A technique called umbilicoplasty alters the way your belly button looks.
It was initially employed to treat newborns with umbilical hernias.
It has gained popularity as a cosmetic procedure in recent years.
Umbilicoplasty is intended to give the belly button a more vertical shape rather than a horizontal one.
Women who have recently given birth or those who have scarring from a previous belly button piercing are more likely to contemplate it.
In this article, you will learn more about umbilicoplasty’s effectiveness, dangers, and recovery times.
Read on to learn more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ A technique called umbilicoplasty can alter the appearance of your belly button.
✅ Be aware that there is a chance of scarring if you decide to do it, the operation might not be worth the danger for some people.
✅ It is recommended to postpone the procedure if you anticipate becoming pregnant in the future to prevent undoing the outcomes.
After pregnancy umbilicoplasty
During pregnancy, it’s normal for your belly button’s form to alter. Your belly button may appear extended during pregnancy. Your belly button may appear shorter and larger than it was before becoming pregnant.
When your body recovers from pregnancy, the tissue in your belly button may occasionally fuse together, giving you a protruding belly button.
A procedure known as umbilicoplasty might help your belly button resemble what it did before becoming pregnant. No other aspect of your stomach will change in appearance as a result of the treatment.
If you want to surgically remove extra skin or fat deposits brought on by pregnancy, you will require additional operations, such as a stomach tuck or liposuction. If you decide to have a stomach tuck, your surgeon might advise having an umbilicoplasty done concurrently.
Only have stomach or abdominal surgery if you are certain that you won’t become pregnant again, as this could reverse the effects of any cosmetic procedures there.
Umbilicoplasty for a scar from a piercing
An old bellybutton piercing or one that your body rejected might occasionally produce a scar that detracts from the appearance of your bellybutton. Umbilicoplasty might be beneficial depending on where the scar is.
Umbilicoplasty might be a good solution if the scar is on the tiny ring of skin around your bellybutton or in the indentation of your bellybutton. However, a scar revision operation can be a better choice if the scar is located somewhere else, such as just above your bellybutton.
This entails reducing the visibility of a scar through surgery or topical therapies. Compared to umbilicoplasty, these operations are frequently less expensive and invasive.
It is recommended to examine your choices with a surgeon who has experience treating piercing scars if you want to get rid of an old piercing scar. Based on the scar’s position and appearance, they can examine the best possibilities after looking at it.
How does it work?
Basic and common reparation
Find a reputable surgeon with experience performing the surgery you want before having any kind of cosmetic procedure. Make an appointment with two or three surgeons, if you can.
To help you plan your questions and keep track of the responses from various surgeons, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery has a helpful checklist that you can print off and bring to the consultation.
You don’t need to do anything physically to get ready for an umbilicoplasty treatment. To lower your chance of difficulties, you should probably stop smoking at least a month before the surgery if you do.
Additionally, your surgeon might suggest that you cease using particular drugs or nutritional supplements in the days or weeks preceding the procedure. You must abstain from any food in the hours before surgery if you’re going to be put under general anesthesia.
Make sure your surgeon covers all the necessary preparations before scheduling the procedure.
The surgery itself
Procedures for umbilicoplasty can be carried out at a clinic or a hospital. Your surgeon will administer either local or general anesthetic, depending on the scope of the treatment and your preferences.
Any excess skin surrounding your bellybutton will then be removed by your surgeon. They may adjust their angles to appear higher or lower than they did prior to the treatment, depending on the results you want. Then, as your bellybutton heals, they’ll use stitches to hold everything together.
It shouldn’t take more than an hour to complete the process.
Following your surgery
Even though you could still feel some pain and discomfort after your treatment, you should be able to return home the same day. Ask your surgeon if you’ll need someone to drive you home after surgery or to stay with you before the appointment.
What to expect after?
Umbilicoplasty procurers just need to recover for a brief time. Most of the time, you’ll be able to go back to work in a day or two, but you might need to wait a few weeks before starting any workout regimens again. While you’re recovering, be sure to take any prescription medications as advised.
Keep your bellybutton area dry and clean while you’re recovering. You’ll need to have your sutures removed 7 to 10 days following surgery if you don’t have dissolvable ones.
What are the risks?
Every surgery has potential dangers, including minor cosmetic ones. Even though anesthesia is normally risk-free, it can raise your risk of getting pneumonia or blood clots, especially if you already have a medical condition like diabetes or high blood pressure.
You can experience bleeding or an infection in your belly button after the surgery. Furthermore, umbilicoplasty operations have the potential to create their own scars, so it’s vital to assess the risks and advantages, particularly if you’re thinking about having one done to cover a piercing scar.
In the weeks following your surgery, get in touch with your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- indications of infection, such as a fever, strange smell, or colored discharge
- severe bleeding
- nausea
- dizziness
- and persistent discomfort.