Tummy Tuck For Men
 Man After Tummy Tuck & Body Lift Surgery |
Before Tummy Tuck Surgery
This is my personal story of having Tummy Tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) with lateral thigh lift, including before & after pictures and a daily log of my pre-operation, day-of-surgery and post-operation recovery experiences. If you are a man looking to get a Tummy Tuck operation, this is what you may be in for.
I am a 54 year old man who had attained a weight of over 300 pounds. I am 5'-7" tall. My maximum weight was probably over 300 pounds, but I really don't know because I stopped looking at the scale. I do remember being weighed at the doctor's office and my weight was 298 lbs., but I'm sure I gained more weight after that.
 Excess Skin Before Tummy Tuck |
 Day After Tummy Tuck |
Over the course of about 2 or 3 years of dieting and daily exercise, I reduced my weight to 155 lbs. (I lost over 150 pounds). This left me with a lot of excess skin around my belly and midsection. Since I didn't want to live with this for the rest of my life, I decided to look into a Tummy Tuck operation.
2009 Tummy Tuck StatisticsSource: American Society of Plastic SurgeonsTummy Tucks by Gender
Tummy Tucks by Age
Tummy Tuck Average Surgeon/Physician Fees |
What is A Tummy Tuck?
Tummy Tuck (also known as Abdominoplasty) is elective cosmetic surgery of the abdomen for removing excess skin and fat (saggy skin and wrinkles) and to tighten the skin over the stomach. It is the only known remedy to remove baggy skin that is so stretched out that that it has lost it's elasticity (test your skin elasticity) and no amount of exercise or proper nutrition can restore it.
The first thing I wondered was "Have I lost enough weight to have a Tummy Tuck operation?" It was difficult for me to tell. Was my enlarged midsection (see Tummy Tuck Before Photos) still due to fat or due to stretched skin. I researched ideal weight charts for men, BMIs, average weights and more in an effort to determine if I was ready. I decided that I was and thought that if I wasn't, the doctor would tell me so. In hindsight, I probably should have lost 5-10 more pounds. I did ask the doctor if I should lose some more weight and he would not say. He didn't indicate why. I think he was afraid that if he did say that I was ready and had the operation with results that I was not satisfied with, I would blame him. I now think it best to go all the way down to 5 lbs. or more below your ideal target weight just to be on the safe side. That way, after the operation the stomach would be nice and flat.
Do Men Have Tummy Tucks?
I looked at all the tummy tuck before and after pictures that I could find and read all the books, news articles, blogs and information on the internet concerning this type of plastic surgery for men (male tummy tucks). It turns out that there is much more information about tummy tucks for women than there is about tummy tucks for men. Just about all of the tummy tuck forums and tummy tuck discussion boards that I visited were almost exclusively for women. In 2008, only 3% of the Tummy Tucks performed in the United States were for men. I think this may change in the future with the increasing obesity problems we now face. Also there appears to be a stigma or shame associated with male tummy tucks. I know I was initially embarrassed when I first made inquires regarding my operation.
I also read about the horror stories and the success stories regarding Tummy Tuck operations. Those Tummy Tuck horror stories as well as all the "bad stuff" that can happen to you on the operating table and during recovery really makes you think twice as to whether it's worth it. Then I looked into alternatives to a tummy tuck but found they couldn't fix my problem. After looking in the mirror a few more times and doing some soul searching, I decided to risk it and looked into finding a plastic surgeon in my area. I was fortunate to find an excellent surgeon in my city. On 9/17/07 I called to make an appointment for a tummy tuck consultation.
Tummy Tuck SurgeryTo remove excess skin from the abdominal area the surgeon first makes a long incision from hip to hip just above the pubic area. He then makes a second incision around the navel to free the belly button from the surrounding skin. The skin is then surgically separated from the abdominal wall up to the ribs and lifted to expose the muscles in the abdomen. The muscles are repositioned and stitched to provide a firmer, slimmer and more contoured abdomen. The skin is then stretched back into place and a new hole is cut for the belly button which is then stitched in place. Unwanted excess skin is cut away and the incision is closed with stitches. |
(9/24) Going to his office for the initial visit was sort of intimidating, being a 54 year old male who hasn't been to many doctors, especially not a plastic surgeon with a waiting room full of women. Fortunately, both he and his staff were friendly and made the visit easier. My thoughts on my drive to my first tummy tuck consultation included:
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Will I be naked for the "Before" Photo?
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Tummy Tuck Horror Stories that you read about.
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Is this guy really a good plastic surgeon?
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Will I need liposuction as well?
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Have I lost enough weight?
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Tummy Tuck cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance.
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"Tummy Tuck" is a foolish name to say out loud and abdominoplasty is too hard to remember.
My First Tummy Tuck Surgery consultation
I was lead into an examining room where a nurse provided me with additional forms and literature and answered most of the Tummy Tuck questions that I had prepared. The initial examination by the doctor fortunately only involved stripping down to my underwear (being there was humiliating enough). It was a "brief" examination by the doctor who indicated that a Tummy Tuck as well as a Lateral Thigh Lift would be appropriate for me, but that the decision was entirely mine. He indicated that I did not need liposuction and that he could not do it in conjunction with this type of operation anyway because of the complexity of it. I was shown before and after photos of previous Tummy Tucks that the doctor had performed and received a more complete description of the operation and potential complications. The nurse provided me with written price quotes for the procedures and a schedule and asked if I wanted to proceed with the operation. I told her I would consider it and call back for another appointment. I was charged a $25 for my tummy tuck consultation fee and was quoted the following prices. I was surprised to find that they required payment in full prior to the operation. They also required a $500 deposit when they scheduled the operation. Good thing they took Amex.
Price Quote for Male Tummy Tuck Surgery with Lateral Thigh Lift:
$11,200
The
cost of the tummy tuck
Included doctor's fee, facility and support personnel – $10,000
for the doctor's fee and $1200 for the
anesthesia
fee.
Price Quote for Medial Thigh Lift: $6,350
$5,500 for the doctors fee and $850 for the anesthesia fee.
Types Of Plastic Surgery
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Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Surgery is where they cut away and stitch "tight" the sagging skin in be belly area. The medical term for "Tummy Tuck" is Abdominoplasty. It is a surgical procedure involving the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower parts of the abdomen (stomach, belly, tummy) and sometimes tightening the abdomen muscles resulting in a flatter abdomen. Scars associated with a Tummy Tuck are usually hidden below the line of a swimsuit or underwear. Many scars fade with time but do not go away completely.
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Outer Thigh Lift (Lateral) Surgery is where they remove the sagging skin from the outer thighs and may require operating on the buttocks area. In my case that meant continuing along the sides of the waist and back area and do the same thing to lift the hips and the butt.
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Inner Thigh Lift (Medial) Surgery is where they remove the sagging skin from the inside area of the thighs. Operating on this area can remove sagging skin, improve the overall appearance and reduce the rubbing together of the inner thighs. Liposuction may be used to remove excess fat. I decided against having the Medial Thigh Lift performed because for me, it would have to be a separate operation, cost more money and I figured I could live with what I had.
- Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy) Surgery removes sagging skin from the tummy, thighs and the buttocks.
My Next Tummy Tuck Surgery consultation
A few weeks later I made another appointment where I received additional paperwork and information as how to proceed. They also gave me a "Medical Clearance for Surgery" form for me to get signed by my family doctor. That meant another trip to my doctor for an additional examination including blood testing, urine analysis and an EKG test. Usually chest x-rays are performed, but since I was a non-smoker, that was not required.
Since I would need continual care and monitoring for 24 hours after the surgery, I needed some additional help. They provided me with the name and number of a home healthcare nurse. I called and made arrangements with Donna (the nurse) to pick me up, take me to surgery, take me home and stay with me overnight tending to my needs.
Surgical clearance - Getting My Family Doctor's Approval for Tummy Tuck Surgery (10/3)
I went to my family doctor for the required examination and tests and to get the "Medical Clearance for Surgery" form signed by the doctor. I needed blood tests and an EKG (electrocardiogram is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart) for him to complete the form.
Back to the Surgeon's Office (11/9)
I paid the $500 deposit and scheduled the surgery date for December 4.
Last tummy tuck consultation Before Tummy Tuck Surgery (11/20)
I provided the signed Medical Clearance for Surgery form (medical clearance) to the receptionist and paid the balance in full ($10,700) with my Amex credit card. The doctor took the "Tummy Tuck Before" photographs. I told him I didn't want to see these plastered all over the internet (I was holding a sign with my name on it). He said not to worry. I was then provided surgery pre-operation and post-operation instructions and I received prescriptions to get filled prior to the day of the operation (12/4/08). The two prescriptions that I received were for Keflex 500mg an antibiotic (20 pills) and Mepergan Fortis for pain (40 pills).
Pre-Operation and Post-Operation Instructions
I Was All Set For My Tummy Tuck Surgery
Now all I had to do was wait and follow the Surgery Pre-Operation and Post-Operation Instructions and my Preparation for Surgery Checklist that I created.
TUMMY TUCK SURGERY DAY
Pre-Operation Meeting with the Surgeon
Donna, the home health care nurse arrived at my house at 10:30am as planned. I called the doctor's office and they told me to be there at 11:30am. Donna drove me to the doctor's office and escorted me to the waiting room. She asked if I wanted her to wait with me and I told her I was fine and that she could leave. She left. I waited about ten minutes till Becky the plastic surgeon's nurse came and escorted me to a private room where she told me the doctor would be in shortly to draw the "cut lines" on me followed by Bob the anesthesiologist. She instructed me to don the gown with the opening in front. After she left, I took off my clothes and put on the gown. I had a little bit of trouble getting the ties to stay tied so that it wouldn't inadvertently open as I walked.
After about 10-15 minutes of sitting alone, then standing, then sitting, then pretending to look at a magazine the surgeon entered the room with what looked like a ten cent plastic ruler (the type that a kindergartener would have) and a marker pen. He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a "see through" tiny bikini for me to wear. He instructed me to put on the bikini and take off the gown so he could draw his alignment and cut marks on me with the marker. I commented on the high tech device that he was using to draw straight lines (the cheap plastic ruler). The marking procedure took about 10 minutes to complete. He finished up and told me that Bob, the anesthesiologist would be in shortly to talk to me.
Meeting with the Tummy Tuck Anesthesiologist
Alone again. Soon, Bob entered the room. Bob was a friendly 40ish year old man dressed in his surgery outfit. He asked some questions about my medical history, told me what he will be doing during the procedure and chatted with me for a few minutes. I was impressed with him in that he was professional, competent and I felt good with him being the one handling my anesthesia. I signed a piece of paper pertaining to the anesthesia and he left.
A few moments later Becky returned and escorted me down the hall to a bathroom where I was instructed to relieve myself to empty my bladder prior to the operation. Ironically, the bathroom was in the employee break room where a girl was preparing and eating delicious smelling Italian food, buffet style, like for the whole crew. It smelled very good. I entered the small bathroom and did my best to relieve myself. I did the best I could but under the circumstances (having just gone at home and not having anything to eat or drink since the night before).
In the Operating Room
Becky then escorted me to the operating room where the plastic surgeon was waiting as well as 2 or 3 others. In the center of the room was the operating table. It was smaller than what I would have envisioned and was about the size of a pool side reclining lounge chair with arm pads extending from each side. I was then introduced to a couple of nurses in the adjacent room who would be participating in the surgery. Bob was also there.
I was instructed to walk around to the far side of the operating table where on the floor lay some towels for me to stand on. With me positioned in the center of the towels, the plastic surgeon brought out a small towel and small metal container filled with a reddish brown liquid (the topical antiseptic that they put on the patient prior to operating to keep things sterile). I was instructed to remove my gown and he proceeded to get on his knees and "paint" my body with the antiseptic liquid. He generously applied the liquid over my entire body except, my hands, my head and my private parts. When he was satisfied that I was sufficiently coated with the material, I was cautioned to extend my arms and not to touch anything with my hands as they would contaminate the sterile environment. Must have been quite a sight. Me, almost naked, painted red with my arms extended out being asked to maneuver myself to step on the stool adjacent to the operating table and sit on the operating table, then lie back without touching anything with my hands.
On the Operating Table
Once I was on my back on the operating table they covered my body with a blanket to keep me warm and probably for my privacy.
Bob then came out and proceeded to hook me up with his electrodes and stuff to monitor my heart, blood pressure and other vitals that he needs to monitor to ensure that I am properly "asleep" during the surgery. He explained everything that he was doing as he was doing it, so I felt fully informed and there was no surprises.
At this point I commented that I was surprised at myself for being as calm and relaxed as I was for being where I was and what I was doing. I did feel fairly comfortable and not nearly as shy or as intimidated as one would think.
Bob then proceeded to insert the IV needle (intravenous, giving of liquid substances directly into a vein) into the back of my left hand through which he would later introduce the anesthesia and/or other medications required for the operation. Insertion of the IV into the back of my hand did not hurt at all. He then made a remark that he would soon give me a "taste" of the stuff and that it would "take the edge off".
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Intravenous Needle inserted
into the vein in the back of left hand to dispense medications for
surgery.
Photo courtesy of Wikemedia |
I intentionally looked around the room trying to identify things and remember things before they knocked me out so that I might better remember it later. It seems that about a minute of this observing had passed.
Tummy Tuck Surgery Recovery
The Next Thing I Knew I Was In The Recovery Room
All of a sudden I magically woke up in the recovery room. Surprisingly, I was more clear headed than I thought I would be. I found that I was wearing a large compression garment around my midsection along with two surgical drains connected to my body with plastic tubing. They sat me up, put on my pullover type shirt and asked me a couple of questions. I don't remember them putting on my shorts (I assume they did that in the operating room). I had no pain whatsoever. The doctor and his nurse got on either side of me and escorted me to the bathroom where he told me they put a lot of fluids in me and that I probably had to pee. I did not really feel like I had to but they guided me there anyway. Well, if I didn't have to go in the first place, now I was standing in front of the toilet with the doctor under one arm and the nurse under the other "waiting patiently" as I tried to "relieve myself". TALK ABOUT PRESSURE!
They then placed me into Donna's (my home health care nurse) car for the ride home, which was pleasant and uneventful. I did not have any trouble walking from the car to the house then to the bed with the help of my nurse. After saying "hi" to my dog and taking my pills I went to bed. Throughout the evening and night, every four hours Donna would wake me from my sleep to empty my drains and give me my medications.
- My Story Continues With Recovery -
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The Morning After |
Surgical Drains |
See How I Recovered After Male Tummy Tuck Surgery
Tummy Tuck Forum; Tummy Tuck Message Board
Tummy Tuck forums are places to ask questions and get answers to all your tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) questions. Feeling a little bit shaky about your decision to have tummy tuck surgery? Get support and advice from people that have already gone through it.
In our forum there is nothing to join. Feel free to learn as much as you can about tummy tucks and what they are like. Have a question? Just submit it in the form provided below and we will respond with an email answer to your specific question as well as post it in the forum so others may benefit.
Even though our website is titled "Tummy Tuck For Men" all the information it contains pertains to both male and female tummy tucks.
Tummy Tuck Forum Advice
Please remember that when visiting any tummy tuck forum and message boards you are generally reading the advice and experiences of individuals, not doctors. The information may be wrong or simply the opinion of the writer but it will usually provide incite into the subject matter and perhaps initiate questions and concerns that you should discuss with your doctor.
For questions, comments and advice on a particular tummy tuck subject click on the subject link in the menu and scroll to the bottom of the page.
The Tummy Tuck Forum Has Moved - click here.
TUMMY TUCK For Men (ABDOMINOPLASTY) FOR MEN; MALE TUMMY TUCKS
For all Male Tummy Tuck and Abdominoplasty Surgery Questions (FAQs) please click here.
TUMMY TUCK RESOURCES - TUMMY TUCK FOR MEN; MALE TUMMY TUCKS
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PlasticSurgeryPortal.com
Tummy Tucks and Liposuction are highly effective procedures for getting rid of extra skin and fat, but before going to see your doctor, visit PlasticSurgeryPortal.com. This site has information on treatments like tummy tucks, and a large network of qualified doctors and tummy tuck surgeons. -
Male Tummy Tuck Pictures
Photographs of a male tummy tuck surgery with clickable thumbnail pictures of a man who had a tummy tuck before, next day, 3 days after, 1 week after, 2 weeks after, 2 months after, 3 months after and 1 year after tummy tuck so you can see the healing and recovery progression. -
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More Resources.