midline sutures 58 but the sutured abdominal fascia 56 is separated from the stalk umbilicus 44 by means of cylindrical housing 16 while the superior and inferior umbilicus 44 positioning is maintained by alignment of the markings up down r and l to prevent u201c twist type u201d strangulation which in the prior art procedure could not be readily detected it will be realized by those skilled in the art that the original umbilical orifice is removed with excess abdominal skin below the lateral abdominal incision line 47 not shown when the abdominal flap 50 is u201c re draped u201d the excess skin is excised at the lateral abdominal incision 47 with tension on the abdominal flap 50 fig1 shows the umbilical transposition in accordance with one aspect of the invention the tubular element 12 helps to determine exactly the correct new umbilical orifice position as shown in phantom in fig1 the surgeon is able to feel the proximal end of tubular element 12 to indicate the exact location of the umbilicus 44 which lies beneath the abdominal flap 50 the new site of the umbilical orifice is located exactly by excavation of the tubular element 12 through the abdominal flap 50 once the excavating incision is made the proximal end of the tubular element 12 is exposed and protrudes through the new umbilical orifice not shown in accordance with the invention the operation of the device for umbilicus protection during abdominal surgery involves placing the entire stalk of the umbilicus within the tubular element the tacking stitches are advantageously taken at the outer circumference of the umbilicus one in the up or 12 00 o 39 clock position and the other in the down or 6 00 o 39.