Celebrity Plastic Surgery, News, Gossip

TV sitcom star of Everybody Loves Raymond and mother of four, 50-year old Patricia Heaton has openly admitted to having plastic surgery in the form of a breast reduction and tummy tuck. But now she is saying that her tummy tuck also took away her belly button.

Currently co-starring on the television show Back to You, Patricia had plastic surgery to combat the changes her body went through after giving birth to four sons. Patricia Heaton has spoken openly about her reasons for the plastic surgery, saying “Vanity. I mean it, vanity. I had four babies and four C-sections, and my stomach looked like the map of the world. My breasts were hanging down to here from breast-feeding those babies and my nipples were like platters. I wanted to fit into the gowns that I finally got to wear. I had a breast reduction and a tummy-tuck and I feel fine about that and I feel fine about saying I did it. There is an awful lot of illusion in Hollywood, but it’s better to be honest if you can.”

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) removes excess fat and skin from the abdomen, leaving a scar that a skilled plastic surgeon can ensure is hidden within the bikini line and therefore nearly invisible to others. But there can be a risk to the belly button. Plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn explains, “It’s hard to tell from these photos if her umbilicus (belly button) was removed during her tummy tuck. If it was, this is actually not that uncommon, as many patients who have a tummy tuck have a hernia of their belly button as well. Some surgeons will repair the hernia at the time of the tummy tuck surgery. When this occurs, there is a risk that the belly button will lose its blood supply and die. Some surgeons will pre-empt this process by actually removing the belly button at the time of the surgery, with plans to remake a new one later. I tend to repair it at the time of surgery or have it done after the tummy tuck has completely healed.”

Despite her missing navel, Patricia still claims to be pleased with the results, saying, “I would recommend it to anyone,” and backs up her statement by sporting a bikini that leaves little to the imagination.

Even though Patricia is often considered example of good plastic surgery (she has also had a breast reduction), Make Me Heal is less certain about the results of her tummy tuck and thinks she would have been better off with a belly button hidden under a one-piece swimsuit. More importantly, Patricia should have the hernia repaired and have a plastic surgeon remake a new belly button. Then her makeover will be perfect.

Read the complete celebrity plastic surgery profile of Patricia Heaton on Plasticopedia, the web’s largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia.