No More Bellyaching: Outtie belly buttons can be surgically removed

A belly button is one of those things you don't really pay attention to, that is, unless yours is an "outtie." For a woman, a protruding belly button can be a frustrating eyesore when wearing outfits that expose the mid drift like a bikini. That's why plastic surgeons offer the umbilicoplasty, a surgical procedure in which an "outtie" belly button is surgically altered into an "innie."

Crystal Johnson, 24, of Eden Prairie, Minn., talked about her protruding belly button in a recent interview with the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "It just doesn't look normal. Outties are not something you see on TV and in magazines," she said. Johnson is not alone in her quest for an "innie." In 2002, the New York Times Magazine reported a pre-summer spike in umbilicoplasty procedures.

Is this something people are just born with? How one gets an innie or an outtie just depends on how the scar heals said Virginia plastic surgeon Michael Bermant, MD, to the St. Louis Post Dispatch. "There is no such thing as a family-style belly button," Bermant said. "It's not something you inherit."

However, it is something you can correct. An umbilicoplasty usually requires only local anesthesia and can be done in the doctor's office or operating room. The surgeon makes a surgical incision within the naval so that the scar is not visible after surgery. He then trims the extra skin from the naval and sews the area up with dissolvable stitches. Patients can even have their belly button customized. This can be done by folding the excess navel skin into the desired shape. Options include a "T" shape, or horizontal or vertical shapes.

The procedure usually takes about 30 to 90 minutes, and there is very little swelling or discomfort. Most patients can return to work the same day. The procedure can also be done in conjunction with a tummy tuck or navel piercing. "Many would rather have a plastic surgeon pierce their belly button than to have a piercing done in a tattoo parlor. Initially a 'sleeper' stud is placed into the belly button," explained plastic surgeon Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD, on his Web site.

The results are permanent. However, in some cases, significant weight gain, pregnancy or hernia can distort the new belly button. In this case, the procedure may have to be redone. Also, patients prone to keloid scars should double-check with their surgeon to see if an umbilicoplasty is right for them. In addition, insurance does not cover the procedure. Cost is $500 to $2,000.