The Belly Button or Umbilicus is one of the most important considerations in tummy tuck surgery, a bad belly button can ruin the entire surgery.
It is, in fact your own belly button that is retained during a tummy tuck, but it can be shaped different ways.
Make sure you discuss what you want with your surgeon and also, ask to see pictures so you can see your surgeons actual results.
Different surgeons handle the belly button differently and you need to make clear what you want. (Johan E. Brahme, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
Belly button shape and tummy tucks
In a tummy tuck you always keep your belly button. I prefer to make my belly buttons hooded superiorly and notched inferiorly so not to show a circular scar.
If you lost over 60 lbs, you most likely have loose skin around and above your belly button and this tends to be in a more horizontal orientatation. The umbilicus or belly button stays were it is attached to the abdominal wall, but the loose skin is removed. This necessitates an incision around the belly button.
When I inset the umbilicus I often find that I have to “downsize” it to make it look good. A bad belly button with a scar around it that shows can make the abdominoplasty look less than ideal. Certainly you can see a lot of examples of average or ugly belly buttons on the internet. (George Marosan, MD, Bellevue Plastic Surgeon)
Belly button can be key to the perfect tummy tuck
You do indeed keep your own belly button in a tummy tuck procedure. It stays right where it is, and after all the skin excess is tailored and trimmed away, the belly button is brought out in its ‘anatomic’ location to complete the procedure. The belly button must be inset to ensure the shape is characteristic, and the scar is hidden.
The belly button can make or break the result, as the lower scar can be concealed, though often the belly button cannot. Review your surgeon’s results carefully to help you anticipate what you should expect. (Peter E. Johnson, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Belly Button is Retained in Tummy Tuck
The umbilicus or belly button is almost always retained in a tummy tuck and can usually look much the same after surgery (although there will be a scar around it). Congratulations on your weight loss. I think you will be happy with the results of your tummy tuck. (John Whitt, MD, Louisville Plastic Surgeon)
Your old belly button is reused.
As the others have said, the old belly button is reused. I like to sink the belly button into the tissue a bit to reduce the visibility of the scar around the belly button post tummy tuck and had good success with that. The key is not to make the hole for the “new” belly button too big. (Victor Au, MD, Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck and Belly Buttons
You will still have your own belly button, only with a scar around it. If you have a “lower” abdominoplasty (some call it a min), then you will have a scar and will keep your belly button as is! (Shahin Javaheri, MD, San Francisco Plastic Surgeon)
You don’t get a “new” belly button with a Tummy Tuck
It is a big misconception that you get a “new” belly button post tummy tuck. In fact, it is your original belly button – just brought through a new opening. (Matthew Schulman, MD, New York Plastic Surgeon)
You can keep your belly button with a tummy tuck / mommy make over.
When a full abdominoplasty is done, the belly button is left in the same position. An incision is made around it, leaving the belly button attached by its stalk to the fascia of your stomach. After the loose skin of your stomach has been trimmed off and before the final closure of the incision is done, the belly button is located and brought out through a new opening but at the same level as it was before.
Different suturing techniques can give you an “outie, an innie” a belly button flush with the skin surface or a hooded belly button, so whatever your belly button post tummy tuck looks like now it should look like after. See a board certified plastic surgeon and review their work. (Jeffrey M. Darrow, MD, Boston Plastic Surgeon)