Umbilical Reduction

The navel dilates due to high abdominal pressure, bulges as a result of pregnancy, or expands from obesity; the peripheral skin is also complicated because of laxity or stretch marks. Therefore, on surgery, the excess skin around the navel should first be radially removed and centripetally stitched and a continuous non-absorbable suture should be embedded around the navel to tighten the loose skin toward the navel via suture tension, thus effectively tightening and shrinking the navel.

Surgical conditions

Duration

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  • Type of anesthesia: IV sedation + local anesthesia
  • Type of incision: An annular incision around the umbilicus
  • Recovery: 2–3 days
  • Removal of stitches: 7–10 days

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

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  • Avoid abdominal exertion for 1 month postoperatively.
  • Avoid strenuous abdominal activities for 3 months postoperatively.
  • Wear a compression garment for 3 months postoperatively to prevent the loosening of the navel suture.
  • Take care of the scar consistently for 6 months postoperatively.

Ideal candidates

  • Patients with a congenital umbilical deformity
  • Those with an umbilical deformity or extroversion due to multiple pregnancy
  • Those with skin looseness around the navel due to dramatic weight loss
  • Those unsatisfied with their too big or shallow navel

Possible complications

  • Poor wound healing
  • Umbilical inflammation
  • Scar proliferation
  • Peripheral skin folding (temporary)
  • Incomplete correction

Surgical advantages

  1. It effectively improves the poor appearance of the broad or big navel.

  2. It redresses skin laxity around the navel.

  3. It restores the normal appearance of the navel.

Surgical disadvantages

  1. A scar may be left around the navel.

  2. The skin around the navel may appear uneven.

  3. The navel may become big again due to pregnancy in the future.

Possible procedure in conjunction

Before & After

These photographs represent typical results, but not everyone who undergoes plastic surgery will achieve the same.

Umbilical Reduction