing to undergo a tummy tuck, before going forward with this procedure, it is important to be aware of what it entails.
While most women are aware that a tummy tuck will leave a scar as a result of the long, horizontal incision required, many patients do not realize that abdominoplasty also impacts the belly button and may even change its appearance.
In order to sufficiently tighten the abdominal skin both above and below the naval, it must be pulled taut during the procedure. To do this, your surgeon must make a small incision around the belly button, in order to pull the rest of the skin down. This enables the surgeon to ensure that the abdominal profile is flat, but requires that the skin surrounding the umbilicus be removed and repositioned downward. The new skin overlying the belly button will have an opening created and the naval brought out through this new opening.
This may sound concerning, but a skilled and experienced surgeon will expertly craft the belly button, ensuring that it appears natural, and in many cases, better than it did prior to the procedure. It is important to be aware that the incision made around the belly button may result in scarring. Over time, however, the scars will usually fade as your belly button heals.
If you are concerned about a tummy tuck’s impact on your belly button and have minimal loose skin above your belly button, you may be a suitable candidate for a mini tummy tuck, a procedure which targets the lower abdomen only. As a result, the belly button is unaffected by this procedure. Some patients will opt for a mini abdominoplasty as it effectively removes a “pooch” from the lower belly.
Any excess skin or muscle separation above the belly button, however, will not be repaired, so a mini tummy tuck is not suitable for everyone. Another tummy tuck option that doesn’t affect the belly button is the floating abdominoplasty (FAB tummy tuck). This procedure is like a mini tummy tuck, but it also allows for tightening of any muscle separation above the belly button.
When preparing for a tummy tuck and determining which procedure is best for you, it is advisable to review your surgeon’s before and after gallery to see how the belly button is affected. In most cases, you will find that belly buttons that are relocated during tummy tucks appear smaller and more refined post-operatively as surgeons work carefully to ensure that the modified naval suits the other changes made to the stomach.To learn more about this procedure and whether a mini, FAB, or full tummy tuck is right for you, we welcome you to contact our clinic to schedule a consultation with one of our board certified plastic surgeons who will listen to your concerns and help you determine the best course of action to meet your aesthetic goals.
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