Have you ever had laproscopic surgery through the umbilicus? How long did it take for your bellybutton to go back to its normal shape?

I had a hysterectomy done through 3 small incisions, one of which was just at the top curve of my belly button. It didn’t really put it out of shape at all, it was just like a tiny cut… it scabbed, it healed, and you can’t even see the scar.

I had a tubal ligation where one of the two small incisions was through the navel and it didn’t change shape, just a bit tender for a few months.

So, it never left its normal shape, even for a few weeks or days after surgery?

Nope, it got pink and a little swollen where it was stitched (I’ve got an innie) but that’s it.

Nope. I’m an innie, too.

I’m going to infer that the umbilicus in question is not normal looking right now? Is it simply a bit swollen, or is it also red and tender? The former is probably just post-operative swelling, but the later could be a sign of an infection. Also, depending on the timing after the procedure, there could be the development of a new incisional hernia.

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@La_chica_gomela: Lurve for the great question… I am considering a laparoscopic tubal ligation and hadn’t thought of such a complication. I hope you recover soon!

When I had a tubal ligation, I had a small scab in my belly button, but no distortion.

Ditto to what Augustian said. But I didn’t even have a scab. Just a couple stitches. No swelling or redness for me, even. (I’m an innie, too)

I had one done to check out what might have been a small ovarian cyst. It turned out to be a fibroid; belly button has a little scar that blends in with the innie normal wrinkles. I never noticed anything.

When I answered this question, I thought you were asking in advance of having such a procedure. Now it appears you’ve already had one… I hope everything is ok! Please update us on your bellybutton’s status. :)

@hearkat: Thanks! Not that I had much choice about my procedure, but I didn’t think of it either. The doctor told me in no uncertain terms that my bellybutton would look completely normal afterward (which it doesn’t at all). She even said something like, “You’ll be wearing bikinis, and everything! Great!”

@La_chica_gomela Perhaps there is the issue of time frame. Maybe she meant ”EVENTUALLY, you’ll be wearing bikinis and everything…”.

@shilolo: But of all five of the women who answered this question, none of their bellybuttons changed shape at all…

I never had a change in shape of my belly button from my lap surgery, neither did my husband.

I think I wound up taking some Keflex because I had some icky oosie stuff at the incisions, but no change in shape.

How’s the belly button doing now?

the same. i feel very deceived.

Poor belly button. :(

you mean poor button-less tummy. it’s basically a flat scar with no discernible in or out. i had a cute innie before.

I’ve heard that you can get plastic surgery to get a belly button. I hope it doesn’t come to that!

There is plastic surgery for it. It wn’t be exactly like a normal belly button, but ver good. It is the give away that someone had a tummy tuck.

I had a bowel resection through the navel. Since the muscle behind it was cut my navel developed a hernia as I regained weight. Overnight my pants didn’t fit. My belly button was protruding at least a good inch from my stomach.

I asked my surgeon for a repair, she examined the area and agreed. A plastic mesh was worked into the muscle. It was profoundly painful but I’m thrilled with the results.

I’m beyond pleased with the three procedures I’ve had with her. if you live near NYC and need your middle worked on I’d be happy to give you her name.

@Noel_S_Leitmotiv: I don’t live in New York, but did she charge you to fix it? I called my doctor and told her about it, and she offered to try to fix it. I didn’t ask if it would be another two of my paychecks, but I get the feeling everything is a new charge in health care.

@JLeslie: What are you talking about? I haven’t had a tummy tuck.

@La_chica_gomela That when you have a tummy tuck, the women who have, they get a new belly button, constructed by the plastic surgeon. I think you asked if they can redo a belly button? I was saying they can. You know how a woman who has had a nose job can always pick out women in a crowd that have had one, they know what to look for? Or, women who wear wigs and extensions find them easily on others? Well, women you have had tummy tucks know what that “fake” belly buton looks like. I didn’t mean you had a tummy tuck.

@La Chica:

She’s charging my insurance. However my navel needed help before the operation.

This is headed along the lines of what I asked on another question, if a doctor screws up, should they fix their screw up for free, or maybe not take a full fee? I guess you still have to pay the hospital fees if is a second surgery. Because charging insurance is like charging all of us.

@JLeslie I never asked if a bellybutton can be redone. I just don’t think that what you wrote in the last post: “women you have had tummy tucks know what that “fake” belly buton looks like.” is the same thing as what you wrote in the one before: “There is plastic surgery for it. It wn’t be exactly like a normal belly button, but ver good. It is the give away that someone had a tummy tuck.” since you say that you know that I didn’t have a tummy tuck.

@La_chica_gomela I’m obviously not explaining myself well. I went back and reread the thread and saw that @augustlan wrote I’ve heard that you can get plastic surgery to get a belly button and I immediately afterwards wrote my remark that if they have to redo your belly buttom altogether it seems they can, because they do it for tummy tuck patients. I know you are not a tummy tuck patient, I am only talking about the belly button. Tummy tuck patients are not laproscopic they have a huge horizontal incision along the top of the pubic line, like a c-section but bigger.