Tummy Tuck Belly Button

 

Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button 3 days after surgery. Scars, swelling and surgical drains are also shown.

 

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.

  

TUMMY TUCK BELLY BUTTON BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES

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

Tummy Tuck Belly Button Before & After Pictures
 

Before Tummy Tuck	After 2 Days	After 4 Days
After 7 Days	After 10 Days	After 12 Days
After 14 Days	After 17 Days	After 18 Days
After 19 Days	After 23 Days	After 24 Days
After 1 Month	After 1 Month And 1 Week	After 1 Month And 2 Weeks
After 1 Month And 3 Weeks	After 2 Months	After 2 Months And 2 Weeks
After 3 Months And 2 Weeks	After 5 Months	After 1 Year

 

Tummy Tuck Belly Button Looked Funny

After my surgery and after the swelling went down, 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.

 

Tummy Tuck Stitches Removed

Having the stitches removed 15 days after the surgery was no problem. My surgeon just snipped them with a scissor and pulled them out with tweezers. All eight stitches came out nicely and there was no pain or discomfort.

  

Tummy Tuck Belly Button Pain

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.

 

Tummy Tuck Belly Button Results 

After it healed my Tummy Tuck Belly Button resulted in a good looking health Belly Button with no major scars. It just seems to still be a little too tight and too narrow for my taste.

 

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.

Second Update: My Post Tummy Tuck Belly Button
I found out that if you gain a little weight after your tummy tuck and if you had a narrow belly button like I did, the extra weight will stretch out/round out the belly button to be perfectly normal looking.

  

3 Days After Surgery 1 Year After Surgery

  

Tummy Tuck Belly Button Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is my Belly Button so large after a tummy tuck?
   Most likely from swelling. My tummy tuck belly button was humongous for a week or so following my surgery. See my large ugly Belly Button 3 days after my surgery.

2. 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. Turned out the only way for me to get it to open up was to gain a few pounds (unfortunately).

3. 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. After two years it's still there. I believe it will be a permanent scar.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. How many stitches do they use for a tummy Tuck belly button?
   For my Tummy Tuck there were eight visible stitches.

7. After a tummy tuck how is your belly button supposed to look?
   Your tummy tuck belly button is suppose to look swollen and ugly immediately after surgery. After the stitches are removed and the selling goes down it is suppose to look perfectly normal, but this is not always the case.

8. After tummy tuck when do stitches come out of belly button?
   My stitches came out 15 days after surgery.

9. Are there tummy tucks without removing the belly button?
   They don't remove/relocate the belly button for mini-tummy tucks.

10. Can a tummy tuck fix a large belly button?
    Probably, but you will have to talk to you surgeon about that.

11. Do I get a new belly button w/tummy tuck?
    No. You get your same old belly button just moved to a different place.

12. Do they make a new belly button with a tummy tuck?
    No. A tummy tuck doesn't make a new belly button it just repositions the old one.

13. How is my belly button is sewn on during tummy tuck?
    During a tummy tuck operation your belly button is stitched into your skin at a new locations. This zoomable picture gives you  a good idea.
    

14. How does the plastic surgeon make a new belly button during a tummy tuck? How is a belly button made in a tummy tuck?
    How your new tummy tuck belly button is made is described here.

15. How long does belly button stay red after tummy tuck?
    If you are referring to the red incision line, it took mine about three months for the redness to fade. You can see a progression of the healing of my tummy tuck belly button at tummytuckbeforeandafterpictures.info.
    

16. How long does your belly button leak after tummy tuck?
    Leaking belly button after a tummy tuck? What is leaking? Inside the belly button or the incision around the belly button? If you are saying that your belly button incision line is leaking, then it probably should stop in a day or two. Mine did not leak at all.

17. How to clean belly button after tummy tuck?
    Within a few days of your tummy tuck you should be able to clean your belly button with a Q-tip and a solution of peroxide and water or some type of antiseptic cleaning solution. Be gentle and use great care when cleaning your belly button and the surrounding incision line and stitches.
    

18. Should I remove the gauze in my belly button after TT?
    You should probably replace the gauze daily after you get home from your tummy tuck.
    

19. Should the belly button be covered after a tummy tuck?
    Yes. Immediately after the surgery the belly button should be covered with a bandage and kept clean.
    

20. Should your belly button area be hard after a tummy tuck?
    The incision area of your belly button will likely be hard after a tummy tuck. If you are lucky and don't form permanent scars the surrounding skin will probably turn soft.

21. When do you remove belly button stitches?
    My tummy tuck belly button stitches were removed 15 days after surgery.

22. When does the belly button look normal after a tummy tuck procedure?
    It varies greatly for different people but in my case after about 3 months.
    

23. Where should my belly button be after a tummy tuck?
    Your relocated belly button should be in the normal location for a belly button. Look on the internet at belly buttons of other people of your same sex and stature to get an idea where yours will go. Discuss this with your surgeon at your consultation.
    

24. Why do they cut your belly button during a tummy tuck?
    Your belly button is fused to the abdominal wall under the skin. They have to cut it out in order to pull the skin down.

25. Will my belly button look better after a TT?
    With luck and a good surgeon it should look better.
    

26. Will my belly button look scarred after tummy tuck?
    Some do, some don't. That will depend on your surgeon, your situation and your recovery.

27. Will my belly button stretch to normal after tummy tuck?
    I asked my surgeon almost that exact question. He said "Yes" but the was wrong. The only way mine did is after I put on a few pounds.

28. How long does it take for belly button to heal after tummy tuck?
    You can see a progression of the healing of my tummy tuck belly button at tummytuckbeforeandafterpictures.info.

  

Tummy Tuck Feedback Messages

The following Reader Comments are relevant to the subject of this page.
To read all Tummy Tuck Feedback click here.

 

1. Infected Tummy Tuck Belly Button 3 Weeks After Surgery
2. Tummy Tuck Belly Button Is Shrinking
3. Tummy Tuck Belly Button Leaking Blood 4 Weeks After Surgery
4. Hard Protrusion Below Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
5. No Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
6. Excess Skin Around Belly Button
7. Unhappy With Tummy Tuck Belly Button
8. Tummy Tuck Swelling Under Belly Button
9. Why Is My Belly Button So Large After A Tummy Tuck
10. How Many Stitches Do They Use For A Tummy Tuck Belly Button

 

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Infected Tummy Tuck Belly Button

October 7, 2010
I had a tummy tuck 4 months ago and my belly button still keeps getting infected and leaking smelly brown blood.
Gillian

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Losing A Belly Button During A Tummy Tuck

September 25, 2010
Hi, Just wanted to add my few cents in. I have read some place don't know were but it stated it is possible to lose your belly button during a tummy tuck but it is very very rare.
Mike

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Tummy Tuck Belly Button

May 26, 2010
It has been 13 weeks since my tummy tuck and all is fine except my belly button area is hard and a little pooched out plus he didn't do lipo and I still have love handles. does anyone else have  this problem?

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Tummy Tuck Belly Button

March 17, 2010
Actually they can remove the belly button.  I just left the PS and he told me that my belly button won't make it.  I would have to lose the belly button in order to do a tummy tuck.  Also, that it is more common than you would think.  I spoke to a friend on the way home and she had known someone who lost theirs in a tummy tuck.

Response - I never heard that before. My plastic surgeon never even brought up the possibility that could happen. Even if he did, I probably would have proceeded with the tummy tuck. Nobody would know I didn't have a belly button since I have a shirt on 99.99% of the time.

Out of curiosity I did some research and it looks like the actress Patricia Heaton, the wife on the TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond actress" may have lost hers in a tummy tuck too. At least that's what some web sites imply.
Good luck.
Tanner

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Tummy Tuck Belly Button

March 17, 2010
Thanks! The Victoria's Secret model Karolina Kurkova lost hers, too. Maybe it's not so bad!!! Good luck, Christy

BTW, I didn't realize your forum was for men, my diastasis and umbilical hernia is due to childbirth.

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TUMMY TUCK BELLY BUTTON CLOSE-UP VIEWS

Tummy Tuck Belly Button 3 Days After Surgery	Tummy Tuck Belly Button 3 Weeks After Surgery	Tummy Tuck Belly Button 1 Year After Surgery