We return a beautiful navel after childbirth with umbilicoplasty

About navel surgery

Umbilicoplasty is an operation to correct the shape of the navel, which is necessary if you are embarrassed to show your belly on the beach or wearing a short top.
Belly button surgery can be performed as a separate surgical procedure, or together with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Navel surgery after traumatic surgery on the anterior abdominal wall is especially recommended for anyone who wants to have a perfectly beautiful stomach. If you want to have a beautiful and anatomically correct navel, then you need to discuss the possibility of navel plastic surgery with a plastic surgeon. Its ideal shape is considered to be wavy; it is located directly on the midline of the abdomen.

Umbilicoplasty: how to fix an ugly navel?

Even with an ideal figure, it is not easy to undress on the beach, in the pool, in the sauna, or simply wear revealing clothes if you are unhappy with your navel and consider it ugly. How to fix the situation?

Umbilicoplasty is a plastic surgery to correct the navel, which can eliminate almost any of its defects. The only effective way today to change the size, shape or general appearance of this part of the body.

The standard of beauty is a neat funnel-shaped navel, which lies on the midline of the abdomen, at the same distance from the pubis and the xiphoid process of the chest. What if it is too wide or deep? Or, on the contrary, does it protrude strongly above the surface of the abdomen? TecRussia.ru talks, and plastic surgeons share their experience.

↑ Indications for umbilicoplasty

One of the unique features of the navel is that, unlike the shape of the nose, eye color and other details of appearance, it is not inherited. Its initial “parameters” depend on the treatment of the umbilical cord at birth, care of the umbilical wound - problems often arise already at this stage. With age, new unfavorable factors may appear: umbilical hernia, unsuccessful piercing, consequences of injuries, sudden weight fluctuations (especially during pregnancy), etc.

There are no mandatory medical indications for navel surgery. Its shape does not have any effect on the state of health, we are talking only about the aesthetic wishes of the patient. As a rule, people who have a navel come for umbilicoplasty:

• protrudes above the level of the abdomen, which often occurs due to careless or incorrect ligation of the umbilical cord at birth;
• too deep - a lot of specific secretions accumulate in it, which is sometimes difficult to clean out, which creates the effect of a dirty body;
• wide, stands out strongly even against the background of a flat and toned stomach;
• stretched due to pregnancy or significant weight gain, sagging with age, after sudden significant weight loss, deformed or completely lost during abdominal operations;
• incorrectly, asymmetrically positioned

In addition, this operation is indicated if:

• The patient has an umbilical hernia, which makes the navel large, round and convex. Umbilicoplasty is combined with surgery to remove the hernia itself (hernioplasty);
• the skin around the navel is torn, covered with scars after unsuccessful piercing or injury;

↑ How is navel correction performed?

Umbilicoplasty takes from 30 to 90 minutes and is usually performed under local anesthesia (optionally, general anesthesia is also possible). It is often performed in combination with abdominoplasty or abdominal liposuction. What exactly the surgeon will do depends on the characteristics of the defect that is planned to be eliminated:

• to change the aesthetic parameters of the navel, an incision is made, after which the desired depth, size and shape are formed, most often in the form of a classic vertical fold;
• if it is necessary to remove a convex navel, excess skin is excised, and the remaining tissue is immersed deep into the skin fold;
• the most difficult option is reconstruction of the lost navel. It is made from a skin flap on the abdomen.

The incisions are made in such a way that the postoperative scars are hidden in the umbilical fold and remain invisible from the outside.

↑ Rehabilitation after umbilicoplasty

Recovery after navel surgery does not take much time. The patient almost always goes home on the day of surgery, and after a few days he can carry out normal daily activities, with the exception of significant physical activity.

There may be hematomas around the corrected navel, which will go away on their own in 1-2 weeks. It is imperative to follow the surgeon’s recommendations for caring for the operated area to avoid complications or infection. Until the sutures are completely healed after umbilicoplasty, going to the pool, sauna, solarium, or beach is excluded. The final result can be assessed in 1.5-2 months.

↑ Contraindications for navel correction

There are no specific factors that exclude umbilicoplasty. But, like other surgical interventions, it is contraindicated in the following cases:

• Oncological diseases.
• Blood clotting disorders.
• Diabetes.
• Acute infectious, febrile conditions or exacerbations of chronic diseases.

↑ Price of umbilicoplasty

The cost of navel correction depends on several nuances: what kind of defect the surgeon will work with, what level it is, what the clinic’s pricing policy is, etc. If the operation is performed as a complex (for example, abdominoplasty), its relative cost will be significantly lower.

↑ Experts' opinions

For professional comments, we turned to our experts - the capital's leading plastic surgeons. Here's what we asked:

• How often and for what reasons do you perform umbilicoplasty?
• Is it true that a navel piercing can lead to significant problems in this area?

Indications

With regard to the umbilical ring, there is no such thing as a hereditary predisposition, because often the navel of parents and their children has a completely different configuration.
First of all, its appearance is affected by measures taken to treat the umbilical wound after birth. If the care was sufficiently correct, there was no infection or injury, then in adulthood such a navel, as a rule, will have a beautiful, regular shape. Other factors that influence the appearance of the navel both in childhood and in adulthood include: trauma to the navel (for example, abdominal surgery, poor-quality piercing), significant weight fluctuations, and umbilical hernia. It is important to remember that after birth the umbilical ring does not perform any function, so the indications for surgical intervention are purely aesthetic. In what case should you contact a plastic surgeon:

• The shape of the navel is asymmetrical, it is deformed;
• The navel is stretched, drooping, the skin hangs over it;
• Protrudes above the plane of the abdomen;
• Too deep, liquid accumulates in its cavity, which becomes a place of contamination;
• The skin around the navel is covered with scars;
• The navel is completely absent after injury or aggressive surgery.

In any case, at an appointment with a plastic surgeon in Kyiv, they will explain to you what results can be achieved with the help of umbilicoplasty surgery.

Everyone has their own standard of beauty

Many people do not attach much importance to the standards of beauty accepted in society, but for others it is important how to look. If we take into account the standard, then the shape of the navel is necessarily oval, and it is located in the center of the midline of the abdomen.

Much of the shape of the navel is formed in infancy, when the umbilical cord is tied. If the whole procedure is unsuccessful, then the navel is formed in a convex shape with a protruding scar. And the situation has to be corrected surgically.

In recent years, it has become fashionable to sew up the navel altogether. And although such an innovation is not yet very widespread in our country, even celebrities carry out a similar procedure abroad. It looks unusual.

Effects (results)

The main question for any patient is what to expect after navel surgery?
The answer is quite simple. After this operation you will have a beautiful and neat navel. We treat various deformities from a protruding navel to a very deep navel, and also restore the skin of this area after overstretching and injury. The main goal of umbilicoplasty is to determine the umbilical ring into a physiological position and give it a healthy and beautiful appearance.

Photos before/after

Preparing for surgery

Before surgery, you need to make an appointment with a plastic surgeon. At your appointment, a thorough examination will be carried out:

• Study of the location, shape and integrity of the navel;
• The presence of defects in adjacent tissues;
• Definition of contraindications.

They will explain to you what shape of the navel can be achieved in your case. It may make sense to have an abdominoplasty at the same time. In addition, the doctor will give recommendations on more thorough preparation for surgery and determine a list of laboratory tests.

Features of treatment

Navel correction surgery takes, depending on the situation, only 30-90 minutes and is often performed simply under local anesthesia.
As mentioned above, it can be combined with plastic surgeries such as tummy tuck or abdominal liposuction. Depending on the original shape of the navel, several options for the course of the operation are possible, for example:

• In case of a deformed navel, excess tissue is removed and beautiful outlines are formed;
• If the navel was convex, excess skin is also removed and the desired shape is formed;
• It is possible to restore a lost navel, which requires great skill on the part of the surgeon.

At the MED CITY clinic in Kyiv, during this operation, modern laser systems are used, which allow making very precise cuts, as well as reducing blood loss and improving tissue regeneration. After the operation, the stitches are hidden behind the umbilical fold, so the scars will be invisible.

Complications

Just like after abdominoplasty, unpleasant consequences are possible if you do not follow the rules of rehabilitation. These include:

• Hematomas. Extensive bruising in the center of the abdomen is normal. However, if they do not go away within two to three weeks, you should consult your doctor.
• Infection. The reason is non-compliance with aseptic rules during surgery or rehabilitation. To prevent suppuration and inflammation, you need to take an antibacterial course before and after the procedure.
• Formation of scar tissue. Eliminated by injection of corticosteroids. It occurs due to the individual characteristics of the body.
• The appearance of an umbilical hernia. It is formed as a result of injury to the peri-umbilical connective tissue due to an incorrectly made depression. It can only be corrected with repeated surgery.

Wound bleeding is an extremely rare complication.

Post-rehabilitation period

Navel surgery is very well tolerated by patients. On the day of surgery, you can return home by following simple recommendations:

• For 7-10 days it is advisable to refrain from intense physical activity, going to the sauna, swimming pool, solarium;
• It is necessary to treat the operated area in accordance with the recommendations given by the doctor;
• Clothing should be loose so as not to irritate or injure the navel area.

Hematomas (bruises) after surgery disappear within a few days, and the final result can be assessed 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Possible consequences after umbilicoplasty

Immediately after plastic surgery, the patient may experience nagging pain in the lower abdomen. They should not cause much discomfort and will go away within a couple of days. During this period, you can take analgesics recommended by the surgeon.

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Bruising may occur because it can cover a large area of ​​the abdomen. Don't be afraid, the tissue in the umbilical area is very sensitive. All bluish formations are only superficial and disappear without treatment gradually over a couple of months, it all depends on the individual patient. There is no need to sunbathe or open the navel area after surgery during cyanosis to prevent spots from forming.

Swelling after the procedure may also be large. Therefore, it is worth preparing in advance so as not to fall into a state of shock. And don’t start using different ointments to relieve swelling. Some patients may gain a little weight, this is due to swelling in the abdomen, usually no more than a couple of sizes.