Question:
Okay, here's a silly question about the tummy tuck, but it's important to ME...

When you have a tummy tuck (I'm 13 months post op) do you end up with a belly button or do they remove it and put it back, what?!? I wouldn't want to look freaky w/o one. Tell me what to expect PLEASE.    — Annie H. (posted on November 21, 2002)

November 21, 2002
Either way I think - some people don't care - and you could claim to be an alien from another planet and go into show business- if you choose not to have a lint catcher.
   — charlene M.

November 21, 2002
Your surgeon will have his own way of doing it, unless you speak up and tell him your personal preference.Leslie
   — Leslie E.

November 21, 2002
I think a GOOD surgeon would put it back for you. The point of all of this is to look NORMAL. So, I would definately ask the surgeon you choose. If you don't like the answer, then he isn't for you. With the surgeon I am using, it wasn't even a consideration. He said he automatically will put one back.
   — Kris T.

November 21, 2002
I got a brand new one, and the scar is almost hidden inside it. It has already faded a lot. I love the results.
   — cindy Q.

November 21, 2002
My surgeon put my belly button back when I had my TT. I had asked him as I was getting ready to be put under...and being the jokester that I am, I told him that if he couldn't "save it", then not to worry...that I would just tell my future grandchildren that MaMa was hatched on Mars and not born LOL He was able to save it and it looks okay. Of course, there is still scarring and it will take about a year before everything settles down. We'll see how it looks then. Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
   — Mustang

November 21, 2002
When you have a tummy tuck, they lift all the loose skin on your abdomen and pull everything down, cutting off the excess skin and reattaching everything just above the pubic area. The plastic surgeon will cut a new hole for your belly button. . .the inside of your old belly button will still be there, just with a new opening in skin that used to be higher up on your body. . .mine looks better than it did originally. You won't look freaky.
   — Sarah S.

November 22, 2002
My doctor made me a new belly button. He said the old one was too big to go on my nice new little belly. It looks completely normal.
   — Patty H.

November 22, 2002
Most people don't realize this, but you don't get a *new* belly button....it's actually the same old belly button (because it's connected inside). They cut around it, leaving it in place....they then pull your skin down tight over top of it and cut a hole in the skin where the belly button is. Next, they pull the existing belly button up through the hole and stich it together nice and neat. I've never seen one that looked the same, and this is why people think they have an entirely new belly button. I'm not an expert, so there could be a way to completely make a new belly button, but there's no reason to do so.
   — Lynette B.