Kim Kardashian West has done it. And, Khloé Kardashian has spoken out about the potential for her belly button to change during pregnancy, going so far as to say that she’s “freaked out” that her innie will become an outie, so it’s probable that she’ll do it, too. We’re talking about getting a better belly button here, and if the Kardashian sisters are making it socially acceptable, the likelihood that belly button repair treatments are the next procedure de rigueur is pretty much irrefutable.
No matter if you have an innie or an outie, the cute little belly button you sported for most of your life can turn on you, morphing into a mess of sorts of loose skin with an undefined shape. Normally the result of weight loss and/or pregnancy, an umbilical hernia or even a procedure done laparoscopically—although the has beens of a once trendy belly button ring can also be to blame—produce a less than attractive, stretched-out navel that can be reason enough to keep it covered up, resorting to chic one-pieces (there’s nothing wrong that) and avoiding crop tops at all costs.
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If you find yourself manually stretching out the skin above, below or to the sides of your belly button to temporarily make it look tighter and better (for mere seconds), and you’re not opposed to “doing something” to fix your belly button, then you may want to consider these three treatments.
A Tummy Tuck
Phoenix plastic surgeon Larry Leverett, MD says your innie belly button can change to an outie due to pregnancy as the baby grows and demands more room. “The abdominal muscles flatten and separate and the result is an umbilical hernia that can be repaired on its own or in combination with a tummy tuck.” A tummy tuck, which requires a hip-to-hip scar, addresses loose tissue and skin and creates an internal corset of the abdominal muscles while also repositioning the belly button.
An Umbilicoplasty
Different from a tummy tuck, an umbilicoplasty is a surgical procedure where just the excess skin that surrounds the belly button is removed to reduce the size of it. Dr. Leverett says that occasionally, an umbilical hernia can be repaired internally with no scar on or around the belly button at all. “If an ‘outie’ is the only issue, it can be repaired through the belly button and usually looks great as a final result.”
Fractional Laser Resurfacing
New York dermatologist Ritu Saini, MD says one option to fix a less-than-flawless belly button is to use a fractional resurfacing laser, which stimulates new collagen production resulting in tighter looking skin. “Again, the improvement may be minimal so it is important to have a thorough evaluation and realistic expectations,” she says.
