You have made the decision to have a tummy tuck and improve the contours of your abdomen, but you still have questions like, “will my belly button look weird after my tummy tuck?” The short answer is not in most cases. However, by taking a closer look at what happens to your belly button during and after a tummy tuck can help you better understand what occurs and how to support a good end result.
What Happens to the Belly Button During a Tummy Tuck?
The goal of a tummy tuck is to remove any loose skin and tighten the abdominal muscles when necessary. When it comes to your belly button, what you may not know is that your belly button is attached to an internal stalk.
When your plastic surgeon removes excess skin, they will also detach the belly button and the stalk from the skin. When your remaining skin is draped back over your abdomen, your surgeon creates a new opening to re-attach your belly button.
This part of the procedure is known as umbilicoplasty. While the belly button survives most tummy tucks, in rare cases, the belly button can lose the blood supply during the procedure and not take to the new placement. Thankfully, this is a very low risk.
Ask questions about your belly button and what changes you can expect during your initial consultation.
Give Your Belly Button Time to Heal
After your tummy tuck, if your belly button looks weird or not what you expected, don’t jump the gun and assume that things didn’t go as planned. Swelling is common after a tummy tuck and that swelling can cause your belly button to distend.
Wearing your compression garment can help reduce the swelling, but it will take time for the swelling to completely diminish and reveal your end results. In many cases, tummy tuck recovery can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months or more.
What Happens if I Am Not Happy with My Belly Button?
If you hit the 6-month mark and still aren’t happy with your belly button, the good news is you aren’t stuck with it. After 6 months, you can talk with your surgeon about a belly button revision to achieve the look you desire.
