Outie vs. innie is a debate that's raged for years. "Are you an innie or an outie?" is a question some people will ask. Because most people — one study says more than 90% — have an innie belly button, it's often considered the "normal" or "regular" type of belly button or navel. This innie vs. outie belly button perception can leave a person feeling as though their navel is abnormal if it's an outie belly button, leading to self-esteem issues. Some children are even ridiculed for their outies and will go to great lengths to hide them. Read on to learn about the difference between an innie and outie belly button and how plastic surgery can make a difference in some people's lives.
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How Are Innie and Outie Belly Buttons Formed?
In considering the difference between an innie and outie belly button, it's useful to remember how belly buttons are formed. A navel is essentially the scar left after the umbilical cord falls off a baby. Whether a child ends up with an innie vs. an outie belly button is purely a matter of chance. Despite popular opinion, it has nothing to do with the way a doctor cuts the umbilical cord or with how the parents care for the belly button area as the skin heals.
Outie Belly Button Causes
A newborn baby usually develops an outie belly button for one of two reasons:
- Umbilical hernia — A weakness in an infant's abdominal wall allows part of a baby's intestines to protrude, pushing out the belly button.
- Umbilical granuloma — Extra skin grows around the base of the umbilical cord, forcing the baby's belly button out.
Adults who start with innie belly buttons can develop outies because some internal pressure pushes the navel out. This can happen in cases of:
- Pregnancy because of the growing uterus
- Ascites when fluid develops in the peritoneal cavity, usually because of a kidney or liver disorder
- Hepatosplenomegaly when the liver and spleen become enlarged
In these situations, the belly button usually stops protruding once the condition is resolved.
Innie Belly Button Types
While every outie belly button looks a little different, there are a few common innie belly button types:
- Horizontal
- Lightbulb
- Round
- Deep hollow
- Vertical
As with the innie vs. outie question, it's simply a matter of chance as to which innie belly button a person develops. But there's no question which innie is considered the most aesthetically pleasing. People prefer the symmetrical, vertical belly button over other types.
Outie-to-Innie Surgery
Few people request innie-to-outie surgery, but outie-to-innie surgery is gaining in popularity, largely because of the continuing fashion trend of midriff-baring clothes and the rage for belly button piercings and tattoos.
Umbilicoplasty is the plastic surgery procedure that can reshape both the innie and outie belly button, although it also can be reshaped during a tummy tuck. Outie-to-innie surgery often allows people to be more comfortable with their bodies and boosts a patient's self-confidence and self-esteem.
Surgeries performed by Dr. Adam Basner provide several important advantages. A crucial benefit of our outie-to-innie surgery is that the post-surgical scars are inside the belly button, hiding visible scars and giving you a smooth, symmetrical look.
Get Outie Belly Button Help From Dr. Basner
The differences between an innie and outie belly button can be too glaring for some people. If you have settled your own innie vs. outie debate and decided you want to trade your outie belly button for the symmetrical, vertical, thin look of an innie belly button, contact Dr. Basner today. Dr. Basner is a board-certified plastic surgeon and an expert in all kinds of body contouring procedures. The first step to getting that cute belly button is an appointment with Dr. Basner!
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