Will My Belly Button Look Different After a Tummy Tuck?

Short answer: Yes - but in the best way. It’ll still be your belly button - just refreshed, repositioned, and more sculpted to match your new, flatter tummy.

Let’s be real: you’re not just dreaming of a flat stomach…

You’re imagining how it will look in a bikini.
How clothes will fit.
How confident you’ll feel when you see your reflection - and don’t immediately suck in.

And then the question hits:

“Wait… what happens to my belly button after a tummy tuck?”

Fair. It’s a little detail, but a really important one. Let’s clear up the confusion.

Will my belly button change after a tummy tuck?

Yes - but not in the way you might think.

Your surgeon doesn’t remove your belly button. Instead, it’s repositioned so it sits naturally on your tighter, newly contoured stomach.

Think of it like this: your belly button stays exactly where it is anatomically - but the skin around it is redraped and smoothed, so it needs a new “opening.”

You’ll still have a belly button - it just might look smaller, cuter, and more sculpted.

What does it actually look like after?

Most women say their belly button looks:

• Cleaner
• Rounder or more vertical (aka more youthful)
• Like it “matches” their new stomach

You know how kids and athletes tend to have that tight, sculpted-looking navel? That’s often the goal - a natural, but refreshed look.

According to The Aesthetic Society, crafting a natural-looking belly button is one of the most artistic parts of the procedure - and skilled surgeons pay close attention to it.

Can I choose how my new belly button looks?

To a degree - yes.

Every belly button is unique, and your anatomy plays a role. But you can talk with your surgeon about preferences: Do you want it deeper? More oval? Less round?

An experienced provider will:

• Match your new belly button to your overall contour
• Avoid the dreaded “too-round” or “too-shallow” look
• Place it to look natural in and out of clothing

The bottom line?

Yes, your belly button will look different after a tummy tuck - but it’ll still be yours. Just better framed, better shaped, and better suited to your new silhouette.

And when you finally wear that swimsuit, crop top, or low-cut jeans without second-guessing?

That tiny scar will feel like the smallest trade for the confidence you’ve gained.

By Lauren Mitchell‍

‍Women’s Wellness Writer | Passionate about body confidence, real self-love, and helping women feel in control of their choices. Medically reviewed by an experienced cosmetic surgeon.