If you’re considering a tummy tuck, you’re probably already thinking about how it will help you look and feel better. But before you commit to an invasive surgery, it’s important to consider what a tummy tuck actually does.
A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles. The surgery is often done to improve the appearance of loose skin after significant weight loss, but it can also be performed for other reasons, including poor muscle tone or trauma to the abdomen.
But there’s more to a tummy tuck than just getting rid of excess skin and tightening up your belly button. You should also consider whether your reason for wanting one is valid—and whether or not it will have lasting effects on your health.
What is a tummy tuck?
Formally known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck is a surgical body contouring procedure designed to improve the appearance of the abdomen by removing excess skin and, in some cases, tightening the underlying abdominal muscles. Oftentimes, the surgeon will combine liposuction with a tummy tuck to remove stubborn areas of fat and further enhance the results of the procedure.
Why it’s done
There are a number of reasons you might have excess fat, poor elasticity of the skin or weakened connective tissue in your abdomen. These include:
- Significant changes in weight
- Pregnancy
- Abdominal surgery, such as a C-section
- Aging
- Your natural body type
A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck may also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. However, a tummy tuck won’t correct stretch marks outside of this area.
If you’ve previously had a C-section, your plastic surgeon might be able to incorporate your existing C-section scar into your tummy tuck scar.
A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery. If you’ve had fat removed from your abdomen (liposuction), you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction removes tissue just under the skin and fat but not any excess skin.
A tummy tuck isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a tummy tuck if you:
- Plan to lose a significant amount of weight
- Might consider pregnancy in the future
- Have a severe chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes
- Have a body mass index that’s greater than 30
- Smoke
- Have had a previous abdominal surgery that caused significant scar tissue
Types of tummy tuck surgeries
A cosmetic surgeon may recommend one of the following tummy tuck surgery procedures to help give you a firmer, flatter, abdominal contour with minimal scarring:
Mini Tummy Tuck: If you’re mainly concerned about stretch marks and loose skin below your belly button, then the mini tummy tuck surgery is the ideal option. This procedure involves making one horizontal incision below your belly button, from which your surgeon then effectively tightens the loose abdominal muscles. Surplus skin is also removed to create a flat and firm abdominal wall.
Mini tummy tuck surgeries usually take a relatively shorter time and will often have a faster recovery time, along with minimal scarring. Expect a thin scar, usually a couple of inches, along with a firmer and flatter lower abdomen.
Full or Classic Tummy Tuck: This tummy tuck addresses both the upper and lower abdomen areas and will typically yield great results in removing excess fat. Your cosmetic surgeon will use either a U-shaped or horizontal incision below the belly button or the navel. Excess fat and skin are then eliminated to achieve a slim abdomen that looks natural.
The full or classic tummy tuck will typically leave a longer scar due to the extensive incisions required. However, the scar will hide below a swimsuit bottom. This type of tummy tuck benefits includes a considerably smoother, slimmer abdomen with fewer stretch marks and more comfort wearing skirts and pants.
Extended Tummy Tuck: The extended abdominoplasty is the standard tummy tuck that includes recontouring the flanks, hips, or even lateral thigh. It is quite useful for those who have experienced significant weight loss and are now dealing with excessively saggy skin on their abdomen. In most cases, the surgeon will perform liposuction around the flanks during the tummy tuck.
Infected Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Research shows that operative site infections and seromas are common complications following tummy tuck surgery. Most studies show that post-surgery infections are prevalent in 1% to 3% of patients.
Inflammation is the belly button, and surrounding areas are usually characterized by tenderness, edema, erythema, and fever. Patients with diabetes, malnutrition and immunosuppressed states are at higher risk of belly button infections.
No Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Tummy Tuck is an excellent procedure to remove excess fat from your belly or abdomen. The primary objective of this surgery is to tighten the muscles in the stomach area and smoothen the overall abdominal appearance.
However, the procedure can change your belly button’s appearance. After the surgery, a patient’s belly button can appear more horizontal and vertical. Although this problem resolves over time, sometimes, there is no belly button.
Remember, not having a belly button after tummy tuck is not a severe complication. The good news is that you can discuss it with your health provider and plan to create a belly button via a cosmetic procedure.
These can change the appearance of your belly button, making it appear more horizontal than vertical. If you’ve had surgery later in life and don’t have a belly
Belly Button Issues After Tummy Tuck
During the tummy tuck, the surgeon makes an incision in the low abdomen to remove the stretched skin and fat deposits. The surgeon sews the loose muscles and makes another incision around the belly button. Not taking care of the incision sites during the rehabilitation can lead to belly button issues.
The recovery timeline after the procedure varies depending on different factors, such as your age, health status, weight, and immune system. Because the drainage tubes that pull the fluid away from your abdominal region will remain in the area for a few days.
It is crucial to wear an abdominal binder for about 1.5 months. The binder is a tight band around your belly, supporting your muscles and preventing the accumulation of fluids.
That’s why we recommend wearing the binder and avoiding strenuous activity for proper healing of your belly button. Otherwise, you will experience belly button complications after the procedure. Always follow your health provider’s instructions to achieve your goals.
Yellow Discharge from Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Most women experience a yellow discharge from their belly button after the procedure, causing a lot of frustration and panic. However, you must not worry because the thick release from the incision site or belly button is normal for 10-20 days. After all, this is liquified fat.
You can stop the drainage by covering your belly button with dry gauze. If the discharge continues after 20-25 days, make sure you contact your health provider. Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to deal with the problem.
Belly Button Leaking Fluid After Tummy Tuck
Some patients experience leaking fluid from their belly button after a tummy tuck. The primary cause of this problem is not maintaining proper hygiene during the recovery period. Germs, fungus, bacteria, dirt, and other environmental pollutants accumulating on the incision site trigger the leaking fluid mechanisms.
So, if you notice any signs of leaking fluid or infection in the belly button during the recovery period, call your health provider immediately. Sometimes, too much constriction or opening can lead to discharge or pus drainage from your belly button, seeping a yellow or white discharge.
White inside belly button after tummy tuck
After the tummy tuck procedure, the primary cause of white inside the belly button is skin necrosis. It is crucial to prevent skin necrosis by applying ointments prescribed by your health provider.
At the same time, don’t stress because this takes a few weeks to heal. The whitish material appearing on your belly button is also due to removing dead skin cells by your body’s natural mechanisms.
Hard Lump Above Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Although a tummy tuck is a safe procedure, some patients show concern about a bulging belly button or a hard lump above it. Inflammation and swelling in the surgical site are the primary reason behind the hard lump above the belly button.
Research shows that blood and lymphatic vessels perform the function of drainage for fluids. However, during the procedure, the surgeon cuts these vessels. As a result, the fluid accumulated causes a hard or tender lump. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Call your doctor if the pain is unbearable.
Belly Button Stitches After Tummy Tuck
Taking care of the incision site or stitches during the recovery period is crucial to avoid infections and other complications. Most surgeons recommend leaving sutures for 14 to 21 days to prevent incisions or stitches from opening.
Remember, tension and stress placed on stitches after the tummy tuck procedure is considerable, but make sure you follow your health provider’s instructions and give your body additional time to secure the wound.
Dark Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
The dark belly button after the procedure is due to the accumulation of dead skin cells and sebum oil secreted by the skin. If you fail to follow your surgeon’s guidelines, the deposits of dead skin cells and fluids may form an omphalolith.
Keloid Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
Keloid scars after the tummy tuck in the belly button area are not common. Therefore, it is wise to call your doctor immediately and seek appropriate treatment. There are numerous methods to prevent or treat keloid scars during rehabilitation.
For example, cortisone injections into the keloid belly button every 4-6 weeks will flatten the scars and fade their appearance. You can also use silicone sheeting to reduce the visibility of your keloid belly button scar.
Belly Button Closing After Tummy Tuck
The surgeon makes an incision in the low abdomen during the tummy tuck. The purpose is to lift the abdominal skin. The surgeon makes an additional incision around the belly button to release the fat cells or skin from the surrounding area. However, your belly button remains attached to the stalk.
In addition, it is normal to experience swelling around your belly button for a few days or weeks. Your belly button may also appear slightly crusty during the recovery period. It takes six months for the belly button to heal. Once your body has healed the wound, you will undergo another procedure under local anesthesia to improve your belly button’s shape.
How To Clean Belly Button After Tummy Tuck?
Each patient is unique, meaning the recovery process varies from person to person. Depending on your overall health status, you may not go to the office or work for one to two weeks. Ensure you follow your health provider’s aftercare instructions, clean the incision site, and wear compression garments for an efficient and quick recovery.
In addition, you must avoid strenuous physical activities, such as intense workouts and weightlifting for a specified period. The question is: how to clean your belly button after the procedure. Well, it is an easy task, requiring you to soak a cotton swap in hydrogen peroxide and clean your belly button. Most surgeons recommend cleaning the belly button at least once or twice a day.
Tummy Tuck Belly Button Healing Stages
Remember, tummy tucks are surgical procedures, so the incision made during the procedure will lead to scarring, regardless of the type of abdominoplasty you move forward with. For many patients, the prevention of scarring is one of the most worrying facets of tummy tuck surgery recovery. To properly treat your tummy tuck incision, it’s important to understand scar formation and its relation to the three scar healing stages.
Phase 1: Inflammatory Phase
After the skin is broken, as it is during the incision of a tummy tuck procedure, the wound must seal. During the inflammatory phase, bleeding stops, but the body increases blood flow to the area. New cells begin to form a protective scab over the incision, and your scar will likely appear very red. During this phase, it’s important to prevent rubbing and friction in the area, as wounds can easily reopen and hinder the healing process.
Phase 2: Establishment/Rebuilding Phase
The body begins producing collagen fibers to fill in the gap and close the wound, and blood vessels form to carry nutrients to the wound site. This step, also called the proliferative phase, typically continues for three to four weeks but may last up to six weeks. During this time, your scar may fade from a deep red to a lighter pink.
Phase 3: Maturation and Remodeling Phase
A scar can take months to years to completely mature, depending on the length and depth of the incision. Genetics and your overall health condition can affect this stage, but the most important factor of scar healing is proper care and treatment. Tension reduction and silicone sheeting like embrace® Active Scar Defense should be used continuously for at least 60 days to help scars fade.