The Umbilical Locator: Bringing Simplicity to Surgery

Abstract

Introduction:

The purpose of this article is to introduce the Umbilical Locator and demonstrate how it simplifies umbilical transposition in abdominal surgeries in both the cosmetic and reconstructive fields.

Materials and Methods:

The Umbilical Locator is a new device that was designed and patented by one of the authors (F.F.) to help surgeons who are performing umbilical translocation during abdominal surgeries. The Umbilical Locator is safe, disposable, sterilizable, made of a nonlatex plastic, and can be used with any surgical method preferred by the surgeon. It was designed specifically for use in abdominoplasties. It was developed, manufactured, and marketed for sale by Innovative Med Inc, Irvine, California.

Results:

To date, the Umbilical Locator has been used exclusively by one of the authors (F.F.), with excellent results. He has used this innovative device in 20 recent abdominoplasties, with no resultant umbilical slough or ischemia. Furthermore, there have been no complications noted with positioning, anchoring, or removal of the device.

Discussion:

In abdominoplasty, an aesthetic and natural appearance of the umbilicus is a key factor to the end result. The Umbilical Locator can be used with any surgical method to create the umbilicus. The purpose of the product is only to help locate the position of the umbilicus on the skin. The surgeon is allowed to use the incision or surgical method of his or her choice on top of the umbilicus after the skin has been redraped prior to excision to precisely locate the umbilicus.

Conclusions:

These preliminary data provide promising evidence for the continued and future use of the Umbilical Locator as a more reliable and accurate method of umbilical localization in abdominoplasty than prior techniques, such as the use of a spinal needle to pinpoint the location of the umbilicus. The Umbilical Locator has the potential to decrease the incidence of deformities, wound tension, and resulting ischemia, and to reduce umbilical hypertrophic scarring. What has been to date a technically imprecise, unsophisticated phase of an abdominoplasty has now been simplified and refined using the Umbilical Locator.