Question:
My uncle had a tummy tuck and now he does not have a belly button. Does this always happen? I would like to get one but I do not know that I want to be without my belly button.
Answer:
Usually tummy tuck procedure involves preservation of the belly button. Some patients who have lost massive amounts of weight get another procedure called a panniculectomy. This procedure involves removal of the excess skin and fat of the lower abdomen and the pannus and usually the belly button is sacrificed but in traditional cosmetic tummy tucks the belly button is preserved.
About the Author: Dr. Edwin Williams
Dr. Edwin Williams is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who founded The Williams Center in 1993. He has performed over 10,000 facial plastic surgery procedures and has pioneered the deep plane facelift. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for over a decade, and served as President from 2015-2016. In 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, Dr. Williams earned the Castle Connelly Top Doctors award in New York Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Edwin F. Williams III attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He began medical school at the State University of Buffalo School of Medicine and received his Doctor of Medicine in 1986.
Dr. Williams is actively involved in teaching facial plastic and reconstruction surgery to the residents of the Albany Medical Center and is former Chief of the Section of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery at Albany Medical Center where he received an academic appointment of Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery.