Increasing numbers of people want their belly buttons (or umbilicus) to be perfectly shaped. Cosmetic surgeons have developed an operation called an umbilicoplasty which can achieve this. Mostly, the surgery will involve making an “outie” (where the belly button sticks out) into an “innie” (where the belly button is inside a hole) or making an “innie” a little less obvious by lessening the size of the hole. Normally belly button surgery may be performed on a patient who is undergoing a tummy tuck but some people want to alter the size and shape of their navels with an umbilicoplasty procedure on its own. It can be performed using local anaesthesia to numb the area, combined with a sedative to make you drowsy, so that you remain awake but feel very little discomfort. Recovery generally takes a week or so; but you can usually return to light activities the day after your operation. Private costs for a belly button surgery procedure can range from £800 - £1,500.