What is Umbilicoplasty (Belly Button Surgery)?
Umbilicoplasty is also known as belly button surgery and is a surgical procedure designed to convert an ‘outie’ to an ‘innie’ belly button. The belly button, otherwise known as the navel or umbilicus, is the depression in the skin as the result of the removal of the umbilical cord. The formed cavity is generally referred to as an “innie”. However, some people will form an “outie”, where skin bulges outwards instead of forming a depression. This can often cause people to have low self-confidence and body image issues. If this is the case for you, umbilicoplasty or belly button surgery may be for you. Our surgeons also repair belly buttons which have been affected by piercing as well as those who require creation of a new belly button following emergency surgery of the abdomen. Some people will have an underlying umbilical hernia and this can be repaired at the same time as the umbilicoplasty.
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All our surgeons are on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery. The Royal College of Surgeons of England has an excellent information resource on cosmetic surgery.
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Umbilicoplasty is a procedure which alters the appearance of the belly button to enhance its aesthetics. Our surgeons have many years of experience in performing belly button surgery of all degrees of complexity.
The benefits of outpatient cosmetic surgery
The procedure can be performed on its own, or in conjunction with a tummy tuck or umbilical hernia repair.
Factors such as ageing, pregnancy, weight loss or gain, trauma or hernias can impact the appearance of your belly button. A typical belly button will appear small and vertical. Umbilicoplasty will be able to alter the belly button to ensure it is considered better looking.
If you are concerned about the appearance of your belly button, umbilicoplasty or belly button surgery can be an option to address your concerns at our cosmetic surgery centre.
Umbilicoplasty Surgeons
Why choose our surgeons?
- Our body contouring surgeons are on the GMC specialist register for plastic surgery
- Full membership of the UK and the European Association of Plastic Surgery
- Aesthetic fellowships in body contouring surgery
- A strong background in reconstructive surgery
- Our body contouring surgeons are highly skilled plastic surgeons who specialise in aesthetic surgery of the breast and body
Our surgeons are full members of:
RealSelf Top Doctors
RealSelf top doctor status is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf doctor community. This status is earned by achieving consistently high patient satisfaction (from RealSelf reviews), getting excellent feedback on expert answers to patient questions, and investing significant time in Q&A and other doctor activities. RealSelf top doctors are rated among the very best surgeons in the United Kingdom.
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How to prepare for belly button surgery
At Centre for Surgery, our surgeons strongly believe that the success of any cosmetic surgery procedure including belly button surgery is optimised with following all of the surgeon’s pre-procedure instructions. We always strive to go above and beyond to make sure all our patients are optimally prepared for breast lift surgery – physically, mentally and emotionally.
All patients should be in good health and have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with belly button surgery.
We do not treat patients below the age of 18 years of age.
Healing is better if patients refrain from or quit smoking.
Belly button surgery is performed purely for cosmetic purposes, to help improve one’s image and self-esteem.
Advice on optimum pre-operative preparation
Prior to any surgical procedure, you will have a consultation with the surgeon. This will allow you to outline your wants and needs for the procedure and will allow you to have realistic expectations of the outcome. You will also have to discuss your full medical history with the surgeon.
Umbilicoplasty Procedure
Umbilicoplasty surgery is performed as a day case procedure at our state of the art Baker Street clinic in central London. Umbilicoplasty can be performed under a local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic. If you choose to have surgery under a general anaesthetic, you will need to have a responsible adult to escort you home in a car or taxi and to keep an eye on you for 24-48 hours. In certain cases such as a co-existing umbilical hernia requiring repair in addition to an umbilicoplasty, general anaesthesia is highly recommended for your comfort. The procedure should take about one to two hours to complete. You will be able to return home the same day as the procedure.
The procedure involves the surgeon designing incisions in discreet areas as much as possible to conceal any visible scarring. The exact technique used will vary depending on your belly button and the look you are wanting to achieve afterwards.
Recovery After Umbilicoplasty
You can expect some swelling and bruising for the first few days following your belly button surgery but this is expected to resolve fairly quickly. You should be able to go back to work within 48 hours.
How to speed up recovery after cosmetic surgery
The Centre for Surgery approach to aftercare
Our aftercare programme was recently described as ‘outstanding’ by our regulator, the Care Quality Commission.
Our postoperative support team call all our patients the day after their procedure and then every other day thereafter for the first two weeks. The proactive nature of our postoperative support gives every patient the best opportunity for a smooth postoperative recovery free of complications. In many cases, if complications were to occur, their impact is markedly lessened by early detection, prompt clinical assessment and correct treatment. When a patient expresses concern to our team over the phone, then we often call patients on the same day for assessment with one of our expert nursing team. Even if there is no significant issue, the careful explanation and calm reassurance provided by our team can help to alleviate any worries you may have experienced.
Belly Button Surgery Before and After Photos
At Centre for Surgery, we only show photos of our patients that have given written consent allowing use of their images on our website.
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How much does umbilicoplasty cost?
There are a number of factors which will determine the overall cost of the belly button reshaping procedure and the final quotation will be given after a face-to-face consultation with your specialist plastic surgeon.
- Type of umbilicoplasty – skin only or combined with umbilical hernia repair
- Umbilicoplasty combined with another procedure
- Local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic
- Primary or revision umbilicoplasty
Umbilicoplasty on its own costs £1495 with a local anaesthetic.
Body cosmetic surgery prices
Why not call us on 0207 993 4849 and speak to one of our expert patient coordinators who may be able to give you a rough costing prior to a consultation for umbilicoplasty.
Always remember that price should never be the determining factor when it comes to choosing a plastic surgeon for your belly button surgery procedure. We feel that safety and quality of service should be your number one priority and instil in you the confidence that our team will look after you before, during and after your procedure to the best of their ability.
What is included in my treatment package?
- As many preoperative consultations with your surgeon as you like to make sure the procedure is right for you
- Treatment at a specialist day surgery facility recently rated ‘Good’ by the CQC
- Enhanced same-day discharge with the added benefits of recovering in your own home
- 24/7 clinical support from your surgeon for the first 48 hours and our expert postoperative support team
- Your very own dedicated patient coordinator
- In-depth preoperative medical assessment to make sure you are fully fit for the umbilicoplasty procedure
- Exceptionally high standards of postoperative care described as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC with regular telephone and face-to-face checks by our expert postoperative support team
FAQs
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What is An Umbilicoplasty?An umbilicoplasty also known as belly button reshaping or belly button surgery is a procedure to reshape the belly button. It can be performed for both aesthetic and reconstructive purposes.
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Am I suitable for Umbilicoplasty?Those who are unhappy with the appearance of their belly button may wish to undergo an umbilicoplasty. Many patients often have a distorted belly button that they wish to reshape often as a result of a previous pregnancy or traumatic injury.
You will need to be at least 18 years old and in good health to have belly button surgery. -
Is belly button surgery permanent?Bellybutton surgery is designed to permanently reshape the belly button. In many people, the actual shape and position of the belly button may change due to weight gain or loss, pregnancy or loss of abdominal wall muscle tone.
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What type of anaesthetic is used for umbilicoplasty?Umbilicoplasty surgery can be performed easily with local anaesthesia. For those who may feel a little nervous, you also have access to TIVA general anaesthesia technique. which means you will be sleep throughout the procedure.
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What are the potential risks and complications of belly button surgery?Umbilicoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure with a low risk of complications. Potential risks of bellybutton surgery include minor bleeding, localised wound infection, skin breakdown and skin discolouration.
Excessive scarring including keloid formation may be slightly more common in people with darker skin tones. -
Can umbilicoplasty fix an outie belly button?Umbilicoplasty or bellybutton Surgery can easily convert an 'outie' belly button (the skin bulges outward) into an 'innie' (the navel turns inwards for a more pleasing appearance).
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How long does belly button surgery take to perform?Typically, umbilicoplasty surgery takes about one hour to carry out. If the procedure is combined with umbilical hernia repair, the procedure may take up to 2 hours to perform.
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What does umbilicoplasty recovery involve?Patients can return to work within 48 hours after their procedure. The recovery time may be longer if you have had a combined umbilicoplasty with umbilical hernia repair.
All patients should avoid lifting heavy weights or young children for the first three weeks after the procedure. -
Does belly button surgery result in visible scars?All surgery which involves an incision results in scars. With umbilicoplasty, the surgeon will try to position the incisions in the belly button so that any scarring is minimal. The type of umbilical reconstruction will be explained to you at the consultation to give you an idea of how umbilicoplasty scars could look.
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How much does Umbilicoplasty surgery cost?Belly button surgery performed under a local anaesthetic costs from £1495 depending on the complexity of the umbilical correction.
What To Expect
The Consultation
After you have decided to learn more about umbilicoplasty, we recommend a face to face consultation with one our expert belly button repair surgeons as a first step in your journey towards achieving an umbilical correction. When you meet with one of our surgeons, your surgeon will take time to listen carefully to what you hope to achieve and give you an expert opinion on what can and cannot be achieved after performing a thorough physical examination of the belly button area. If an umbilical hernia is found, your surgeon will recommend this to be repaired at the same time.
High resolution photographs are taken in a number of views of the belly button from different angles. Your surgeon will also discuss with you the potential risks and complications of umbilicoplasty and what to expect in the postoperative phase during your healing and recovery. It is important to know what medicines you are taking as some medicines can interfere with blood clotting and may need to be stopped. Any history of medical conditions or previous surgery will also be recorded and all the compiled information is used to make a decision on your medical fitness for the umbilicoplasty procedure. After a recommended two week cool off period and provided you are appropriate for the procedure, you can then make an informed decision on whether you would like to proceed with the procedure. If you are unsure on any aspect of the procedure and what it entails then we would invite you to return for as many follow-up consultations with your surgeon as you like to make sure that umbilicoplasty surgery is right for you. The consultation lasts about 45 minutes on average. It may take longer if your procedure is going to be more complex. We would actively recommend coming in for a follow-up consultation to ensure all your questions are answered.
Before Your Procedure
Once you have decided to move forward with umbilicoplasty surgery. Our preoperative assessment team will be in touch to assess your medical fitness prior to coming in on the day of surgery. There are a number of instructions to follow before your procedure including stopping any aspirin containing medicines as these can increase bleeding and ideally stopping smoking. Smokers have a higher risk of slower wound healing as well as more chance of wound complications. On the day of your procedure, you must follow the preoperative fasting guidance which includes no food for 6 hours prior if you are having TIVA anaesthesia. Only clear fluids (water) is allowed up to 2 hours before your procedure.
On The Day of Your Procedure
When you arrive for your umbilicoplasty procedure, you should aim to arrive on time to allow the admission process to proceed smoothly. One of our nurses will formally admit you and will check a number of items including making sure you have your postoperative medications which include pain relief medicines. You will have your vital signs measured including blood pressure and heart rate. The anaesthetist will then meet you to perform a preoperative airway assessment. Finally your surgeon will consent you for the planned procedure followed by a detailed preoperative marking of the areas to be treated. The umbilicoplasty procedure takes about between 1 hour to perform and is easily performed under a local anaesthetic with or without oral sedation to make you feel relaxed. The option of TIVA general anaesthesia is also available if you prefer to be asleep for your procedure. The surgeon will first inject the area around the belly button with local anaesthetic to make the area fully numb. Incisions will then be made to reshape the belly button. The surgeon will aim to place the incisions within natural skin folds where possible. Special sutures are used to anchor the belly button skin to create an 'innie' belly button. Where an umbilical hernia is present, the surgeon may use specialised mesh to block the gap giving rise to the umbilical hernia. The incisions are then closed with sutures and a sterile dressing is applied. After the procedure is complete, you will spend time in our recovery suite where you will be prepared for nurse-led discharge once you have met all the discharge criteria. It is important to have a responsible adult to accompany you home and to look after you for the first 24 hours.
After Your Procedure
Once you are safely at home, you can be assured in having access to our specialist postoperative clinical support team around the clock. You will be given a contact number to contact your surgeon in the first 24 hours after surgery if you have any concerns. An umbilicoplasty procedure is associated with very little in the way of postoperative discomfort although some discomfort is common for the first week after surgery. Bruising should start to subside after 7-10 days. You should avoid intense sunlight after the procedure to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation in the incisions.
Our postoperative team will look to call everyday for the first 2 weeks after your procedure. This is so we can monitor your levels of comfort and can alert your surgeon if there is any concern. Our proactive approach allows the detection of any potential issues early which results in more effective treatment. You are advised to rest for at least a few days after your umbilicoplasty procedure which will also help with pain control. Heavy exercise should be avoided for at least the first 4 weeks. Our postoperative clinical team will assess you face to face at your 1 week postoperative appointment to ensure healing is progressing normally and the wounds site are healthy. You will be booked for your surgeon follow-up appointment for 6 weeks after your procedure.
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