Belly Button Surgery (Umbilicoplasty)
This procedure shapes a balanced belly button that sits in harmony with your abdomen, so you can feel more at ease in clothing that shows your midriff.
Is this right for you?
Your belly button is the small scar left behind by the cord that connected you to your mother before birth. Most often it curves inward, but for some people it pokes outward, sits shallow and flat, or carries folds of extra skin. If the shape of your navel is something you think about and would like to change, this is one option worth considering.
This may be a good fit if
- You were born without a belly button, or you lost it after an injury or as a complication of an earlier surgery.
- Your belly button is flat and shallow, with little definition.
- Your belly button pokes outward (an outie).
- You have folds of extra skin around your navel that make its shape uneven.
- Your health is stable, and what you want for the shape of your navel is clear and realistic.
This may not be right if
- You are hoping for a result that stays fixed and never shifts over time or with changes in your weight.
- You have a health condition that is not yet well controlled, or you take blood thinners and have not yet discussed this with your doctor.
- You are not ready to stop smoking, alcohol, or certain medicines and supplements before surgery as instructed.
How it works
First, you will be examined and counseled by surgeons who specialize in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Your doctor will ask about your current health, any history of allergies, and whether you take supplements, vitamins, aspirin, or blood thinners, or whether you smoke or drink alcohol. If you do, you should stop before surgery as instructed.
During your consultation, you and your doctor will talk through the surgical approach and what you are hoping for. Your doctor may also suggest additional procedures if they fit your goals. You will have routine pre-surgery tests, and your doctor will examine you to choose the approach that suits the shape of your navel.
Umbilicoplasty is usually performed under local anesthesia with light sedation, which means the area around your navel is numbed and you are given medicine to help you relax gently during the procedure. If you have it at the same time as abdominal liposuction or a tummy tuck, general anesthesia may be needed.
Depending on the starting shape of your navel, your doctor will choose a suitable incision, but all approaches follow one shared principle: securing the skin firmly to the muscle layer of the abdominal wall to shape the belly button you want. The procedure usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how involved the original navel is.
Realistic expectations
Umbilicoplasty aims to improve the shape and position of your belly button so it sits more in harmony with your abdomen. This is a change to your appearance, not to your internal health.
What this will not do
- This surgery does not change your weight or remove fat from your abdomen.
- This surgery does not on its own tighten extra skin across the whole abdominal wall — those are separate procedures your doctor can discuss with you if they are a good fit.
- The result is not fixed forever; your abdomen can still change with your weight and as you age.
Recovery
For most people this is a gentle procedure. You can usually rest and go home the same day, and return to your daily life and work almost as normal soon after. The milestones below are rough guides and can differ from one person to the next.
- The same day
- You can rest where you are and go home the same day, then return to your daily life and work as normal.
- Roughly the first 3 to 5 days
- You will take pain medicine for about 3 to 5 days, depending on the type of surgery.
- Roughly the first 5 to 7 days
- You will need to keep the wound clean and dry for about 5 to 7 days.
- Around 7 days after surgery
- You will come back for a follow-up at about 7 days so your doctor can check the area and remove stitches if needed.
Risks & safety
Like any surgery, umbilicoplasty carries some risks. According to our source material, these are very uncommon, but you should understand them clearly before you decide.
- Navel tissue death (necrosis), meaning part of the tissue around the belly button does not heal well.
- An allergic reaction to the local anesthetic or general anesthesia.
- A poor scar after healing.
- Pain and discomfort in the first few days, calling for pain medicine.
- The shape of your navel may not turn out exactly as you pictured it, and a further adjustment may be needed.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, every umbilicoplasty begins with an examination and consultation with surgeons who specialize in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Your doctor will look into your health, your history of allergies, and the medicines you take, and will order routine pre-surgery tests so your procedure can be safer.
We do not use one fixed incision for everyone. Depending on the starting shape of your navel, your doctor will choose a suitable technique, following the principle of securing the skin firmly to the muscle layer of the abdominal wall so your belly button is shaped the way you want. If your goals call for other procedures at the same time, such as abdominal liposuction or a tummy tuck, your doctor will talk through the plan and the type of anesthesia clearly with you.
Frequently asked questions
Does umbilicoplasty hurt?
The area around your navel is numbed, and you are usually given sedation as well to help you relax gently during the procedure. Afterward you may feel some pain or discomfort, and you will take pain medicine for about 3 to 5 days.
Will I need to take many days off work?
Most people can rest and go home the same day, then return to daily life and work almost as normal soon after. You will need to keep the wound clean and dry for about 5 to 7 days.
Will there be a scar?
Yes. Every surgery leaves a scar, and your doctor will choose the incision so the scar blends with your navel. One of the uncommon risks is a poor scar, and your doctor will talk with you about this.
Will my belly button look natural afterward?
The goal of the surgery is to shape a balanced belly button that sits in harmony with your abdomen, the way you want. Results differ from one person to the next, so you should talk with your doctor in detail about the shape you are aiming for.
Will I need general anesthesia, or only local?
Umbilicoplasty is usually done under local anesthesia with light sedation. If you have it at the same time as abdominal liposuction or a tummy tuck, general anesthesia may be needed.
How long does the procedure take?
Usually 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how involved the original navel is.
What do I need to prepare before surgery?
You will be examined, counseled, and given routine tests. If you take aspirin, blood thinners, supplements, or vitamins, or if you smoke or drink alcohol, you should stop before surgery as your doctor instructs.
Can it be done if my belly button is an outie?
Yes. An outie navel is one of the common reasons people come in for umbilicoplasty. Your doctor will examine you to choose the approach that suits the shape of your navel.
Will the result last forever?
No aesthetic result stays fixed forever. Your abdomen can still change with your weight and over time, so the shape of your navel can change along with it.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.