{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T04:48:00Z","timestamp":1782362880375,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":15,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782345600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Surg."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The umbilicus plays a pivotal role in abdominal aesthetics, and its reconstruction is essential for achieving a natural and deep appearance that aligns with patients\u2019 aesthetic expectations. However, traditional abdominoplasty has shown limitations in umbilical reconstruction for patients with a flat umbilicus, often resulting in unsatisfactory aesthetic outcomes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aims to introduce a novel umbilical reconstruction technique, enabling it to create a three-dimensional, stable and aesthetically pleasing navel in patients with a flat umbilicus, so as to improve the overall aesthetic outcomes of abdominoplasty.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>From November 2024 to November 2025, a bipolar fan-shaped incision folded and suture technique was employed in 24 female patients. Specifically, fan-shaped incisions were made at the superior and inferior poles of the umbilical stalk. Following the excision of a moderate amount of tissue, the remaining skin flaps were folded and sutured to construct a three-dimensional umbilical fossa.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This technique is straightforward to perform and has been successfully applied in 24 cases of patients with a flat umbilicus. Postoperatively, the umbilical morphology appeared deep, three-dimensional, and demonstrated stability. Overall, 87.5% (21\/24) of patients were highly satisfied with the umbilical appearance, 8.3% (2\/24) were satisfied, and only 4.2% (1\/24) reported neutral satisfaction due to hypertrophic scars at the superior and inferior poles of the umbilicus. No complications such as umbilical stenosis or skin flap necrosis occurred after the surgery.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The bipolar fan-shaped incision folded and suture technique is an effective method for reconstructing a flat umbilicus during abdominoplasty. In this series of 24 patients, the technique demonstrated a high satisfaction rate and achieved a three-dimensional umbilical appearance with concealed scarring in the short term.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fsurg.2026.1868958","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T04:21:50Z","timestamp":1782361310000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A novel technique for flat umbilicus repair in abdominoplasty: bipolar fan-shaped incision and folded suture using paraumbilical flaps"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Xia","family":"Linxi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Zhengzhou People\u2019s Hospital","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wang","family":"Wenfei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Xi\u2019an Central Hospital, Medical School of Xi\u2019an Jiaotong University","place":["Xi\u2019an, Shaanxi, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yang","family":"Ruomeng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Zhengzhou People\u2019s Hospital","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wu","family":"Chong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Zhengzhou People\u2019s Hospital","place":["Zhengzhou, Henan, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liang","family":"Hongwei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Zhengzhou People\u2019s 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