If you DON'T have a Belly Button ....and Panni info.

after the ps finishes with me and does my panni  i will no longer have a belly button... i know i've never payed much attention to it , rarely even looked at it but for some reason i think i'll feel or look odd without it (even though the only one that will ever know or "not" see it is hubby) ... if you do NOT have a belly button please tell me what you feel like and if its effected you in a positive or negative way... also if you only had a panni are  you satisfied with it? what was the recovery time? are you disappointed you didn't have a TT ? thank  y'all for your help. red

Since I'm having a hernia repaired at the same time as the LBL, the surgeon has warned me that I may come out of it without a belly button. She said if the umbilical sac is involved in the hernia she won't be able to save it. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

My grandmother had an umbilical hernia repaired when she was in her 80s and she lost her belly button. They never warned her of the chances of this before surgery. She was very bothered by the lack of BB. I think part of that was her age and the fact that she had no warning. I guess I'll see what I come out with. I think as long as this hanging skin and the hernia are gone, I can get used to no BB. I'm curious to hear others take on this topic.

After I had my LBL I adored my BB.  During revision surgery I lost it.  I lived without one for awhile and then my PS made me one.  Everyone is different, but it did bother me after everything finally looked so nice and normal and then no BB.  I agree with the other poster though....I would trade the BB for the skin any day.   You may be ok with a panni only...just depends on how much hanging skin you have.  For me, I had two large hernias and knew I needed muscle repair besides the skin removed.   It's a hard decision and unfortunately one you have to make for YOU.....I wish you luck! Sandy

i'm 7 weeks out from a LBL including a vertical incision. i chose to not  have a BB. thus far, i don't mind at all. it's still early for me so i suppose i could change my mind, but thus far, not having one is fine. i think if it becomes an issue to me, i may have something tatooed to simulate a BB. best of luck to you. deb

The main downside I can see to not having a belly button is...where to you put the salt when you are eating celery while watching TV? LOL

I like the idea of having a BB tattoo!

I had a TT but lost the belly button. It was no longer attached to  stalk due to a previous hernia repair. When I got the TT, the belly button was gone. When I showed my daughter my stomach, she didn't notice the belly button was gone! I think we're so used to seeing it, it's like our mind doesn't register it's gone.  Whe I look at myself in the mirror, I see a nice trim stomach, and slimmer hips. I'm satisfied. My husband is happy with the whole improvement.  If I ever get over having stitches work their way out of the skin, and am completely well, I might have a Tattoo done. Or peirce the skin in the belly button area, and enjoy the tummy! I'm 52, a younger person might care more than I do. But as my husband said to me " When was the last time you USED that belly button"?  

Dear Red, I most likely won't have a BB after my panni removal either. I've had two umbilical hernia repairs, the last one with mesh and she is afraid of infection or poor blood supply afterwards. She also isn't sure she can do muscle repair because it may compromise the hernia repair already done, but will do an anchor cut panni removal which will pull in the upper section as well. I've seen pictures of someone with this done and it looked great, even without the muscle work. I don't have a problem with the missing BB and I told her I didn't have plans for buying a bikini anytime soon! LOL! I'm grateful to have gotten this far and am just awaiting insurance approval for March 7 surgery. Keep us posted, do you have a date? Blessings, Mary

I've known several who have lost their belly buttons.  It does give one good fodder for conversation.  Like were you hatched or are you an alien LOL!!  I still have mine, but it is too low and very tiny.  Kinda funky looking.  I think being rid of skin is a much bigger reward than keeping the belly button.  Just weighin in.

Not sure if this is possible in your situation but I have heard of folks who had to sacrifice their navels having their PS "create" a navel for them.  I think it was a matter of a little slit and some stitch work to give them that look of a belly button in cases where it meant that much to them. I understand how you feel because when I was heavy, I never even THOUGHT about my BB, other than to clean it out - the cavernous thing that it was.  After my LBL, my surgeon made my BB so cute that I got very attached to it after all these years.  When I had a revision to my vertical scar, he told me he'd have to open up the scar from breastbone to mons.  I was shocked at myself for my reaction to having my BB compromised and expressed this to my PS.  He told me that he too liked the job he did on my BB and would try to make sure it was redone nicely after the revision.  It's a little smaller now but it's really round and cute again. Strange how something so small can make a difference to us, eh? Anyway, ask your surgeon if he can make you a "pseudo navel". Also, some folks who had just a panni removal were very happy with their results.  A lot has to do with what your expectations are, what resu;ts you are looking for and your own individual anatomy.  I have seen some good panni removals when the person did not have a huge amount of redundant skin, had a good PS, and their underlying muscles were not a total wreck.  And sadly, I have seen some panni removals that only addressed the hanging skin when clearly some muscle tightening would have greatly improved the overall look and given a flatter and tighter result. But I still say that all in all, GOING PANNI-LESS is the goal and if that is what you can have done, go for it to get that extra baggage removed from you.  The way you FEEL alone is worth it. All the best.

I am going to have a tummy tuck in about 8 1/2 weeks, I was told that I might not have a belly button as well.  I am going to be 49 this year, I want a flatter stomach, but I will not wear an short top.  so it does not matter to me.  what is the purpose of a belly button any way at my age?  Sometimes we want everything to be perfect, I just happy not to be heavy anymore.  I am more worried about getting the tt over. thanks debra