Tummy tuck & umbilical hernia = no belly button??

I'm looking for any information on what others have heard about getting an umbilical hernia repair at the same time as a tummy tuck.  I have had consultations with 2 different surgeons and have had 2 different opinions.  I'm not sure what to think.

Plastic Surgeon #1 - felt I had a small umbilical hernia, wants a general surgeon there to repair it, but says I only have a 25% chance of coming out of surgery with a belly button.  She says if I definately want a belly button I should have the hernia repaired first and then the tummy tuck several months later. 

Apparently they are saying the reason I wouldn't be able to keep my belly button is that because the normal blood supply to the belly button is typically lost with a hernia and a new lateral blood supply is formed by the body.  And because the blood supply to the belly button is then lateral, cutting out the belly button and moving it means that the blood supply to it is lost.  They even said that creating a new fake belly button was not likely.
When I said another plastic surgeon didn't even mention it, they made it sound like this was definately a possiblility and any good plastic surgeon would warn a patient before the surgery that this was a risk of repairing an umbilical hernia at the same time as the tummy tuck.

Plastic Surgeon #2:  When I asked him about the hernia, he barely said anything.  Actually his nurse had him come back in to reexamine me and he did say that yes, there was a very small hernia there.  I really wanted to know because of insurance and for short-term disability.  He said it would be no big deal to repair it -- that it would only take a few stitches and it would be done as he was tightening my muscles.  He also said there would be no reason to think I would loose my belly button.
So I am totally unsure what to think about this.  I don't care if I keep MY belly button -- I just want A belly button!

Another thing is that PS#1 is big on working with insurance and getting insurance to cover part of the procedure.  They are vey helpful with insurance and are well known for being insurance friendly.  PS#2 doesn't want anything to do with insurance if possible.  I'm wondering if PS#1 is using the tiny umbilical hernia as a way to get insurance to cover part of the costs for me so they can get my business and therefore making a mountain out of a mole hill -- so to say!  Which is fine with me, because the hernia is there and although it isn't a problem for me right now, it will need to be fixed at some point -- and I don't want to do it after getting a tummy tuck!

These are both very highly reputable and recommended surgeons!

So I will be happy to hear any advise or comments!

Thanks,
Jennifer

You could lose your belly button. Or you could keep it and have the tissue die and then have it cut away to allow for healing.
Or you could come out with your belly button intact, and do well. Or you could find the PS saved your belly button but didn't do a good job on the hernia in order not to compromise the belly button.
OR everything could work out perfectly!
It's mentioned usually because it is a possibility if you have an umbilical hernia.

I had major hernia surgery when I woke up my belly button was gone he said he told me there was a possibility this could happen but I don't remember

I think there is a possibility of losing the belly button with any hernia repair and TT.  I know that I was told there was a possibility I could lose mine.  I didn't, but I think in some ways they are going over all the possible things that could go wrong so you can give informed consent.  But I have known people who have lost the belly button, so it is a real possibility.

Red

Get a third opinion.  If not, I'd definitely go with the surgeon who felt he could do the work without problem or risk to your belly button. 

My PS repaired a humungous umbilical hernia when he did my tummy tuck, AND he rerouted my bellybutton. (It's kind of weird to have your bellybutton in a different place than you are used to it being.)

PS - my 14 month old grandson's favorite word right now is BELLYBUTTON yelled as loud as he can - and if he can get to your shirt, he will yank it up while he's yelling it.

Hey Jen,
The first ps I consulted with told me I would likely lose my BB, as I had had so many previous abdominal surgeries (I had had an umbilical hernia repair, gall bladder removal, two c-sections, and the gastric bypass.)  He said the stalk itself internally was probably lacking blood supply and would likely die.  He also said that he wouldn't do a TT with a hernia repair together, he wanted the hernia done by a gen. surgeon and then another date he'd do the TT or LBL.  He is the most experienced and respected (and expensive) PS in our city.

The second surgeon I consulted with was a younger surgeon.  She said it was no big deal to fix  a hernia while she was in there for the TT, and she's done it frequently.  She said it was possible that I could lose the belly button, but even if that did happen, she could make a little dimple there to give the impression of the bellybutton.  (I guess with stitches or something.)  She said it rarely happens to her patients, though.

I went with the second surgeon, and had an extended TT and a major hernia repair.  Guess what?  My belly button looks great, and I seriously had my doubts about it.  It looked purplish the day or two after surgery, and I was concerned.  I just put my neosporin on it and prayed about it, and it has healed nicely!  Yay!  A belly button that's not two inches deep!  LOL

Hope that helps!
Steph

My best friend just had a huge umbilical hernia repaired along with a tummy tuck and breast lift - there was no mention of losing the belly button and it looks great.  The PS did the hernia repair for free, basically did it while doing muscle repair.  It CAN be done, so I would try to find someone who feels a bit more confident about it.  Don't know about you but I'm kind of attached to my one and only belly button, especially now that it's not buried under a sack of sagging skin.  =D

I had a tummy tuck and had them deliberately skip the belly button because I wanted a washboard tummy and didn't want the increased risk of infection. I don't miss the belly button at all.