Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Belly Button
This is how my Belly Button looked 3 days after my Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) with Lateral Thigh Lift plastic surgery. To me, my "Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button" appeared large, swollen and ugly. The eight stitches that held it in place protruded from the perimeter like ugly hairs or spider legs. My old "Innie" Belly Button seemed to no longer have a button (hole), but now had a narrow slit as if it were squeezed together from both sides. Fortunately I didn't have to look at it much because I kept it covered with a bandage per the doctors instructions. I only hoped that it would look better with time.
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| Picture of my
Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button 3 days after surgery. Scars, swelling and surgical drains are also shown. "Zoom In" for a really close-up view |
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Belly Button Before Tummy Tuck |
Belly Button The Day After Surgery |
Belly Button 3 Days After Tummy Tuck |
Belly Button 3 Months After Tummy Tuck |
When I first began researching Tummy Tuck operations I thought that the procedure the surgeon used was to remove the old Belly Button along with the sagging skin and somehow make a new Belly Button in it's place. Turns out, they simply cut a hole around the old one and reinstall it later. The can't remove the Belly Button because it is fused to the abdominal wall under the skin.
Tummy Tuck Belly Button Surgery
The surgeon makes a long incision just above the pubic area that runs from hipbone to hipbone. A second incision is made around the navel to release the belly button from the surrounding tissue. The skin is then separated from the abdominal wall up to the ribs and then lifted to reveal the vertical muscles in the abdomen. These exposed muscles are pulled close together and stitched sewn into their new position using stitches in order to tighten them. This will help to narrow the waistline and firm the abdominal wall. The skin flap is then stretched back in place and the extra unwanted skin is cut away. After cutting a new hole for the belly button, it is then stitched in place. ref: http://www.plastic-surgery.net
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Tummy Tuck Belly Button |
Tummy Tuck Belly Button |
Tummy Tuck Belly Button |
Little or No Scars showing with Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button |
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After my surgery I was surprised to see that my Tummy Tuck Belly Button looked to be too narrow (see above belly button images) and appeared to be more of a slit. I assumed this was due to the connecting skin being pulled tight and I thought it might assume a more rounded appearance with time. It didn't. For the first few days after surgery I tried stuffing and taping it with cotton balls to make it more round in the hopes that it would stretch out a little and heal that way. I brought this to my surgeons attention during one of my follow-up visits and he indicated that he could make it more rounded with another Belly Button Surgery (Umbilicoplasty). I told him I would get back to him on that. I figured I could live with it. Besides it looks fine when I am seated and if I do gain some more weight with the oncoming years it should round out nicely.
Having the stitches removed 15 days after the surgery was no problem. They came out nicely and there was no discomfort when the surgeon removed them.
I should note that in my case I never had any pain or discomfort after my Tummy Tuck with the Belly Button portion of my operation, or for that matter the entire Tummy Tuck with Lateral Thigh Lift Plastic Surgery process including recovery. I have read many stories about belly button discharge after tummy tuck or belly buttons that won't heal after a tummy tuck. Fortunately I didn't have those problems.
For the first few weeks following surgery I applied an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin tm to my Tummy Tuck Navel and kept it bandaged to aid in the healing and reduce scarring. After the sutures were remove and the wound healed I applied petroleum jelly just to keep the skin in that area supple.
My navel after Tummy Tuck Belly Button resulted in a good looking health Belly Button with no scars. It just seems to still be a little too tight and too narrow for my taste.
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Update: My Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button
I think now I understand why my belly button after abdominoplasty is
so tight and narrower than I remember. It makes sense. During the
surgery, a hole is cut around the belly button and the skin from
above is pulled down tight with a new hole made to re-install the
belly button. The "vertical" skin is now very tight and pulls the
belly button more from the top and bottom while the side skin
remains "relaxed" resulting in an elongated belly button after tummy
tuck.
Also, after further research I found out that many Tummy Tuck patients are not satisfied with the appearance of their belly button. New techniques have been developed to optimize the appearance of the belly button after a tummy tuck to give it a more natural look. The new technique involves stitching on the "inside" using dissolvable stitches. I understand the result is a belly button with a more natural appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about:
Tummy Tuck Belly Button
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Why is my Belly Button so large after a tummy tuck?
Most likely from swelling. See my large ugly Belly Button 3 days after my surgery. -
Do I need to stretch out my belly button after tummy tuck?
I was told no and that it open up naturally, however after one year I am still waiting. -
Why do I have a red scar around my belly button after tummy tuck?
In my case it is just normal scarring from where they stitched in the belly button. Not very noticeable unless you look closely. After one year only half of the scar remains and is still in the fading process. -
Where can I see some post Tummy Tuck belly button photos?
You can see mine here, but I don't think this is typical of tummy tuck belly buttons. -
What do they do with the belly button?
Simply put, they cut a ring around the old belly button, detach it from the surrounding skin and reinstall it into the newly "pulled down" skin. Read how its done. -
How many stitches do they use for a tummy Tuck belly button?
For my Tummy Tuck there were eight visible stitches.
Search for more information on:
Tummy Tuck Belly Button
Please visit other interesting websites relating to:
Tummy Tuck Belly Button
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Gallery of Pictures of Belly Button Surgery (Umbilicoplasty) as Part of Tummy Tuck Abdominoplasty "
http://www.plasticsurgery4u.com -
Plastic Surgery - bad tummy tuck belly button
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plastic-Surgery-983/bad-tummy-tuck-belly.htm -
New Tummy Tuck Belly Button Technique
http://topsurgeon.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-tummy-tuck-belly-button-technique.html -
Belly button discharge after tummy tuck
http://www.realself.com/question/belly-button-problem-after-tummy-tuck -
Plastic Surgery - NAVEL IN TUMMY TUCKS
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Plastic-Surgery-983/2008/10/NAVEL-TUMMY-TUCKS.htm
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