The umbilicus, commonly called the belly button, is the scar that remains after the umbilical cord is cut at birth. This area is simply a fixed anatomical feature, much like any other scar on the body. The difference between an “innie” (inverted) and an “outie” (protruding) is primarily a variation in how the skin and underlying scar tissue healed after the umbilical cord stump detached.
The Anatomy of an Outie
An outie belly button is a normal anatomical variation, occurring in an estimated 10% of the population. The protrusion is often due to a slightly larger or more prominent stalk of scar tissue remaining after the umbilical stump falls off. The way the skin naturally adheres to the deeper abdominal wall determines whether the final result is an indentation or a slight outward bulge.
For most people, a protruding navel is purely a cosmetic feature that presents no health concerns. However, the outie appearance can sometimes be caused by a small underlying protrusion of abdominal tissue, often a minor umbilical hernia. If small and asymptomatic, this hernia is considered a benign structural variation, but it differs from simple scar tissue.
Debunking Methods for Natural Change
The notion of naturally changing a fixed adult outie is largely a misconception because the structure is composed of mature scar tissue. Scar tissue is permanent fibrous tissue; once fully formed and healed, it cannot be reshaped or dissolved by external, non-surgical means. Attempts to alter the appearance of an outie in adulthood are generally ineffective.
Methods like repeatedly taping or binding the belly button are futile for a structural outie and carry risks. Taping cannot physically push dense scar tissue or a fixed hernia back into the abdominal wall. Constant application of adhesive materials can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and superficial infection due to moisture buildup.
Abdominal exercises, while beneficial for core strength, do not change the architecture of the umbilical scar tissue itself. Strengthening the rectus abdominis muscles will not pull fixed connective tissue or a protruding skin stalk inward. The only exception is if the outie is caused by diastasis recti, where muscle separation allows abdominal pressure to push the navel out. In this specific instance, targeted exercises may improve the underlying medical issue.
Natural Changes During Development
The appearance of the umbilicus is determined early in life. The only period where significant natural change occurs is during infancy and early childhood. In babies, a small umbilical hernia causing a temporary outie often closes spontaneously as the abdominal wall muscles mature and strengthen. About 90% of these infantile hernias resolve on their own by age two, which is the only true natural correction.
Once an individual reaches adulthood, their belly button’s shape is considered fixed and stable. Small changes to the surrounding area can occur with extreme shifts in body composition, such as significant weight gain or loss, which alter the amount of subcutaneous fat. However, these changes only affect the surrounding tissue and do not modify the underlying structure of the umbilical scar or fixed protrusion.
Identifying When Medical Consultation is Necessary
While a cosmetic outie is harmless, a sudden or painful protrusion warrants medical evaluation to rule out an umbilical hernia requiring treatment. An umbilical hernia in an adult is a weakness in the abdominal wall that allows tissue or fat to push through, which can become problematic. Symptoms indicating a need for professional consultation include pain, tenderness, or a burning sensation around the bulge.
A doctor should be consulted if the outie rapidly increases in size or if the bulge becomes firm and cannot be gently pushed back in. This inability to reduce the hernia suggests incarceration, meaning the protruding tissue is trapped. More severe symptoms, such as redness, dark discoloration of the skin, nausea, vomiting, or an inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement, suggest a strangulated hernia, which is a surgical emergency. Surgical repair is the only definitive way to address a symptomatic hernia or permanently change the appearance of a fixed umbilical structure.