Umbilicoplasty

It may be a small detail, often overlooked, but with the arrival of summer the navel once again plays an important role in overall body beauty, especially for women. Crop tops, sheer fabrics, low-rise trousers and bikinis all draw attention to the abdominal area and consequently to the navel.

Even though it has no functional purpose, the navel can become deformed or appear disproportionate compared to the rest of the figure, representing a small issue that can be corrected. Minor surgical procedures exist with the aim of modifying the shape and size of the navel.

The shape of navels varies: it depends on how the tissues heal after the umbilical cord is cut, so not all navels are the same. From an organic and functional perspective, the navel has no precise role, but from an aesthetic and symbolic point of view it carries deeper meanings: “cutting the umbilical cord” represents separation from the family, while the navel was the fetus’s only channel of sustenance — a symbol of life itself.

Shape and size, as mentioned, depend on the cord cut, but sometimes, after pregnancy, weight changes, hernias or surgery, they may be altered and take on an unpleasant appearance.

The procedure is performed as outpatient surgery, lasts about half an hour, and is characterized by an uncomplicated postoperative recovery. For about ten days patients should avoid very intense physical activity. These may be the reasons why many choose to gift themselves a perfect navel to show off at the beach, fulfilling what has become an increasingly common “aesthetic whim”.

According to surgeons, umbilicoplasty is most often requested after weight loss or pregnancy, or when the navel is protruding, asymmetrical, too large, or after the removal of a navel piercing.

Results are permanent, although changes in weight or a future pregnancy can still alter the appearance of the navel. In most cases, umbilicoplasty is performed alongside abdominoplasty, but it can also be chosen as a standalone procedure.