Tummy Tuck With Natural Belle Button? The umbilical float tummy tuck incision is made at the base of the abdomen, just below the bikini line. Through this incision, your skin—and your belly button along with it—is detached from the abdominal wall.
they will also tighten the underlying musculature, if necessary. As the skin is tightened, the belly button is moved lower on the abdomen. Incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures. read more on tummy tuck belly button scar and hardness around belly button after tummy tuck.
Tummy Tuck With Natural Belle Button
Complete recovery from an umbilical float abdominoplasty may take a few weeks or months, depending on the individual. Your abdomen will be swollen for a few days, and you will be wearing a drain in the abdomen to remove excess fluid from your incision sites. Dr. Hess prescribes pain medication, though you may also choose to have an intraoperative TAP block to help to numb the area and manage pain for about 12-24 hours following surgery.
People with stronger abdominal muscles will find they have a shorter recovery. Regardless of physical condition, it is critical to incorporate gentle movement into your daily routine following surgery to prevent blood clots and help reduce swelling.
If you are a good candidate for the umbilical float tummy tuck, you will find that it offers certain benefits over a mini or a typical tummy tuck:
- No scar in or around the belly button
- Correction of lower abdominal skin laxity
- A repositioned, lower belly button
- Shorter, more comfortable recovery than a full tummy tuck
Beyond the general benefits of this procedure, having your procedure with Dr. Christopher Hess affords you the benefit of TAP block, a pain management injection performed during surgery to help you have an easier recovery after surgery.
Choosing a Surgeon for Umbilical Float Tummy Tuck
While a tighter tummy and well-positioned, aesthetically pleasing navel is a benefit of this procedure, not all surgeons are qualified to give you aesthetically sound results. The expertise of your surgeon plays a huge role in your results, beginning with whether or not they are qualified to decide whether you are a good candidate for this specialized tummy tuck.
Hardness Around Belly Button After Tummy Tuck
The extent of swelling may also depend on the type of surgery you receive. A mini tummy tuck results in less swelling and recovery time versus a traditional tummy tuck. Combining a tummy tuck with another surgery will also increase the swelling and recovery time. Pain medication can also cause constipation, bloating, and increased swelling.
Stages of Swelling After a Tummy Tuck
- 3 weeks after a tummy tuck, swelling is common to occur in the lower abdominal area, and patients will even experience hardness around the belly button.
- 3 months after a tummy tuck, major swelling in the lower abdomen should begin to subside, but mild swelling and puffiness may still be present.
- 6 months after your tummy tuck, you may experience persistent bloating, especially after long hours of standing. A restful night’s sleep will improve any abdominal swelling.
- 8-10 months after a tummy tuck, most swelling will subside. However, fluid retention due to diet and salt intake may be cause for a swollen belly. If you experience a bloated upper or lower abdomen 10 months after a tummy tuck should contact their doctor.
- One year after a tummy tuck, post-surgical swelling will diminish gradually, but there is no specific schedule for individual recovery. If swelling seems unusual, please consult with Dr. Bell.
- Two years after a tummy tuck, a protruding stomach may occur because of visceral fat and loose muscle. In these cases, patients should lose weight to reduce bloating. However, in most cases, you will be fully healed.
Following Dr. Bell’s aftercare instructions is the key to effectively resolving swelling and puffiness after a tummy tuck, along with practicing patience. Patients with a strong immune system who follow post-operative care instructions heal fully and fast.
How Long Does the Swelling Last?
Swelling after a tummy tuck can last for a long time since the surgery is quite extensive. The most noticeable swelling will subside after 2-3 months, but mild swelling in the abdominal region may still be common. Over the course of 1-2 years, patients will notice all swelling diminish. However, the majority of swelling resolves after 2 months.
Because pain, swelling, and bruising are common after a tummy tuck, patients will receive medication to reduce discomfort while they are in recovery. The pain will decrease a few days after the procedure, but in some cases it can take up to 2 weeks for pain to subside.
Do’s and Don’t’s After a Tummy Tuck Surgery
Being patient and following Dr. Bell’s after-care instructions are the key to resolving swelling. Rushing the healing process or exerting yourself against instructions can cause swelling to persist. Do not touch your stitches/the incision as your hands can introduce bacteria and cause infection. Your muscles need time to heal before being exerted, so avoid extensive physical activity until you are told it is alright to go ahead with your regular exercise routine.
9 Tips For Reducing Swelling After a Tummy Tuck
While swelling after a tummy tuck is inevitable, there are some steps you can take to reduce swelling and encourage your body to heal quickly without any complications.
Take the Time to Rest
After your abdominoplasty, it’s important to give your body time to heal and recover. Not only does this mean avoiding strenuous activity, such as intense cardiovascular exercise or weight training following your surgery, but it’s also important to make sure you get enough sleep. Allowing your body to rest will keep your immune system strong, and allow it to focus on healing your midsection from your tummy tuck procedure.
Follow a Healthy Diet
You can help encourage your immune system to heal following your surgery by fuelling your body with healthy, nourishing foods. Opt for healthy foods that are high in protein, which will help your body repair its tissues following the surgery, as well as foods that are high in vitamins C and A. Try to eat meals that feature mainly lean proteins, whole grains, and vegetables, and limit your intake of simple carbohydrates as these types of foods can cause bloating and discomfort. It’s also important to ensure you’re getting adequate fiber in order to maintain good digestion.
Additionally, it’s best to avoid eating foods that may cause gastrointestinal distress or discomfort, such as foods that are high in fat and sugar, dairy products (if you are lactose intolerant), or foods that naturally cause gassiness, such as beans and foods that are high in starch.
Reduce Your Sodium Intake
Too much salt can cause bloating, which can cause discomfort and impede your body’s healing process. Try to eat foods that are low in sodium, and adjust the amount of salt you use to season your food when preparing meals at home.
Drink Lots of Water
Staying hydrated is key to encouraging your body to heal. Try to drink plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages, which can dehydrate you.
Lightly Exercise
While strenuous exercise may interfere with your body’s natural healing process, it’s important to keep moving: light exercise stimulates blood flow and good circulation throughout your body, including to your abdomen, which encourages speedy healing. Try walking around the block or on a treadmill, or participating in gentle yoga classes (though, if you do this, be careful to avoid or modify any poses that may put a strain on your midsection as it heals).
Use a Compression Garment
A compression garment can help reduce swelling around your midsection, as it will limit the amount of fluid that can accumulate in the area. Your surgeon will advise on the best length of time for you to wear a compression garment following your surgery, but generally one should be worn for around two weeks.
Take Prescribed Medication
After your tummy tuck procedure, your surgeon may recommend or prescribe medication that will help ease any swelling – or discomfort resulting from swelling – after your surgery. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions. Anti-inflammatories that are available over the counter, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, may be ideal. Some anti-inflammatory medication carries with it the risk of blood thinning, so it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions, or contact the clinic if you have any questions or concerns about the medication you wish to take.
Tummy Tuck Belly Button Scar
The shape and dimension of the scar is primarily determined by how the incision heals. It is important to remember that even with an incision created by a skilled specialist Plastic Surgeon like Dr Moncrieff, every patient’s healing journey is unique. Genetics and adherence to post-operative instructions play a great role in the final outcome of the scar – so after surgery Dr Moncrieff passes the baton on to you to ensure together you reach a great outcome!
A tummy tuck scar will generally first appear as very fine and white in colour straight after surgery (although often not visible due to dressings), before progressing from deep purple, to red, to pink and then slowly fading back to pale purple and then white over 18 months to 2 years. This pattern is a typical scar progression and is why we advise patients not to fixate on the scar while they are still in their recovery period.
If you have a history of keloid scarring, this should be discussed with Dr Moncrieff during your consultation.
How will my tummy tuck scar progress over time?
See below example of Dr Moncrieff’s tummy tuck patient at 12-weeks post-op. As you can see, the scar has reached it’s ‘purple phase.’ This patient has been generous in allowing us to document her scar progression – we will continue to update this blog with progress photos photos until she reaches 2 years post-op!
Dr Moncrieff’s patient:
Pre-op
Dr Moncrieff’s patient:
Standard tummy tuck incision at 12-weeks post-op
Dr Moncrieff’s patient:
Standard tummy tuck incision at 5-months post-op
Dr Moncrieff’s patient:
Standard tummy tuck incision at 9-months post-op
Dr Moncrieff’s patient:
Standard tummy tuck incision at 12-months post-op
How can I minimise the appearance of a tummy tuck scar?
There are several options available to help reduce the appearance of your tummy tuck scar:
Wear your post-surgical garments and keep your dressings in place
Your compression garment is effective in managing post-operative swelling and fluid retention by increasing blood circulation and nutrients to the surgical area. It assists in decreasing discomfort, bruising, and pressure on the incisions which can help reduce visible scars.
Your dressings keep the wound together while the body’s healing process is taking place. Your dressings are designed to last 3-weeks. They are vital to keeping the wound from stretching and avoiding infection. It is counterproductive to remove dressings in the early stages of healing as it disturbs the healing wound bed and ultimately affects the long term functional and aesthetic appearance of the surgical scar.
Although the dressings are waterproof it is important that water does not get under them. Breaching this dressing barrier may result in a breakdown of the surgical incision – the drier that you can keep the dressings in the first 6-weeks, the better your scar will heal in the long-term.
Healite II LED Light Therapy
All of our tummy tuck patients received two complimentary Healite II LED Light Therapy sessions following their procedure. Low-level light therapy is proven to assist with wound healing and scar minimisation, helping to promote collagen production and improve circulation around the surgical site. Many patients go on to purchase a package of LED sessions to utilise during their immediate recovery period. We recommend 1-2 sessions per week within the first 12- weeks following surgery.
At 6-weeks post-op, your surgical dressings will be removed by our nursing team. To minimise tension on the scar, we recommend continuing to tape your scars for 12-weeks post-operatively. Continuing to tape the length of your tummy tuck scar will help to minimise tension on the site while the abdomen swells in ebbs and flows. The less tension on the incision, the less likely the scar is to stretch over time. At your 6-week post-op appointment, we will provide you with a roll of brown Micropore tape to continue your dressing regime. We recommend taping the length of the scar once per week for the next 6-weeks. Unlike the white Hypafix tape used in your immediate post-operative period, the brown Micropore tape is water resistant and does not need to be blow-dried after showering. Massages can be performed over top of the Micropore tape while showering to help break up the scar tissue.
Drain tubes are medical devices that prevent fluids from accumulating. Your surgeon may recommend that you use drainage tubes for several days immediately following your abdominoplasty.