Umbilical reconstruction
The umbilicus is a unique physiologic scar of human life
resulting from the healing process of the cut umbilical cord at birth. It is,
therefore, the first scarring to occur over the course of a human lifetime. The
umbilicus is usually a round to oval depressed structure with an average
diameter of 1.5 to 2 cm that greatly contributes to the aesthetic appearance of
the abdominal wall. It also serves as a natural reference point, lying
anatomically at the crossing of the midline and the line transecting the
superior iliac crests (or just superior to this line).
Umbilical reconstruction is performed in a variety of
clinical situations; reconstruction may be needed in cases with lost skin,
healthy skin, or cicatricial skin. Many techniques for reconstruction have been
reported in the literature, but the goal of each is to create a
natural-appearing umbilicus with a permanent and sufficient depression with
minimal scarring