It is mainly genes that determine the shape and size of your belly button. The appearance can also vary depending on how the doctor cuts the umbilical cord at birth. But if you are unhappy with your belly button, there is something you can do about it. Belly button surgery or umbilicoplasty can help. This plastic surgery procedure is popular among both women and men who wish to change the size, shape, or position of their belly button. Please keep reading to learn more about this cosmetic surgery, including why get belly button surgery, what to expect during and after the procedure, costs, and more.
Do I have an "outie" belly button or a hernia?
An outie belly button is one which protrudes out more than usual. As noted, the appearance of the belly button is determined at birth, either by genetics or how the umbilical cord is cut. An outward navel or belly button can also develop later in life due to an umbilical hernia. This is a condition in which the intestines and other abdomen tissues bulge out through weak abdominal muscles near the umbilicus or belly button.
Can you get surgery to change your belly button?
Yes, belly button surgery can improve the overall appearance of your navel region. More and more plastic surgeons are performing belly button cosmetic surgery. The popularity of this plastic surgery has increased in part due to the trend of bare midriffs on social media. Belly button surgery can be done in both men and women but is more commonly requested by women.
Why have your belly button reshaped?
There are many reasons why you might choose to have belly button surgery. Some people have the procedure done as a reconstructive surgery for umbilical hernia repair. Besides umbilical hernias, people have it done as a plastic surgery to remove excess skin and reshape the belly button. In fact, belly button surgery is most often done to make the navel smaller by removing excess skin. The surgery can make an outward protruding belly button appear smaller and more tucked in.
Many women have belly button surgery as part of a mommy makeover after one or more pregnancies. This plastic surgery usually involves other procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, or breast reduction as well.
Lastly, belly button surgery can be done as a corrective surgery to fix damage caused to belly buttons by injuries, previous abdominal surgeries, or belly button piercings.
What is belly button reshaping surgery?
Belly button surgery (medical name: umbilicoplasty) is a cosmetic surgery procedure in which excess skin in the belly button is removed. This helps to get rid of loose skin that can result after extreme weight loss or pregnancy.
The plastic surgery requires only small incisions to remove the extra skin that makes the "outie" belly button bulge. The scar is well hidden in the belly button and is virtually invisible. Belly button surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia. When the procedure is performed to fix umbilical hernias, local anesthesia with IV sedation may be used. If you are having other procedures like a tummy tuck, it can take longer, of course, and may be done under general anesthesia. If you have surgery with general anesthesia, you may need to stay overnight in the hospital. A simple belly button cosmetic surgery takes about an hour. You can go home the same day.
The incisions for a belly button surgery are closed with sutures (stitches). Your surgeon will give you instructions on caring for the wound during the healing process.
How long does it take for a belly button to heal after surgery?
The average recovery time after belly button surgery is a few weeks. You will not be able to exercise for around 6 weeks but you should be able to go back to work in just a few days. It is not unusual to have some swelling, bruising, and minor discomfort after belly button surgery. Your doctor will give you pain medication to help with any post-surgical discomfort. You might be advised to wear special garments to help keep the swelling down during recovery.
If you are having laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair, the recovery period can be slightly longer. You might need to wait 1-2 weeks before returning to work and 4 weeks before resuming strenuous activities.
It is a good idea to schedule your belly button surgery in a season other than summer. This will give you time to heal before you go into swimming pools, lakes, or oceans. Doctors advise waiting 3-4 weeks after belly button surgery before enjoying activities that involve immersion in water. This is to allow the incisions to heal fully.
What are the side effects and risks?
Belly button surgery is a generally safe procedure when performed by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon. Complications are very rare with this procedure. However, there are some risks, including infection, a prominent scar requiring revision surgery, risks associated with anesthesia, numbness, bleeding, hernia recurrence, or injury to the nerves or blood vessels.
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions, but in general, you should contact your doctors if you have fever more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, increasing or severe pain, bad smell in the surgical site, increasing drainage, or no bowel movements for 3 days.
Can you get belly button surgery with a tummy tuck?
Yes, navel surgery is often done along with a tummy tuck procedure. Many women have their belly buttons done as part of a mommy makeover after pregnancy.
Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
You will be seen in initial consultation by your plastic surgeon to determine if you can benefit from belly button surgery. You are a good candidate for umbilicoplasty or belly button surgery if you have a small to moderate sized hernia. It is also a good option for a moderate amount of excess or loose skin in the navel. You should be in good general health without any serious medical problems.
Discuss your issues with the shape or size of your belly button with your surgeon frankly at the time of the initial consultation. This will help the surgeon determine if belly button surgery can correct the problem. Other procedures such as tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) or liposuction may be essential elements in the treatment plan to obtain the results you desire. Make sure you have realistic expectations from the procedure in terms of what the navel area will look like after surgery.
You may not be eligible for belly button surgery or laparoscopic umbilical hernia surgery repair if you are pregnant, obese, cannot undergo local or general anesthesia, have a bleeding disorder, or cannot stop taking a blood thinning medication. You may also not be a good candidate for belly button surgery if you have excess scar formation after prior abdominal surgeries.
How much does belly button plastic surgery cost?
Belly button surgery cost depends on whether you require a hernia repair or simply removal of excess skin. Surgery to repair a hernia requires general anesthesia and is associated with higher costs. The cost of navel cosmetic surgery can vary depending on the experience of your surgeon and your geographic location. Usually, costs are higher in larger cities like New York and London.
Note that the cost of hernia repair is often covered by health insurance because these are medically necessary procedures. However, if your belly button surgery is a strictly cosmetic surgery, the cost can be anywhere from $2,500 to $5,000 and you will pay out of pocket. If you are having a tummy tuck cosmetic procedure as well, the cost will be around $8,000 to $12,000.
How much does belly button surgery cost in UK?
When belly button surgery is performed under local anesthesia, it costs around £1500 in the UK. The cost is higher if you are having a more complex umbilical plastic surgery.
Pros and cons of belly button surgery
Like all cosmetic surgeries, the primary reason to undergo a belly button surgery is to improve the appearance of the navel region. Given the advances in this cosmetic procedure, you will not end up with an unnaturally shallow or wide navel. Rather, you should be able to achieve a uniform and attractive navel with the scars well hidden inside the belly button.
The only disadvantage of belly button surgery is the cost of the cosmetic procedure, which is not covered by health insurance. Also, if you have a more complex procedure or if a hernia is found that needs to be repaired, the recovery period can be longer.
Find surgeons who specialize in belly button surgery near you
The MeTime app makes it easy to find plastic surgeons for navel surgery or hernia surgery. You can chat with experts, send photos, do a video consultation, and get quotes. And when you are ready to book a consultation for your plastic surgery, you can do this too through MeTime. Download the MeTime app today and get the belly button that you'll love to show off.
