Simplified technique for creating a youthful umbilicus in abdominoplasty

Reimplantation of the umbilicus remains a critical aesthetic component in abdominoplasty and transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous breast reconstruction. Although the ideal shape of the umbilicus has been debated, recent studies have shown the young, thin female with an attractive abdomen tends to have a small, vertically oriented umbilicus. The aesthetic considerations for reimplantation include position, depth, shape, and location of scar. The authors present a technique that is expedient and reliable and that addresses each of these variables. The umbilicus is sutured to the rectus fascia and reimplanted through a vertical incision in the abdominal flap. Subdermal sutures are placed from the umbilicus to the linea alba superiorly and inferiorly. These sutures create a vertically oriented shape and place the umbilicus in the midline. Shortening the umbilical stalk establishes depth and hides the closure of the umbilicus and abdominal flap within the stalk. The stalk length is easily varied, depending on the thickness of the panniculus. Defatting is performed through the vertical incision to allow easy visualization of the umbilicus. This technique creates depth, ensures optimal position, pulls the scar deep in the umbilicus, and produces a vertically oriented, youthful umbilicus. More importantly, a questionnaire given to patients who have undergone abdominoplasty with this procedure (n = 21) confirms that patients have a high level of satisfaction with the resulting shape, position, and overall appearance.     

Placement of the umbilicus in an abdominoplasty

The location of the umbilicus was measured in 100 randomly selected non-obese subjects. It was found that a line drawn from the highest level of the crest of one ilium to the same point on the other side will transect the umbilicus in 96 percent of the subjects. This relationship can be of use during an abdominoplasty, when determining the location for the umbilicus.     

Refinements in abdominoplasty with emphasis on reimplantation of the umbilicus

First, the author describes the suprapubic deepithelialized triangular flap to eliminate the dead space that can result when the abdominal flap, elevated from the periumbilical zone, meager in fatty tissue, is sutured to the thick pubic region. Second, because of the frequently poor quality of circular periumbilical scars, the author proposes a superiorly based, round-shaped flap taken from the future umbilical location and then defatted. The umbilical cylinder is divided vertically down to its aponeurotic attachment to permit insertion of this round skin flap, which is then anchored to the aponeurosis and to the edge of the triangular gap. This method prevents retracted periumbilical scars. Finally, in secondary corrections after abdominoplasty, satisfactory results can be obtained only if the umbilicus is detached from either the skin or the aponeurosis. The author's technique for covering the hole at the old umbilical location makes use of a round flap from the new umbilical site.     

A simple technique for reconstruction of the umbilicus, using a conchal cartilage composite graft

A simple technique to reconstruct the umbilicus is reported in which a conchal cartilage composite graft, such as that used in tragus construction in the treatment of microtia, was employed with a very satisfactory result.     

A simple technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits

A technique for endotracheal intubation in rabbits, which eliminates the need for tracheostomies, special devices, laryngoscopes and guide wires, is described. Inhalation anaesthesia with controlled ventilation for major surgical procedures in rabbits is easier to perform than previous reports in the literature suggest.