Reconstruction of a natural-appearing umbilicus using an island flap: case report

SummaryA case of successful reconstruction of the umbilicus using a depressed scar in an 11-year-old girl with a large and rigid scar spreading around the centre of the abdominal wall is presented. The anatomical umbilicus was replaced by a large scar after a previous surgery for umbilical cord hernia. The difficulty of the conventional method compelled us to use a distant scar dimple as an island flap. In addition, the three-dimensional morphology of the umbilicus could be reproduced by rolling a spindle island flap into a cone. Postoperatively, the reconstructed umbilicus has remained deep and aesthetically well shaped.