Preparation for navel plastic surgery
Before umbilicoplasty, standard preparation is required, as before any surgical intervention. The patient needs to pass blood and urine tests, undergo an examination for infections, and have an ECG. It is recommended to give up alcohol and smoking a few days before the procedure, and not to take food and liquids six to eight hours before the operation. The doctor also discusses the possible results of the operation at the preliminary consultation – complete removal of the navel or correction of its shape.
Stages of umbilicus plastic surgery
Umbilicoplasty is a surgical procedure that includes several important stages. The operation can be performed separately or in combination with other interventions. Often, umbilicus plastic surgery is performed in parallel with liposuction or breast correction. Stages of umbilicus plastic surgery:
- Anesthesia. The operation is performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the intervention.
- Access. The surgeon makes a small incision in the navel area, carefully separates the tissues and assesses the condition of the umbilical ring.
- Removal of a hernia, if any. If there is an umbilical hernia, it is eliminated by suturing the hernial defect. If necessary, a mesh is installed to prevent recurrence.
- Correction of the shape of the navel. After eliminating the defects, the navel is modeled. The surgeon gives it an aesthetically attractive shape and a natural retracted appearance.
- The final stage. After completing all the manipulations, cosmetic sutures are applied, providing a barely noticeable scar.
The entire procedure takes from one to two hours. Navel plastic surgery not only improves the appearance, but also helps to eliminate diastasis of the anterior abdominal wall muscles.
«A hernia removal operation can be performed by an ordinary surgeon. However, very often, when a hernia is reduced, the navel is completely removed, considering it a rudiment that is not needed. A plastic surgeon understands that the navel is an important aesthetic element. And when a hernia is removed, the navel is not removed, but its shape and location are adjusted depending on the situation. Therefore, in the presence of an umbilical hernia, patients often turn to a plastic surgeon,» says Sergey Valerievich Kadochnikov, leading plastic surgeon at the VIRTUS clinic.
Rehabilitation after navel plastic surgery
Recovery after umbilicoplasty is quite quick. The patient can return home on the day of the procedure. If self-absorbable sutures were used, the stitches are not removed and disappear after about seven days. After plastic surgery on the navel, it is important to wear compression underwear or a bandage for three to four weeks. Physical activity, especially strength training, is also limited during this period.