Among the areas causing the most confusion for women is the stomach, Shermak explains. At her practice in Baltimore, many people will say they want an MD to perform liposuction on their abdomens, when in fact what they really need is the tummy tuck procedure instead. “Usually they are asking for liposuction, but they actually want a tummy tuck,” she says.

An MD who performs liposuction on a patient in Baltimore is effectively thinning the tissue in the person’s affected area, usually the abdomen or the thighs, which Shermak says is ideal for someone who has “thick, localized fatty deposits.” For someone with those body issues, liposuction would absolutely be the best option to help the person achieve a thinner, more toned look.

Liposuction is the best procedure to try for someone with good, tight skin tone, as opposed to someone whose skin in the stomach area is more lax. “So it is good for people with good skin tone, people who don’t have abdominal scarring, people who have good muscle tone, and those who are generally fit,” Shermak says. The ideal liposuction candidate is not necessarily overweight, but just has some problem areas in the hips or the abdomen that he or she would like to have addressed by a plastic surgeon.

From what Shermak has seen in her Baltimore practice though, many women who think they need liposuction are actually better candidates for tummy tucks. In general, tummy tucks are a better option for individuals who have a lot of excess skin. “And that is because liposuction is not going to remove any skin excess,” Shermak says.

Additionally, a tummy tuck would be a good option for someone who has poor muscle tone, which may have been impaired by significant weight changes in life or because of surgeries that actually cut through the abdominal muscles. Having a prior surgery that required the surgeon to cut through the abdominal muscle could absolutely result in poor muscle tone in the stomach, and a tummy tuck would be an excellent option for repairing that and bringing the look of that muscle tone back to the abs. “So an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck addresses the muscle tightness and tone of the abdomen,” Shermak says.

As patients get older, Shermak says that liposuction becomes less of a good option for reducing girth in the abdominal area. This is for multiple reasons, starting with the fact that older patients are more likely to have had multiple surgeries over the course of their lifetimes. “And as you have more surgery, abdominoplasty tends to be the better procedure for the individual,” she says.

Of course, the best way for a patient to determine whether a tummy tuck or liposuction is right is to visit a plastic surgeon. In Baltimore, Shermak regularly meets with patients and explains the ins and outs of what each procedure entails.

Oftentimes, a person might come into Shermak’s office wanting one procedure, and leaving wanting to have something else done entirely. By working with a surgeon who is as experienced as Shermak—and who will offer the right amount of guidance throughout the process—patients can help themselves arrive at the best possible decisions for toning their stomachs.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

To understand why bariatric patients would choose to have abdominal skin tightening done, you first have to understand what bariatric surgery really is. For those who don’t already know, bariatric surgery refers to the surgery that is done in order to help someone lose weight. Typically, these bariatric surgeries are done on people who have at least 100 pounds of weight or more to lose.

These bariatric surgeries are done by general surgeons and not plastic surgeons. So during this initial surgery, a patient may have a stomach bypass or an intestinal bypass. So the patient will have his stomach stapled during that initial surgery performed by a general surgeon.

What happens when someone has bariatric surgery is that he loses a dramatic amount of weight. When someone loses a hundred pounds or more in a short period of time, though, it is common that the skin of the body won’t necessarily go away as quickly, or at all. So the skin will look somewhat loose and unsightly, especially around the stomach area for a lot of these patients.

By coming in for a post-bariatric abdominal skin tightening procedure, patients can get that skin tightened and taken care of. Only then can people really see how much weight they have lost, and that is a big thing for a lot of people.

This really is a procedure that is simply a variation on a tummy tuck. It is performed similarly to a tummy tuck, on the part of the surgeon, but additional special considerations need to be addressed at the same time. That makes a post-bariatric abdominal skin tightening a little more complicated than just a regular tummy tuck.

Obviously bariatric patients need to come in after they have lost weight from their surgery, but they shouldn’t come in too soon. Coming into my office three months after undergoing bariatric surgery, for example, would be too soon for most patients.

At a minimum, patients who have undergone bariatric surgery need their weight to remain stable for three to six months after their initial weight loss. Obviously, the specifics of this will vary based on how much weight they lost and whether they intend to lose even more, but those are just some general estimates.

Additional considerations on the part of the surgeon remain as well, since these patients pose additional risks. A plastic surgeon performing a post-bariatric abdominal skin tightening procedure should be sure to find out where his patients’ vitamin levels are, and make sure that patient’s blood count is where it should be.

If all of those things look good, then a patient is ready to go forward with the post-bariatric abdominal skin tightening procedure. And, like I said, this can be a procedure that majorly impacts the lives a lot of patients who have had bariatric surgery.

Tags: abdominal skin tightening, bariatric surgery, skin tightening

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A tummy tuck or abdominal skin tightening is a pretty big operation. Whether you are treating someone who has previously undergone bariatric surgery, or just someone who is looking for a firmer stomach area, this surgery can last four hours or longer. Before undergoing an operation like this, patients need to be sure they have the time to devote to recovery, which can often be a matter of weeks.

For bariatric patients specifically—I am talking about those who have had a weight loss surgery and are now undergoing an abdominal tightening procedure as a way of reducing the extra skin in their midsection—this procedure can go on for quite a long time. These patients typically need a little more to be done to them to put them in a good, top notch shape, which is why it is not uncommon for these surgeries to take more than four hours to complete. And the stitches that I am putting into the muscle fascia are quite delicate, so that adds to the time.

When you are working on a post-bariatric patient, there is simply more skin to tuck and tighten than with a typical tummy tuck patient. That largely accounts for the increased time the surgery itself will take. In addition, you may need to extend the incision a little bit longer for patients who have previously undergone a bariatric surgery than for patients who have not.

In general situations, I would recommend that any patients coming in for an abdominal skin tightening procedure take at least two to three weeks off from work to recover. That is a time frame for a typical desk worker, though, and not someone who might have a more physically demanding job. Anyone who works in a more physically demanding job should take additional time off work to recover, although that amount of time depends on their specific job.

When you are tightening the muscle fascia specifically in an abdominal skin tightening, that can be a bit more painful to recover from than just a typically tummy tuck. So for patients who have had their muscle fascia tightened, I would recommend a little more downtime for recovery. Because those muscle stitches can be quite delicate, I typically tell patients that they need at least six weeks of recovery time before returning to their normal, active life.

All of these are just general guidelines, though, and it is important that anyone undergoing an abdominal skin tightening procedure check with their doctor specifically to find out how long they need to schedule time off for a proper recovery.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: abdominal skin tightening, plastic surgery

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Although we can remove it quite easily now, no one has been able to fully determine what actually causes the skin around the tummy area to droop in some women but not others.

It is really common that a woman may have had a baby, and afterward the skin around her stomach is no longer taut—it droops a bit. But then other women carry one or more pregnancies, and afterward, their abdomen and belly skin look completely fine. So far, nobody has been able to really tell for sure why this difference persists for women who may otherwise have similar body types.

What we do know is that patients who bounce back — figuratively speaking — from a pregnancy tend to have more elasticity in their skin than the women who come into a plastic surgeon’s office looking for a tummy tuck. But there is little, besides cosmetic surgery, that a woman can do to impact how elastic her skin may naturally be.

In other words, some patients carry a pregnancy, and afterward their abdomen and belly skin look fine. Meanwhile, other patients’ weight goes back to normal after giving birth, but there skin still droops and has stretch marks. So those women in the second group obviously have a lower degree of elasticity, or what we call a skin turgor, than other female patients.

Of course, few people have perfect skin elasticity and many women who could benefit from a tummy tuck to get rid of the drooping in their stomach, even if it is only a minor issue.

When we do a procedure to fix this in the lower belly area, it is called a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty. We often use this treatment method for patients who have dieted and exercised and still are not able to lose the stubborn skin and fat in their abdominal area. And, like I said, women who have had multiple pregnancies are often considered good candidates for this, too.

For those who may not know, a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty procedure involves making an incision from a patient’s hip to hip, separating that patient’s skin from her abdominal wall, bringing the abdominal muscles closer together, affixing them in place, and then stretching the skin back down over the stomach area.

Another treatment method we use to help people with saggy skin is called a body lift. Essentially it is a surgical treatment that uses the same techniques as a tummy tuck—with the only difference being that the surgery is on the back half of the body instead of the front. With this procedure, we can really just lift up the skin that might be hanging there, especially after a person has lost a lot of weight. A lot of women are increasingly undergoing this treatment, often with fantastic results.

In the last few years alone, body lifts have really risen in popularity due to the bariatric surgery that so many Americans are undergoing. Some physicians use the term body lift to talk about lifting both the front and back halves of the body when they are working on a patient who may have already undergone bariatric surgery. But when I discuss this treatment option with patients, I am usually talking about just lifting the skin on their back side (the area directly above the rear).

Finally, I have noticed in my years of practice that saggy, droopy skin can also spur women to ask for a face lift. Obviously, a face lift won’t impact the saggy skin around a patient’s stomach area. Nonetheless that initial saggy skin can be what encourages a woman to look at tightening up the skin elsewhere on her body, as well.

No matter what treatment option a woman chooses, it is important that women know they have options. Many things can be done to get rid of the droopy skin that bothers so many people, and women should not have to suffer with any saggy skin that bothers them.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: extra skin, tummy

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A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a body contouring procedure that seeks to remove extra skin and fat, and tighten the underlying muscles to achieve a flat and toned abdomen. Patients who benefit from this procedure are those who have had a pregnancy, significant weight fluctuations, prior surgery, or simply a loss of muscle tone due to aging or heredity.

There are two main types of tummy tucks. A traditional abdominoplasty addresses the area from the bottom of the rib cage down the pelvis, or the entire abdomen. A mini abdominoplasty addresses from the umbilicus down to the pelvis.

Location of Skin Excess

Patients who are candidates for a traditional abdominoplasty include those with skin excess above the umbilicus, or muscle weakness that extends above the umbilicus. Candidates for a mini abdominoplasty are those with skin excess limited to the area below the umbilicus, or muscle weakness below the umbilicus.

Frequently, liposuction of the abdominal region is done at the time of mini abdominoplasty, especially the area above the level of the umbilicus. Less rarely is liposuction done at the time of traditional abdominoplasty.

Recovery Period

This operation is done under general anesthesia and occasionally requires a stay overnight, depending on the patient’s individual needs. This procedure is frequently performed with other breast and body contour procedures. The recovery time for a tummy tuck is longer than liposuction because of tightening of the muscles. Most patients are able to return to work in 10 days to two weeks.

The recovery period for a mini abdominoplasty compared to a traditional one obviously is less, and the operation itself is less painful. More patients are candidates for the traditional abdominoplasty than the mini tummy tuck.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: abdominoplasty, cosmetic surgery, mini tummy tuck, plasti surgery, skin, skin excess, tummy tuck

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What is it?

A lap band is a laparoscopic adjustable band that serves as a restrictive device. It is implanted via bariatric surgery and is designed to reduce the size of the stomach, and therefore, the risk of obesity.

The band creates a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach via a controlled, adjustable stoma. This procedure is done without stapling. The band is introduced via a 1-cm incision in the abdomen. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes about 30 to 60 minutes. Following surgery, the band is able to be inflated or deflated depending on the needs of the patient. This process takes about 15 minutes, is done by a medical professional, and is painless. It is done with the injection of a saline solution.

The presence of the band reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. This means less food enters the stomach, less nutrients are absorbed into the intestines, and a person feels fuller sooner, allowing them to eat less and consume less calories.

Who Needs It?

As quoted on The International Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery Team site, “According to medical literature, clinically severe obese people can never achieve long-term weight loss with dietary or behavioral modification alone. A 100% failure rate is reported and a series of failures will again lead to enormous psychological problems.”

People with a BMI (Body Mass Index) of at least 31 are at an increased risk of developing diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Those who are already suffering from these disorders are even more highly recommended for a lap band procedure. The lap band can help them reduce their obesity, leading to the possible reduction in their weight-related symptoms.

Even without weight-related disorders and medical complications, a person may find his weight is interfering with his life. Younger people who are obese may not have developed diseases yet. But if they act now and reduce their weight, they can avoid complications.

It is recommended that those who undergo lap band procedures show a history of dieting and exercise regimes which have failed. Lap band surgery, with all bariatric surgery options, is not a first line of defense to combat obesity.

Benefits

A variety of benefits are associated with a lap band procedure. Aside from reducing a person’s weight and the potential for their developing weight related disorders, lap band procedures offer specific benefits that make it stand out from other bariatric procedures.

No cutting or stapling of the stomach is involved with lap band procedures. This reduces risk of infection and is less invasive. The lap bad is a calibrated pouch and stomach size. It can be adjusted to the specific needs of the patient at the time of the operation. It can also be adjusted throughout the patient’s life, based on his needs, without an additional operation.

Risks

Many risks that are associated with lap band surgery are common to all surgeries. These include bleeding, scarring, difficulty healing, and a negative reaction to anesthesia. However, a variety of complications may result specifically from lap band surgery.

The death rate is low, usually less than 1%. There are also rare instances of gastric perforation. Half of all patients suffer from nausea and vomiting following the surgery. One-quarter experience slippage of the lap band. One in seven experience blockage of the narrow passage created by the band. Erosion or twisting of the band can also occur. The band may deflate, causing additional surgery.

A common complication associated with bariatric procedures is the adjustment in lifestyle a person will face. If someone is severely obese, and must immediately adjust to eating a greatly restricted diet, it may take him time to adjust. Your doctor will offer a variety of guidelines on how to manage your diet immediately following the surgery and in the months ahead. However, each person is different and may find he reacts different to different foods. Keep in mind the amount of food is not the only challenge you will face following gastric procedures. It is important account for how your body will digest the food and determine how the procedure will affect digestion.

While risks are associated with lap band surgery, the risk of obesity may far outweigh the complications associated with the procedure. Many feel it is worth the moderate risk to change their health forever. If you or a loved one is obese, speak with a physician concerning your options. A lap band may be a preventable treatment that increases your quality of living and saves your life.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: lap band, lap band procedures

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What Is It?

Bariatric surgery, sometimes called weight-loss surgery, is a procedure that is designed to reduce the size of the stomach. This way, less food and calories are taken in, enabling weight loss. Anyone who has struggled with weight loss knows the most effective and healthiest way to lose weight is to change your lifestyle permanently. Bariatric surgery forces those changes. Your digestive system is altered, which helps to discourage overeating.

There are two main types of weight-loss surgery. Roux-en-Y closes off a part of the stomach and bypasses part of the intestine. This means that not only is the stomach smaller, food is able to bypass a portion of the area that takes calories and nutrients from food. Gastric Banding acheives similar results with a different method. A band is put around the stomach to reduce the size and prevent food from passing all the way through. In both cases, food not only bypasses part of the stomach, less food can enter the system to begin with since the size of the stomach has been reduced. The patient’s brain sense they are full earlier in the eating process.

Following surgery, a patient will be required to eat a liquid-only, sugar-free diet until the digestive tract has healed. For two weeks following the reintroduction of more solidified foods, patients will eat blended and pureed sugar-free foods. This may include things like milk, protein drinks, and mashed potatoes. Once a person has returned to a full diet, he will be eating a lot less than before. It may still be necessary to avoid sugary foods, especially alcohol.

Who Needs It?

The National Institute of Health typically recommends bariatric surgery for those with a body mass index greater than 40. Those who have serious medical conditions and a BMI greater than 35 are also candidates. Some doctors require their patients to have been obese for more than five years. Patients are typically 18 to 65 years old and have unsuccessfully tried other weight loss methods. They suffer from no untreated psychiatric disorders and they do not have a history of drug or alcohol abuse.

Benefits

There are a number of health and cosmetic benefits to weight-loss surgery. The surgery is often the only way some people are able to lose weight. Following surgery and the subsequent weight loss, people find themselves healthier, more active, and leading a happier, more fulfilled life.

Some doctors and researchers believe the surgery may offer a cure for diabetes. The weight reduction helps the body cope better with insulin production and patients are able to reduce their symptoms, sometimes to non-existent levels. According to the Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery, an online weight-loss resource, obese people have double the chance of developing type II diabetes, and the severely obese have ten times the risk. Even though it can be costly, many believe that having bariatric surgery is cheaper in the long run, reducing the risk of weight-related complications, and astronomical medical costs. For this reason, many medical insurance companies, at the moment, are often willing to cover some or all of the $17,000 to $35,000 charges associated with the surgery.

Risks

While bariatric surgery could  save a life, risks are associated with it, as there would be for any surgical procedure. Immediately following surgery, a person may develop an infection at the site of the stapling or banding. There have been some rare instances of pulmonary embolism, which is a blood blockage in the lungs leading to death. There is also the risk of leakage at the surgery site, incisional hernia, and pneumonia.

Once the surgery has healed, a number of lifestyle changes must be observed to avoid complications. If someone eats too much, he will experience nausea and may become ill. A common problem with those who have had bariatric surgery is gastric dumping syndrome. If food passes through the system too quickly, as it sometimes does when it is bypassing a large portion of the digestive tract, it may result in bloating and diarrhea. Gastric dumping syndrome can be uncomfortable, but it can be avoided by keeping meals very small and eating slowly. Many doctors recommend patients take a daily multivitamin to make up for the vitamins they will miss out on with their drastically reduced diet.

Once a person has lost a significant amount of weight in a relatively short period of time, he may find his  skin is sagging. This can be remedied with an operation known as panniculetomy. Some believe this is a cosmetic procedure, but the sagging skin can lead to both health and hygeine issues. So it is often considered a necessary final phase of weight-loss surgery.

Those who are suffering from obesity may be desperate for assistance with their weight loss. If dieting and exercise have not worked, bariatric surgery may be the solution. To avoid costly and fatal health conditions, speak with your doctor about your weight-loss surgery options.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Tags: bariatric surgery, diabetes, obesity, weight loss, weight loss surgery

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What Is It?

Gastric bypass is the procedure of making the stomach smaller. A small pouch is created at the top of the stomach with staples or a plastic band. The path of digestion is then routed around the small intestine, bypassing that part of the stomach. The creation of the smaller stomach makes it difficult to consume more than a small amount of food and calories. People that have had the surgery feel full faster than if they were just monitoring their food intake.

The food eaten also bypasses the small intestine where most nutrients and calories are absorbed. This enables someone to eat a smaller than usual serving and absorb fewer calories.

The procedure is done in a hospital and is an inpatient surgery. The full recovery time can range anywhere from 3 to 5 weeks. Initially, patients need to be monitored closely by health professionals. There will be frequent follow-up visits at a certified medical facility or a private physician’s office if returning to the hospital is not an option. Patients will also be counseled on how to treat their altered body, how to supplement their decreased diet with vitamins and minerals and how to cope with their surgery and the aftermath emotionally.

Who Needs It?

Adults age 18 to 65 that are severely overweight and considered obese are eligible for the procedure. A doctor will typically speak with them concerning their lifestyle and whether or not gastric bypass is an option for them. People whose body mass index (BMI) is over 40 make good candidates for the procedure. Those who have tried more traditional methods of weight loss and failed in their endeavor often find that gastric bypass is their only option. They may have developed debilitating or threatening conditions related to their weight and the gastric bypass will save their life.

A person should have been obese for at least five years prior to considering the surgery. They must be relatively healthy and not suffer from untreated depression or any other major psychological disorders. It is also important that they not have ongoing problems with alcohol because untreated alcoholism will lead to severe problems once the surgery is complete.

Benefits

The main benefit of gastric bypass surgery is that it allows someone to lose weight relatively quickly. Those having the surgery typically drop about one third of their excess body weight over the course of one year. They may continue to lose for up to four years. The procedure helps them to learn proper eating habits, and reduce their serving sizes by force. Due to negative reactions to certain foods, people will also be able to train themselves to avoid highly processed and refined foods. While it is best to manage an eating plan without forcibly altering your body, gastric bypass patients have been unable to do so. The surgery may mean the difference between life and death for them, and it will most certainly effect their quality of life for the better.

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The benefits of having an abdominoplasty is that the surgery should leave you with a smoother, flatter, firmer abdominal region.

Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a “tummy tuck,” is a major cosmetic surgical procedure.  An abdominoplasty is performed in order to create a flatter, smoother, firmer look for the abdominal region.  This is achieved through the removal of excess skin, body fat, and the tightening of the abdominal muscles.   There are several different types of abdominoplasty, including the “traditional tummy tuck,” the “endoscopic tummy tuck” (to minimize scarring), the “circumferential tummy tuck” (usually performed after gastric bypass surgery, bariatric surgery, or significant weight loss), the “extended tummy tuck” (which also targets the “love handles”), and the “mini tummy tuck” or partial abdominoplasty.  Most abdominoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, but in some of the less invasive types of procedures (such as the partial abdominoplasty) can be performed under local anesthesia in conjunction with a sedative.

People seek abdominoplasty for a variety reasons.  Many women who have had children find themselves dissatisfied with their post-childbearing bodies because they still have an excess of skin and/or fat in their abdominal region leftover from their pregnancy, so they choose to have an abdominoplasty, sometimes as part of a larger “Mommy Makeover,” which combines multiple cosmetic surgeries to help women counteract some of the changes that child bearing imposes upon the female body.   If a woman is still considering having more children, she should wait until after her final pregnancy to have an abdominoplasty performed because pregnancy weakens and stretches the abdominal muscles.   People who have experienced a significant weight loss (usually 100+ pounds) also often require an abdominoplasty to remove the excess skin that still remains.  Some people, though physically fit, find that they are unable to rid themselves of the dreaded “belly flab” through diet and exercise alone. The overall shape of the body is largely determined by genetics, so some people are genetically pre-disposed to have a tendency to accumulate fat in their abdominal region.  These otherwise physically fit people who are unable to lose their “belly flab” through diet and exercise often elect to have an abdominoplasty. Some men and women also choose to have an abdominoplasty to counteract the effects that aging has on the body.  Even if they do not have an excess of fat in their abdomen, their skin may be sagging and their abdominal muscles may have become too lax.

As with any major surgical procedure, some significant risks are associated with abdominoplasty.  It is of the utmost importance that you carefully follow your surgeon’s pre and post-surgical instructions.   Whenever a person undergoes anesthesia they risk possibly having a reaction to it, which in rare cases can result in death. During surgery there is also the risk of excessive bleeding. Post-surgery, there is an elevated risk of blood clots for the first few days following the procedure.   There is also an increased risk of infection, so it is important that you only use sterile bandages and dressings and that you closely monitor any drainage for changes in colors.  Infections are usually treatable with antibiotics, but they often slow the healing process.  In some rare cases, slow or uneven healing can lead to tissue death, so that person may require a skin graft or additional surgeries.  It is important to note that an abdominoplasty will result in a permanent surgical scar.  Usually the surgeon will attempt to place the scar below the “bikini line” so it will not be visible to others.  In the year following your abdominoplasty, the scar should flatten out a bit and lighten in color.  However, if you are prone to keloids, your scar may be more prominent. Your surgeon will also advise you to avoid heavy lifting and other vigorous activities for an average of four to six weeks.

Tags: abdominoplasty, bariatic, belly flab, bodies, body fat, children, conjuction, cosmetic, endoscopic, firmer, flatter, gain, general anestesia, invasive, lax, local, moms, mothers, performed, plastic surgery, procedure, procedures, reasons, region, sedative, skin, smoother, surgical, tightening, tummy tuck, types, variety, weight loss, women

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Good thing, then, that such a procedure as umbilicoplasty exists. It’s plastic surgery to reshape the belly button into a more desirable or aesthetically pleasing appearance, and it can be carried out in about an hour using only local anesthesia. The beauty part is that it leaves virtually no scars, is relatively cheap and almost always has permanent results. What’s not to like?

Some people, however, appear to have no belly button at all, with Czech supermodel and underwear model Karolina Kurkova being perhaps the most famous contemporary example.

What is a Belly Button?

A belly button is the scar we humans – and all mammals – are left with after spending around nine months in our mother’s womb. The scar defines the place where the umbilical cord attached us to the placenta, which nourished us while we were in utero. The depression (pit) in our tummies is signifies where the cord was attached to the underlying fascia.

When we are in the womb, we don’t breathe air or enjoy gourmet three-course meals. In fact, we don’t even drink our mother’s milk. Instead, all the nutrients we need – as well as oxygen – are delivered through the umbilical cord, which is attached to the placenta.

This organ, unique to mammals, attaches the baby to the uterine wall. As well as nourishing us, the placenta also allows waste to be removed, via it and eventually the mother’s kidneys. After the baby is eventually delivered, the placenta is delivered as well. Bye bye, placenta. Hello, baby! Hello, belly button!

Innie vs Outie vs Alien Appearance

Sometimes, when the baby’s umbilical stump drops off and heals, little Junior is left with a navel that fails to please – usually referred to as an “outie”. The debate concerning innies vs outies is ongoing, with the majority of humans preferring the former.

We usually have outies due to extra skin left over from the umbilical cord, although sometimes they are the result of an umbilical hernia. This occurs when part of the intestine protrudes through a part of the intestinal wall that is weak, and is a harmless condition that can be easily fixed.

Some people, however, appear to have no belly button at all, with Czech supermodel and underwear model Karolina Kurkova being perhaps the most famous contemporary example. Ms Kurkova, for all intents and purposes, appears to have a smooth, slight indentation in place of a navel. She will not comment on how this came to pass, but her agent has assured inquisitive members of the press that she is not an alien.

Most people who seemingly have no belly button either had surgery to correct problems such as an umbilical hernia, or were born with a condition where the intestines and stomach poke through a hole in the abdominal wall, which needs correcting, usually soon after birth. Other people lose their navels as adults, following skin grafts or other types of stomach surgery. Many decide to have umbilicoplasty to rectify the situation, and either give them a new belly button, or bring their outie back in. Others, such as Kurkova, prefer to keep the Martian look.

Umbilicoplasty: The Basics

In most cases, umbilicoplasty is a very straightforward procedure. Extra skin from the belly button area is taken away to reshape the navel. The clever bit is that the scars are carefully hidden, so that the operation is not obvious to the naked eye (unless you look very very close).

Some people choose umbilicoplasty for reasons mentioned above; another fairly common reason is because of dramatic weight loss or pregnancy, which can change the shape of a belly button. Please be aware that if you do get pregnant following the operation, or gain a large amount of weight, the results may not be what you intended.

If you have no belly button – or if you have a tummy tuck which requires a new naval to be formed – then your plastic surgeon can easily create a new one. A new outer hole for the naval is cut out, then the stalk of the belly button is brought forward and sewn into place. Some people opt to have to have the stalk kept short so the outer skin will pull it down, creating a belly button that appears more youthful. Discuss your requirements with your surgeon beforehand.

If you do choose to have belly button surgery, make sure you use only a Board-certified surgeon, or the equivalent. The operation is fairly minor with few side effects, and most people can even return to work the same day, or the following day. As the sutures are dissolvable, there is very little follow-up care needed.

Marvelous Midriffs

As baring midriffs is becoming more fashionable – along with belly button piercings – cosmetic surgeons are seeing an increase in the number of people opting for umbilicoplasty surgery. In fact, many offer to pierce the belly button at the same time. Some people opt for a tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, as well, to make the entire area look more svelte and sleek.

According to the New York Times, the rise in umbilicoplasty surgeries shows the “cultural triumph” of the midriff. “Hidden for decades, the navel is now the center of what’s considered sexy, flaunted in a wave of stomach-baring outfits and above-the-fold news articles pondering Britney Spears’s bellybutton,” it said in an article about umbilicoplasty. It said that “about a third of college women” have chosen to pierce their navels.

Belly Button Organ Extraction

These days, belly buttons are not just to nourish babies or look good pierced. A London surgeon has pioneered surgery to extract organs through this tiny orifice, leaving virtually no scar.

Mr Barry Paraskeva uses laparoscopic keyhole surgery to remove organs such as the appendix and gall bladder through the navel. Based at the Imperial College London Healthcare NHS Trust, he claims to be able to remove an appendix in just 20 minutes using his procedure – and allow his patients to return home the same day.

“Having a single access port minimizes the discomfort to the patient, reduces the risk of infection and because the incision is through the belly button, the surgery is scarless,” he recently said in an interview with the BBC. Similar techniques are now being worked on to take organs out through other bodily orifices considered more “natural” – such as the rectum.

If you are considering umbilicoplasty, think about what it will do for you. Changing the appearance of your belly button will give you a different-looking belly button. If that’s what you want, go for it. It’s an achievable goal, and one that can be had without too much fuss. Go for it!

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate health care provider.

Tags: appearance, beauty, belly button, cheap, children, depression, extra skin, friends, hernia, hour, innies, intestine, kidneys, local anestesia, milk, naked eye, naval-gazing, neurosis, nine months, no scars, nourished, nutrients, operation, organs, outie, oxygen, permanent results, placenta, plastic surgery, pregnancy, procedure, scars, sutures, tummies, umbilical cord, umbilicoplasty, underlying fascia, utero, weight loss, womb

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