Umbilicoplasty

Increasing numbers of people want their belly buttons (or umbilicus) to be perfectly shaped. Cosmetic surgeons have developed an operation called an umbilicoplasty which can achieve this. Mostly, the surgery will involve making an “outie” (where the belly button sticks out) into an “innie” (where the belly button is inside a hole) or making an “innie”a little less obvious by lessening the size of the hole. Normally belly button surgery may be performed on a patient who is undergoing a tummy tuck but some people want to alter the size and shape of their navels with an umbilicoplasty procedure on its own.

Belly button surgery can be performed using local anaesthetic to numb the area around the belly button, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy, so that you remain awake but feel very little discomfort. There are two options for treatment: to change the position of the belly button, the surgeon will remove skin around the navel, then pull the remaining skin tightly together and stitch it up so that the belly button appears higher or lower. Alternatively, if you only want to alter the shape of the belly button, such as transforming a protruding belly button to a non-protruding belly button, the plastic surgeon will make incisions in or around the belly button, so that the scarring is less visible. Belly button surgery will usually take no longer than one hour for a surgeon to perform, and the surgeon will try to make incisions inside the belly button to minimize visible scars. Stitches are usually dissolvable and will not require a return visit to be removed.

Navel surgery can change the size, shape or position of the belly button to make it more aesthetically pleasing.

Depending on the nature of your operation, you may be released from hospital after only a few hours and patients can usually return to light activities the day after having belly button surgery. In order to maintain the results, it is important not to lose or gain too much weight.

Private costs for a belly button surgery procedure can range from £800 - £1,500.