When considering a tummy tuck, most patients focus on removing excess skin or achieving a flatter abdomen. What is often overlooked, yet immediately noticeable in a final result, is the belly button. It is one of the most defining features of the abdomen, and when it does not look natural, it can reveal that surgery was performed.
As Dr. Munique Maia explains, “The belly button becomes one of the most important details of the entire procedure.”
At Maia Plastic Surgery in Tysons Corner, Northern Virginia, this level of detail is not treated as an afterthought. It is central to achieving refined, natural-looking results that align with each patient’s anatomy.
One of the most common concerns patients have is: “What happens to my belly button during tummy tuck surgery?”
“During a tummy tuck,” Dr. Maia clarifies, “your belly button is not removed or replaced. It’s redesigned. It actually stays attached the entire time through its native stalk.”
During surgery, excess skin and fat are removed and the abdominal wall muscles are tightened. As the skin is lifted and repositioned, a new opening is created for the existing belly button to come through. “We create a new opening in the skin for your existing belly button to come through,” Dr. Maia explains, “So technically, it’s your original belly button.”
What ultimately determines whether the belly button looks natural is not the structure itself, but how the surrounding tissue is designed. This is where experience and aesthetic judgment matter most. Dr. Maia refers to this refined approach as the Designer Belly Button.
“The secret behind a natural looking umbilicus is how you design the skin surrounding it,” she explains. “I take my time to shape it, position it, and refine the surrounding tissue. This is what makes all the difference in a tummy tuck.”
Even when the abdomen is flat and well contoured, an unnatural-looking belly button can detract from the entire result. Common issues seen in less refined outcomes include belly buttons that are too round, too large, too flat, or improperly positioned. These details may seem subtle, but they are often what make a result appear surgical rather than effortless.
Dr. Maia approaches each case with precision and intention. “The size, the shape, the orientation, the depth, and even the subtle hooding at the top all matter,” she says. “A lot of attention goes into creating something that looks natural, with no telltale signs of surgery.”
A natural-looking tummy tuck is never one-size-fits-all. For every patient, the goal is to create a result that fits their anatomy. Whether someone is petite, curvier, post-pregnancy, or has experienced massive weight loss, the belly button should look proportionate to the abdomen and not appear overly round, artificial, or obviously surgical.
At the end of the day, what defines the result is the level of refinement. The contour, the scar, and the belly button all have to work together. When done well, nothing stands out. It just looks natural. “A lot of attention goes into creating something that looks natural, with no telltale signs of surgery,” says Dr. Maia.
If you want to better understand Dr. Maia’s approach to the Designer Belly Button and see real examples, watch the video below.
Maia Plastic Surgery is located at 8100 Boone Blvd, Suite 730, Tysons, VA 22182. To learn more or schedule a consultation, call (703) 574-4500.
Posted on behalf of
8100 Boone Boulevard Suite 730 Tysons Corner
Tysons, VA 22182