within the realm of innie versus outie, there are several common shapes the belly button can form. the vertical belly button, or ‘split’ belly button, is the most common shape according to
one study
, typically looking like an ‘i’ and has very little skin cover or ‘hooding’ hanging over the top.
a deep hollow belly button typically occurs when the hood of skin casts a shadow on the inside of the button, giving the visual impression of it being quite deep. this shape is also common in people who have some excess belly fat around the abdomen.
a horizontal or ‘t-shaped’ belly button is a bit wider than it is tall, making it look like the crossing of a t as the hood almost completely covers the hole.
belly buttons also sometimes end up in a round shape. they are slightly concave, so they are not technically an outie, but the round shape has almost no cover at all.
pregnancy can also
change the shape
of your belly button. an innie can become an outie when the belly expands as the baby inside grows. after the child is born, the belly button usually returns to its natural shape.
the risks that come along with belly buttons
while the kind of belly button you have is not an indication of health and there are no inherent risks associated with any of the different shapes, there are a couple health conditions which can lead to a baby developing an outie.