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Introduction: Mommy Makeover to Improve Belly Button Shape
A mommy makeover is one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2020. This amazing combination of procedures can completely eliminate all the physiological wear and tear that a body goes through throughout the pregnancy process.
One of the most common requests for all mommy makeover patients is to correct the abdomen area. There are several plastic surgery procedures that target the stomach, but the most common in mommy makeover surgeries is the full tummy tuck.
The most important component of tummy tuck is the belly button. Needless to say, mommy makeover to improve belly button shape is a hot topic especially since the belly button often gets distorted following pregnancy. Moreover, mommy makeover specialists struggle with creating an aesthetically pleasing bellybutton shape during tummy tuck.
Ideal Belly Button Shape
Although there is no single “ideal” belly button shape, there are some generalized aesthetic guidelines. Belly buttons are as unique as fingerprints and come in many variations. Generally, a “perfect” belly button is one that has a natural shape for the individual’s body. It should be rounded in appearance; dainty in size, and, not a distraction to the eye. A good analogy for the ideal belly button shape is to the nose which is similarly central to the face. The nose, as the belly button, should be invisible when it is appropriately shaped.
How Does Pregnancy Alter Belly Button Shape?
During pregnancy, the growing uterus stretches the abdomen and causes the belly button to flatten out or lose its rounded or oval shape. When the stretching becomes severe, women may observe an “outie” belly button which scribes a bulging belly button. After giving birth, the belly and belly button usually return back to near their pre-pregnancy shape, but there may be some permanent undesirable changes.
How Can You Make a Perfect Belly Button Shape?
If your belly button shape changes after pregnancy or weight loss and it bothers you, you have some options:
- Give it time. It sometimes continues improving over the first year postpartum
- Belly button surgery like umbilicoplasty can reshape or reconstruct a new deeper belly button
- Tummy tuck surgery may not only improve your belly button shape as well as correct a loosened abdominal muscle resulting in an abdominal bulge, as well as to eliminate redundant skin or stretch mark-laden skin.
How Does Tummy Tuck Alter Belly Button Shape?
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) involves surgically removing loose skin and fat. During this, the belly button stalk is temporarily detached, the abdomen reshaped, and a new belly button opening is created and inset. The resulting abdomen has a flatter, firmer, more youthful appearance. However, the belly button often remains distorted!
Mommy Makeover: Tummy Tuck and belly button shape
A tummy tuck surgery involves surgical excision of all excess fat and skin in the middle and lower belly. Additionally, the loosened muscles are tightened through a process called muscle plication. Often, the muscle stretch results in distortion of the belly button and even a belly button hernia. As such, in addition to muscle repair, it is important to repair any belly button hernias identified simultaneously. A major factor in creating a visually appealing tummy tuck result is the appearance of the belly button. This is because the belly button needs to be released in order to repair the abdominal muscles and eliminate redundant abdominal skin. Once the defect created by the excision of redundant skin is repaired, then the belly button must be delivered back out and inset. Since the tummy tuck incision is closed, it is difficult to locate and create a natural belly button. This is the most technically challenging stage of a tummy tuck. To date, plastic surgeons have struggled with consistently creating a naturally appealing belly button. Unfortunately, the inability to accurately identify the belly button stalk during its delivery routinely compromises the belly button shape.
Fortunately, we use our proprietary belly button tool called the umbilicator which allows us to accurately identify the belly button stalk during retrieval. Once the excess abdominal skin flap is lifted from the groin to the rib cage, the muscles are exposed and repaired. Next, the belly button is trimmed. If umbilical hernias are identified, they are repaired as well. Next, the umbilicator is temporarily secured to the belly button stalk. At this point in your tummy tuck procedure, the patient is placed in a flexed position and the lower belly incision line is repaired. At this point, the surgeon is able to feel the umbilicator with his or her hand and is able to deliver the umbilicator and umbilical stalk accurately. By accurately identifying the stalk it is possible to create a more accurate and optimally shaped belly button.
How to Improve Belly Button Shape?
Non-surgical options to potentially improve belly button shape include:
- Building core abdominal muscles with various exercises
- Wearing shapewear to smooth the surrounding abdominal skin
- Applying creams, though the effects are modest and temporary
How Can You Make a Perfect Belly Button Shape?
If your belly button shape changed after pregnancy or weight loss and it bothers you, there are options:
- Give it time. It sometimes continues improving over the first year postpartum
- Belly button surgery like umbilicoplasty can reshape or reconstruct a new deeper belly button
Surgical options to correct your belly button shape include:
Mommy Makeover tummy tuck using an Umbilicator
Conclusion: Mommy Makeover to Improve Belly Button Shape
A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) involves surgically removing loose skin and fat. During this cosmetic procedure, the belly button is temporarily detached, the abdomen reshaped, and then a new belly button opening is created. The resulting abdomen will have a flatter, firmer, more youthful appearance. Fortunately, the use of an Umbilicator will allow your surgeon to create an optimally shaped belly button. We hope that you have found our article, “Mommy Makeover to Improve Your Belly Button” helpful if you are considering mommy makeover cosmetic surgery.
32-year-old female 3 months following high definition liposuction and modified tummy tuck surgery.