Belly Button Types, Shapes, and Sizes

Belly buttons come in many natural varieties — they can be round, broad, deep, or take on numerous other forms. If a particular appearance concerns you, surgical options are available to address it.

The navel, or belly button, is what remains after your umbilical cord is removed.

There are many anatomical variations beyond the basic “innie” and “outie” labels.

Read on to see the common looks and learn what you can do if you’re unhappy with the appearance of your navel.

What are the different types of belly buttons?

Your belly button is one of the small features that make you unique. While the examples below describe frequent variations, many other shapes exist.

Protruding (outie)

Protruding navels are commonly referred to as “outies.” About 10 percent of people have an outie while the majority have an “innie,” according to a chapter in the eBook Umbilicus and Umbilical Cord.

An outie forms when the leftover piece of the umbilical stump projects outward rather than pulling inward.

Deep hollow

A deep hollow belly button is characterized by a shadow beneath the top fold.

This type resembles a slightly ajar mouth. Some individuals with this shape have a “funnel” navel, which is often seen with excess abdominal fat.

Vertical (typically narrow)

Sometimes called a “split” belly button, a vertical navel gives the appearance of a slight up-and-down division in the skin.

A vertical navel usually has minimal hooding at the top and looks much like a slender “I” imprinted on the abdomen. According to a 2010 article, this is the most common belly button configuration.

Horizontal (typically narrow)

Also referred to as a T-type navel, a horizontal belly button features folds that run mostly side to side. A small indentation at the top may resemble the crossbar of a “T.”

This differs from a deep hollow because the upper layer of skin nearly conceals the innermost recess of the navel.

Round

A round belly button isn’t quite an outie — but it’s close.

A round navel is still inward or concave, but it lacks any hooding and appears evenly rounded.

Light bulb

A light bulb-shaped navel has little hooding at the top, with a slightly oval form that narrows downward — much like a light bulb.

Some people liken this shape to an upside-down beer or wine bottle.

What determines the shape of your belly button?

The belly button is the remnant of the spot where the umbilical cord connected a fetus to its mother during pregnancy. The navel marks where the cord attached to the body.

The umbilical cord contains vessels that supplied nutrients and oxygen to the developing baby.

After birth, when the cord is no longer needed, it’s cut and often clamped by a clinician (sometimes with help from a family member under medical supervision).

The remaining stump generally falls off within roughly two weeks (though occasionally it takes longer). What’s left is your navel — a result of how and where the umbilical cord detached.

Medical conditions that increase your chances of having an “outie”

Certain neonatal medical issues can raise the likelihood of developing an outie navel.

Examples include:

• an umbilical hernia, where the abdominal muscles don’t close properly and the navel protrudes
• an umbilical granuloma, where excess tissue forms and can crust, enlarging the navel

Interestingly, the size of a belly button doesn’t necessarily correlate with a person’s height or overall body size — a tall person can have a small navel and a shorter person might have a relatively larger one.

What DOESN’T determine the shape of your belly button

Let’s clarify what belly button shapes are not:

• They are not caused by the specific way a clinician cut or clamped the umbilical cord.
• They aren’t the result of how your caretakers looked after the umbilical stump after birth. In his book, Dr. Mohamed Fahmy refers to the umbilical cord as an “anatomical wild card.”

Nope, belly buttons don’t predict your temperament or life span

Oddly, some people claim they can infer personality traits or predict longevity from the shape of a navel.

A quick web search shows there’s no scientific basis for those notions (though it can be entertaining).

Rather than inspecting your belly button to estimate life expectancy, focus on established factors like family history, chronic illnesses, and lifestyle choices.

Can pregnancy alter your belly button type?

Pregnancy places extra pressure on the abdomen, and because the navel is essentially a weaker area, that pressure can push an “innie” outward, creating an “outie.” Often this change reverses after delivery.

Some women notice a lasting change in their navel after pregnancy. The navel may look “shorter” or less vertical, according to one 2010 paper.

The navel may also appear wider or more horizontal following pregnancy. If you’re curious about implications like belly button piercing pregnant, consult a professional for personalized guidance.

What if I don’t like my belly button type?

There are plastic surgery options to alter the appearance of the navel. A revision of an existing navel is called an umbilicoplasty.

When a surgeon creates a new navel (for someone without one due to prior surgery or congenital reasons), the operation is known as a neoumbilicoplasty.

These procedures can be done under local or general anesthesia (local means you stay awake, general means you’re asleep).

Your surgeon should discuss your goals thoroughly and explain how size, shape, or position may change after surgery.

Are certain types of belly buttons better for belly button piercings?

Despite the name, a “belly button piercing” actually pierces the skin just above the navel. Because of that, no specific navel shape precludes a piercing — as long as there’s skin above the navel, an experienced piercer can usually perform it.

That said, choose a skilled piercer who understands the anatomy around the navel to avoid key nerves and blood vessels.

Avoid piercers who use piercing guns, as they’re less precise than needle methods; the needle and site must be properly sterilized.

Improper placement can exert undue pressure on the navel and might convert an innie into an outie, so discuss placement and risks with your piercer in advance.

Takeaway

Belly buttons naturally vary: they can be round, broad, deep, and take many other configurations.

If you’re unhappy with yours, surgical options can modify its appearance — yet it’s perfectly normal for navels to differ from person to person.

Appreciate your belly button as a small, distinctive part of you that you may not have paid much attention to before.