Many men and women spend their entire lives wanting a flat stomach. But diet and exercise aren’t always enough, especially if you have excess skin from weight loss or separated abdominal muscles from pregnancy. A tummy tuck addresses these problems to help your stomach be flatter and more toned. Tummy tucks are a way for patients to feel like they’ve turned back the clock on their bodies. Each procedure is done by creating a long incision along the underside of the belly, but it’s rare for the scar to be visible in public. There are a lot of considerations to make when thinking about getting a tummy tuck. But you might not consider how your belly button will be affected by the procedure.
Your belly button is a normal part of your stomach. In fact, it’s so normal that you might not even notice or think about it when you’re considering a tummy tuck. But tummy tucks can change the appearance of your belly button.
How the Surgeon Handles the Belly Button
When you undergo your tummy tuck, your surgeon at evolv Plastic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics will create a small incision around the belly button so that it’s released from the skin around it. Doing this leaves the surgeon free to tighten and pull the skin with greater ease, allowing for a completely taut and flat stomach. After the belly is flattened, the surgeon moves the belly button to a natural position on the stomach.
Will My Belly Button Look Better or Worse?
As long as you have an experienced surgeon, you’ll probably enjoy your belly button’s new appearance very much. Many people report that they prefer the new positioning and appearance. Successful surgery will give you a totally natural-looking belly button. Though patients may overlook it, positioning the belly button is incredibly important to your surgeon.
You can get a better sense of how belly buttons change by looking at the before and after pictures of tummy tucks. Prior to a tummy tuck, most belly buttons will be larger and may be covered or obscured by excess skin. In the after photos, you’ll see small and natural belly buttons that look great.
The Merits of a Mini Tummy Tuck
Depending on the circumstances, you might be a candidate for a procedure called a mini tummy tuck. This procedure is significantly less invasive than traditional tummy tuck surgery, and the belly button doesn’t require any repositioning. If the idea of a new belly button and stomach worries you, you might prefer a mini tuck. It provides a much more familiar appearance, but it still targets the areas you want to be addressed.
Patients who only have a little loose stomach skin are good candidates for a mini tuck. In addition, if you’ve developed a fat deposit directly underneath your belly button after having children or aging, you might benefit from a mini tuck. When you have your consultation, you can talk to your surgeon about whether a full tummy tuck or mini tummy tuck is better for you. To learn more about tummy tucks and how they can improve your appearance, contact evolv to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons.