Is there no belly button after umbilical hernia surgery?

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang

Pediatrics

Updated on March 23, 2025

00:00

00:00

Umbilical hernia refers to a protrusion formed by abdominal cavity contents through the umbilical ring, commonly seen in infants and young children. Most umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first year as the umbilical fascial ring gradually contracts. Therefore, non-surgical treatment is mostly adopted to promote healing. However, if the child is over two years old and the diameter of the umbilical hernia exceeds 1.5 centimeters, surgical treatment is recommended. After umbilical hernia surgery, the belly button is still preserved. The surgery generally involves making a small incision at the lower edge of the navel, freeing the hernial sac, repositioning the hernial contents, and after partially excising the hernial sac at the umbilical ring, suturing is performed.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

52sec

home-news-image

How to treat umbilical hernia with conservative treatment?

Umbilical hernia in children is a common condition involving the navel area, caused by incomplete development there, allowing intestinal contents to protrude through this weak spot, thus forming an umbilical hernia. The vast majority of umbilical hernias can heal on their own, so conservative treatment is possible, meaning it is okay to just watch and wait. Most children's weak spots in the navel will heal by the age of two, and the hernia will resolve itself. Only a very small number of cases, where the hernia is particularly large or has not healed by the age of two, require surgical treatment. Parents must be clear about this. Therefore, there is no need for special treatment, just observation. It's only necessary to avoid letting the child cry loudly, which can increase abdominal pressure.

home-news-image

Written by Dong Xian Yan

Pediatrics

48sec

home-news-image

Can an umbilical hernia often be pressed with hands?

Umbilical hernias can often be pressed with the hand, but it is important to be careful with the technique and strength used to avoid damaging the contents of the hernia or the local skin, which could lead to a secondary bacterial infection. Umbilical hernia is one of the common diseases during the newborn and infant periods. After the umbilical cord falls off, if the closure of the umbilical ring is incomplete or the tissues around the navel are not sturdy, factors such as frequent crying or constipation can increase intra-abdominal pressure. This can lead to the protrusion of abdominal contents, particularly the small intestine along with the peritoneum and abdominal wall skin, gradually pushing outward at the umbilicus, forming an umbilical hernia.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Xian Hua

Pediatrics

45sec

home-news-image

Treatment methods for infant umbilical hernia

Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenital weak abdominal wall around the navel, leading to protrusion. It generally does not require special treatment methods. As long as care is taken to avoid the child's intense or prolonged crying, actively treat gastrointestinal diseases to prevent increased abdominal pressure that could lead to protrusion, no special treatment is usually necessary. This is because 80% of children with umbilical hernias will see their hernia rings gradually shrink or even close as they grow older, typically by the age of two. Surgical treatment might only be needed if the hernia ring is very large, such as more than two centimeters in diameter, or if the obvious umbilical hernia persists after the age of two.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 14sec

home-news-image

Can an umbilical hernia be pressed with hands?

Umbilical hernia can be manually reduced by pushing it back into place. For children, most can be reduced by manual manipulation. For adults, it may be relatively more difficult, but generally, if incarceration has not occurred, manual reduction can be successful. In the treatment of umbilical hernia, conservative observation can be considered for children under two years old. The method of using adhesive tape may be employed since the self-healing can occur through their natural development before the age of two with appropriate conservative treatment. If the diameter of the umbilical ring still exceeds 1.5 cm after two years old, surgical intervention should be considered timely. For adults, umbilical hernias are generally treated through surgical means. Adult umbilical hernias are prone to incarceration and strangulation, particularly because the umbilical ring is usually smaller and a sudden increase in abdominal pressure can lead to incarceration. The treatment choices for adult umbilical hernia include tissue repair suturing or tension-free hernia repair, with laparoscopy also being a viable treatment option.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

1min 1sec

home-news-image

Is an enlarging umbilical hernia dangerous?

Umbilical hernia is not more dangerous as it gets larger; rather, the larger the umbilical hernia, the less likely it is to heal on its own. During the observation of an umbilical hernia, we need to be vigilant about the possibility of incarceration or rupture. This condition arises because the umbilical ring does not heal and close properly, typically presenting as a raised lump at the navel, which can recede on its own or disappear. Generally, umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first six months with proper treatment. However, if the diameter of the umbilical ring exceeds 1.5 cm after the age of two, surgical treatment is required. In any case, if the patient is over the age of five and the hernia is still present, surgery is the chosen treatment. In treating umbilical hernias, our conservative approach involves using a coin or a flat board larger than the umbilical ring, wrapping it, and securing it at the umbilical area with adhesive tape to prevent movement, which generally produces good results.