A 45-year-old member asked:
What determines an innie or outtie belly button?
2 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
Surgical Oncology 19 years experience
Not necessarily.: An "outie" navel does not necessarily mean that you have an umbilical hernia. Ask your doctor to perform a physical exam to evaluate. If you do have a hernia, surgical repair is safe and effective. However, not all umbilical hernias need to be fixed. Those that are growing or causing symptoms should be fixed.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 26 years experience
Navel: The navel is a scar where the umbilical cord was once attached. Around 90% of people have a depression (innie) ; about 10% have a protrusion (outie). It is reported that a protruding navel develops because of more abundant skin remaining after the umbilical cord is separated. However, it is still largely a mystery.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 27, 2017
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