I had a tummy tuck 2005, and my beautiful belly button was reduced to look like a dried up raisin, sitting higher on my tummy. I have not worn a 2 piece bathing suit as a result. I am in my fifties with excellent fit shape, and just want my belly button to look normal I'm want this fixed now.....I've waited forever.
I can live with the position, I just want my belly button to look normal.
thanks for your question. Unfortunately this does occasionally happen after a tummy tuck. The procedure you need is called an umbilicoplasty. Often times this can be done in the office. This is not covered by insurance and there will be an out of pocket cost to this.
Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine which procedures are best to achieve your goals.
Best wishes!
Thank you for sharing your question and I am sorry to hear of your belly button issues. There may be options for you and I would recommend seeking out a series of surgeons in consultation to discuss treatment options!
If not present right after surgery this is usually due to the circular scar around a small belly button hole constricting thereby closing the outer ring. The best way to fix this is usually to stretch the opening under anesthesia and then revise the scar so that it's not a flat ring in one plane that can re-constrict. It's not clear when you developed this but your original surgeon would probably have fixed it with little to no cost to you within a year or so of the original surgery. If it was present immediately after surgery rather than developing over time the revision is a little more difficult/complicated. If the belly button is too high up and too small positioning it lower may not be a reasonable goal unless there is sufficient excess upper abdominal skin. In that case you have to accept only revision making it larger.
It sounds as if the belly button was re-positioned at time of surgery. If so, correction of this issue will be difficult if not impossible. Aside from re-positioning the belly button, the shape can be modified to establish a more pleasing aesthetic. Often the shrinking of the belly button is due to scar contracture. Scar release can correct the issue, followed by placement of an obturator, such as a marble to prevent the shrinking from happening again, After 6 months you should have a stable, pleasing result.
It is best to see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area if you would like to repair your belly button. There are many factors that can create the issue you are dealing with. Most likely the area will be able to be reconstructed, but make certain the surgeon has dealt with this issue before.