Belly button piercing after tummy tuck can be confusing for patients to research. There are different types of belly button piercings, and now there is even a medical belly button piercing. In this article, you’ll find the facts about belly button piercing after tummy tuck.
The first thing I did was research exactly where I wanted to get it done. Since this is such a sensitive area, I didn’t want to just go into any random shop and have someone do it without knowing if they were qualified.That’s when I found [name of business], and they were amazing! They took time with me, answered all of my questions, and made sure that they understood what kind of jewelry would work best for me based on the type of body modification that I was looking for.The actual procedure itself wasn’t too painful—the worst part (for me) was actually waiting in the waiting room while other people got theirs done before me.
Afterward, though? The piercing looked amazing! It healed up perfectly, and there weren’t any issues with infection or anything like that afterward either (which is always something else you should be aware of).
People undergoing a tummy tuck procedure to get rid of that pesky bulge are typically convinced they need to make some changes in their life. While change is required, many opt for the quick fix: a tummy tuck. But this fix may not be good enough — and actually, it might leave some scars on your psyche. Read on to learn more on tummy tuck belly button/belly button piercing after pregnancy.
Best Tummy Tuck Surgeon Las Vegas
These days cosmetic surgery is more popular than ever. Gone are the days where these procedures were hush-hush secrets no one wanted to talk about or address, and folks hid they got done. Now people are excited to let folks know they’ve scheduled some work, and count down the days with glee till their procedures. It’s awesome- people of all genders, shapes, and sizes are embracing their bodies and doing what they deem best to make their bodies feel like home. I’m all about it! But, if you are considering or have body piercings, there are some concerns when it comes to plastic surgery you should be aware of. I speak both as a piercer, but also as someone who has had plastic surgery and been through the healing and the process. Lets look more at how plastic surgery can effect your piercing plans.
Surgery First, Piercing Second
One of the most frequently asked questions is what should I do first? Get surgery or get piercings? The answer is pretty much always get your surgery first. You’ll need to remove the piercing for surgery in the area anyway, and the doctor may work directly on the area where the piercing is located. It’s much easier and ensures better results to wait to be pierced after your procedure. That said depending on the doctor and type of surgery piercings that are nowhere near the procedure area and made of implant grade titanium can often remain in for the procedure. I had my BBL done with all of my facial and ear piercings still in. If you have existing piercings in the area of your procedure, you will need to remove them. I suggest removing them as far out before surgery as you can so the tissue has time to heal up and be stable before your doctor is working on you. I know it can be heartbreaking to remove piercings you love, but plastic surgery is a huge investment, and that’s a part of it.
Breast Augmentation/Reduction- Many of these procedures go through the nipple, or in the case of a lift and top surgery may even remove and reattach the nipple. Not only does this spell the end for most piercings, but sometimes the doctors don’t always put the nipple back the exact same way it was before. AKA I’ve seen perfectly horizontal piercings end up diagonal or even vertical after a nipple is reattached. Even for augmentations that don’t go near the nipple, the procedure can change how your breast sits, and thus how your piercing sits. I’ve seen clients disappointed that their previously perfect piercings now sit at angles or don’t look they way they wanted after surgery with their new breasts.
Tummy Tuck/BBL/Lipo/Laproscopic Procedures/Anything in or near the navel- Often times they cut and stitch the navel, meaning good bye piercing. For tummy tucks, they often reshape and recreate a navel entirely new, with a new shape and everything. Definitely better to be pierced after, since you’ll have a totally new belly button! Speaking from personal experience just the sutures after lipo totally changed the shape of my navel- I had floating navel anatomy before surgery and now I don’t! And they didn’t even rebuild my navel, just popped some stitches in. Definitely worth the wait.
Rhinoplasty/Septoplasty- You are getting a totally new nose! The placement that looked perfect on your old nose might not look great upon your new one, and chances are high your old piercing will close during the surgery and healing process anyway. Definitely worth it to wait. The same applies to septum piercings.
Wait at Least a Year to be Pierced
But Lynn! My doctor said I could be pierced in 2 months/5 months/6 months! Why do I have to wait an entire year! Well, listen, I’m not a doctor. But I am a body piercer. I don’t know anything about medical surgery but I’d like to think I know a thing or two about body piercing. Just like doctors know all about surgery, but often not much about body piercing. Case in point, the very sweet Dr at my clinic who asked me earnestly if the surface piercings in my face were drilled into the bone. (For the record, body piercers are not drilling into peoples bones, surface piercings just go in the skin!) Doctors, while well meaning, often don’t have the education or training specifically about what goes into body piercing to understand things like timeframes to pierce again. We need tissue, particularly surgically altered tissue, to be healthy and stable before we try creating a piercing and getting the body to heal it. This takes a long time. If you’ve had surgery, you know sometimes 6-12 months after you still have areas that are numb/tingly/itchy/or get weird phantom sensations. That issue is still changing in color, texture, and density, often almost a year post op. Those are all signs your body are still healing and internally there’s still things being done. I’m personally approaching a year since my BBL and my scars are still changing color and texture. You want everything to be fully healed and stabilized before piercing. You should wait double the healing time of your surgery for most piercings to be totally viable, which means at least a year. You spent so much money and so much effort to get this surgery and heal it. Don’t mess it up by rushing to be pierced! Patience will lead you to have a much more successful and enjoyable piercing experience. Piercing too soon after surgery can lead to bad scarring, migration and rejection. The last thing you want is an awful scar marring your beautiful surgical results, when you could have waited longer and had a beautiful piercing instead. Patience pays!
Sometimes, I will request clients wait longer, or suggest further treatments on the area if the tissue does not feel healthy enough. And sometimes, it’s simply not possible to repierce after a surgery. A great example is anything that rebuilds the navel. Sometimes doctors don’t leave enough of a shelf to place a navel piercing in, and there’s nothing we can to to magically make more tissue grow. Definitely go into being pierced with realistic expectations, and don’t be to disappointed if the answer is no.
Don’t Expect it to be the Same Experience
Getting pierced through surgically altered tissue is absolutely a different experience than being pierced through healthy tissue. The piercing itself doesn’t feel too much different, but healing is an entirely different beast. You need to be must more fragile and cautious with healing these piercings. I often limit clients to just the most basic jewelry, something that’s very easy to heal with and not going to get caught or snagged. The concern is getting the piercing to heal first, fashion can be a worry once it’s fully healed! Regular followups are key to getting these to heal well, I ask my clients to see me for monthly checkups, or to stay in contact via social media during the healing process. These piercings can be a challenge to heal, and you should be prepared to need to do extra cleaning and care, and possibly purchase more jewelry for upsizing and downsizing as you heal. Definitely weigh the pros and cons of piercing after surgery, and make sure you are ready to give this piercing the time and energy it needs to heal correctly.
Belly Button Piercing After Pregnancy
How long after birth can you get your belly button pierced? If you’re looking to get a piece of belly jewelry for the first time after pregnancy, it’s best to wait for about 3 months so that your body can heal. Any new piercing comes with a risk of infection.
The word from The American Pregnancy Association is that it’s generally safe to leave your belly button piercing in throughout your pregnancy, if it’s healed.
That usually means it was done more than a month ago.
So, if you’re feeling comfortable, you can safely enjoy your bejeweled bump.
But sometimes, you may find that this is just not that fun.
As your bump grows, your skin tightens around your belly button.
And your piercing might make a tight situation even tighter.
Your growing bump may also mean that your piercing rubs against your clothes.
Also, some belly buttons “pop” during pregnancy (think: transform from a valley to a hill) and this could make things even more uncomfortable.
That all means that there is a chance that your piercing might cause some pain, tenderness, and redness.
If your belly button piercing is drooping a little too much for your liking, you might want to try to help it along a bit.
First off, wait a few months for your body to heal.
You may find that it just needs some time to spring back.
Then, one option is to redo your belly button ring after pregnancy ‒ but in a different position.
You could pierce the bottom instead of the top of your belly button, for example.
(Just note that it’s not recommended to re-pierce directly over your old piercing scar.)
Another option is cosmetic surgery.
Some people opt for umbilicoplasty after their pregnancy to help reconstruct how their belly button and piercing look.
It’s performed by a surgeon and usually takes less than an hour.
They’ll trim any excess fat or skin and shape the angles of your belly button.
And you’ll be able to go home on the very same day.
It’s worth pointing out, though, that surgery can come with some risks, such as infection and severe bleeding.
And if tiny tears develop around your belly button, there is a slight risk of infection.
Also, belly button piercings might get in the way of delivery ‒ particularly if you are having a c-section.
If you choose to take your piercing out, for the time being, there’s a chance the hole might close.
Not every piercer has experience working on surgically altered tissue. It’s crucial as a client you find a piercer who is. Check portfolios, and ask questions about their experience with this. They should have photos to show healed piercings, and an understanding of what is done during these surgeries so they can understand how it alters the skin. A piercer must understand how the procedures are preformed in order to understand how the skin has been altered, and to understand what considerations need to be taken with piercing. They should also be honest with you about any risks surrounding doing the piercing, and how much of a chance they give it at healing. Ask plenty of questions, and don’t be afraid to consult with multiple piercers and get a few different opinions before committing to being pierced.
Plastic surgery, like piercings, are a fantastic way to modify your body for your own goals and desires. I love the support these days for people taking their bodies into their own hands, and work towards achieving their ideal looks! Plastic surgery and piercings can play nice, but it definitely takes some extra considerations and care. Please be cautious and mindful, but enjoy the process of modifying your body, however you choose to do so!
Tummy Tuck Belly Button
In a traditional abdominoplasty, your belly button is surgically “removed” from your body. What that really means is that your belly button essentially disappears, as it loses its shape once excess skin is released and removed from the abdomen.
If you’re considering having a tummy tuck or have one planned, it’s important to consider what the recovery will involve. Your recuperation will depend on several factors, including your age, health, and body weight. It will also depend on the type of tummy tuck you have.
It’s natural to want to bounce back to normal after your surgery, but it’s important that you give your body time to heal. You may only need to stay in the hospital for a few hours after the surgery, or your surgeon may have you stay for one night or longer. And once you leave the hospital, the real recovery begins. Here’s what you need to know.
Timeline for recovery
You’ll want to figure out a time frame for your recovery so you have ample time to heal and can take a break from certain aspects of your life. Make sure you make the proper arrangements and are fully prepared for your recovery period.
Your drains will be left in for a few days after the surgery. You’ll be shown how to take care of and empty the drains. You’ll likely need to take an antibiotic and an anticoagulant while your drains are in place.
You’ll wear an abdominal binder for about six weeks. This helps to avoid fluid buildup and helps to support your abdomen.
While the recovery period is usually shorter for a mini-tummy tuck, you’ll still need to avoid strenuous activity for at least six weeks. This includes any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting.
What to expect after your surgery
Your surgeon or nurse will properly brief you about how to recover at home.
You will be told:
- how to care for incisions and drain tubes
- what to be aware of in terms of infection or overall health
- what to avoid in terms of physical activity that affects your incision line for six weeks
- when you need to see your plastic surgeon again
- how long to wear the abdominal pressure garment
- how much to rest
- what you can eat
You’ll need to have someone who can drive you home from the hospital and help take care of you for at least the first few days after your surgery. You can shower 48 hours after you remove your drainage tubes. You may want to take a sponge bath until you can shower. You may be advised to use a chair when showering for some time.
You’ll be prescribed an antibiotic and possibly an anticoagulant. You may be given some type of medication to apply to the skin. Take any pain medication as directed. You shouldn’t take any medicine containing aspirin unless directed by your doctor.
You should also avoid alcohol if you’re taking pain medication, and avoid any form of nicotine for at least six weeks. Smoking can hinder the healing process and may cause complications.
Guidelines for at-home recovery
You may need to sleep on an incline for the first few days after surgery. Keeping your upper body raised slightly with your knees bent at an angle can help reduce swelling. Putting pillows underneath your knees can also reduce pressure on your abdomen. Your doctor will advise you on this.
Keep moving after your surgery, even if it’s only a bit of walking. This will help to keep your blood flowing, which helps with the healing process and decreases the chances of a blood clot in your legs.
Your surgeon will also tell you how to find an optimal resting position that will be most comfortable. Rest as much as possible since you may feel tired for weeks or even months.
It’ll be several weeks before you are fully back to normal. You won’t be able to drive for a few weeks. You’ll also have to limit strenuous exercise and demanding physical activity for four to six weeks. Your doctor can help you decide what activities you can perform and how long you’ll need to take off work.
Possible physical side effects
Most of the intense pain will be in the first few days following surgery. You can take pain medication to control the pain you are likely to experience. You may experience swelling for up to three months after the surgery.
Your tummy may feel like it’s being pulled when you try to stand up straight. You may feel numbness in your tummy for months or even years. It’s normal to have bruises in your abdominal area. You may have fluid-filled swelling above the scar, but this will go away. Your scar may be red and raised, but it will eventually fade.
Tips for recovery
Taking steps to ensure a healthy recovery is important. You’ll want to be as healthy as possible during this time.
Set up a comfortable space where you can relax and have your needs met. Allow yourself to rest fully for at least two weeks and make sure not to push yourself to do anything physically before you’re ready.
You’ll want to drink plenty of water to flush your body of toxins and reduce swelling. Keep your diet as healthy as possible. Include as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible.
Scottsdale Tummy Tuck recommends the following:
- Take vitamin A and vitamin C supplements.
- Drink green tea to boost immunity and antioxidant levels.
- Take a probiotic supplement.
- Eat pineapple and papaya to reduce bloating and inflammation.
- Use arnica to reduce swelling, bruising, and pain.
- Take a staphysagria supplement to heal your incision.
- Take a phosphorus supplement or drink ginger tea to relieve nausea.
Many people wonder this exact thing, as a botched belly button can make the tummy tuck not worth it at all. Rest assured that in most cases, the belly button won’t be altered or moved, instead the skin and muscle around it will be tightened.
If you opt for a mini tummy tuck, the whole procedure will take place below the belly button, which is a good option for those who are just concerned about a small pooch in the lower belly.
Tummy tucks and the belly button
During the tummy tuck procedure, an incision will be made in the low abdomen through which fat and stretched skin will be removed, and any loose muscles will be sewn together. Another incision will usually be made around the belly button.
The remaining upper skin is lifted up as high as the rib cage and pulled down like a window shade to the lower skin near the pubic bone. The skin is now stretched tight and the surgeon then chooses the new ideal position to place the stalk of the belly button.
Your belly button is actually attached to the muscles below. During the procedure, it’ll stay attached to its “stalk.” In most cases, the surgeon will create a new opening for the belly buttonTrusted Source, especially if its shape has become distorted after weight gain or pregnancy.
If this isn’t done well, the belly button may end up looking distorted — either too flat, too deep, or the wrong shape. So, it’s important to ask your surgeon to see their portfolio and ask about their ideas for your naval.
If you’re healed from a tummy tuck and still dissatisfied with your belly button, you may consider an umbilicoplasty, which is a surgery to change the appearance of the belly button.
Before and after pictures
It can be helpful to see before and after photos of the belly button after a tummy tuck when deciding if the procedure is right for you. Check out the gallery of real patients below:
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Healing after surgery
The recovery timeline after your tummy tuck will vary depending on several factors including your age, weight, and general health.
You may or may not have to spend the night in the hospital. Your drainage tubes, which pull fluid away from the abdomen, will likely remain in place for several days.
You’ll also need to wear an abdominal binder for about 6 weeks. This is basically a very tight band around the belly that supports the tummy and helps to avoid fluid buildup.
It’s especially important that you wear your binder and avoid strenuous activity so the belly button heals properly.