Tummy Tuck For Men: What to Expect
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| Man Before Tummy Tuck | |
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Man After Tummy Tuck & Body Lift Surgery |
Man After Tummy Tuck |
Before Tummy Tuck Surgery
This is my personal story of having Tummy Tuck Plastic Surgery (Abdominoplasty) with Lateral Thigh Lift, including Before & After Photographs 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.
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| Weight Loss left me with Excess Skin | One Day After Tummy Tuck & Lateral Thigh Lift |
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.
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Tummy Tucks by Gender Tummy Tucks by Age Tummy Tuck Average Surgeon/Physician Fees Number of Tummy Tucks (Abdominoplasty)
performed in the U.S. Top Five Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in
2008 |
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.
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Do Men Have Tummy Tucks?
I read all the books, news, articles, blogs and information that I could find 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 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 consultation.
Tummy Tuck SurgeryThe surgeon makes a long incision just above the pubic area that
runs from hipbone to hipbone. A second incision is made around the
navel to release the
belly button from the surrounding tissue. The
skin is then separated from the
abdominal wall up to the ribs and
then lifted to reveal the vertical muscles in the abdomen. These
exposed muscles are pulled close together and stitched into
their new position using
stitches in order to tighten them. This
will help to narrow the waistline and firm the abdominal wall. The
skin flap is then stretched back in place and the extra unwanted
skin is cut away. After cutting a new hole for the bellybutton, it
is then stitched in place.
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(9/24/07) 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 the 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 Examination
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 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.
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Price Quote for Male Tummy Tuck with Lateral Thigh Lift: $11,200
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.
Tummy Tuck 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.
Outer Thigh Lift (Lateral) 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.
Inner Thigh Lift (Medial) 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.
Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy) removes sagging skin from the tummy, thighs and the buttocks.
My Next Tummy Tuck Appointment
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.
Getting My Family Doctor's Approval for
Surgery (10/3/07)
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 (11/9/07)
I paid the $500 deposit and scheduled the surgery date
for December 4, 2007.
Last Office Visit Before Surgery
(11/20/08)
I provided the
signed Medical Clearance for Surgery form and paid the balance in
full ($10,700) with my Amex credit card. The doctor took the
"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
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.
MALE TUMMY TUCK with Body Lift; The Day After Tummy Tuck
Day of "Tummy Tuck" Surgery - Dec. 4, 2007
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).
Entering 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 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 table, then lie back without touching anything with my hands.
On the Operating Table
Once I was on my back 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.
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.
See How I Recovered From Tummy Tuck Surgery - Click Here
Morning After Male Tummy Tuck Surgery
Tummy Tuck Surgical DrainsAs a result of all of the surgical cutting and suturing that is done during the Tummy Tuck operation there is a certain amount of internal bleeding that occurs. This blood tends to run "down hill" towards the groin area (and yes there is a certain amount of swelling in that area). To remove this blood from the body, during surgery they poke a hole just above the groin area and insert a length of plastic tubing (see pictures). For my operation they inserted two surgical drains a few inches apart. I would guess that the tubing goes into the body for a depth of about 4 to six inches (at least that's what I think I remember when they pulled them out). The total length of the tubing was about 4 -5 feet with the other end connected to a flexible plastic container with a drain port on it. The drain is measured for the amount of blood collected, then drained (with the blood being discarded down the toilet) every four hours. Every day the amount of blood collected would slowly decrease. It took 6 days until they slowed enough until my drains were removed.
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To read comments only relating to a specific subject, please use the menu at the top of this page and click on the subject of interest. Each page contains specific title related comments and responses.
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Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2010 12:22 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Surgical Drain Question
I had my abdominoplasty &
herniolasty done on 11/8/2010 ie.17days now. the drain
collected still is 22cc. Can the drain be removed now? Will it get accumulated
if the drain pipe is removed?
Baby
Response - Baby,
I imagine that you are getting pretty tired of lugging the drain around and
having to empty it over and over. What a chore! 17 days is a long time to have a
surgical drain sticking out of your body.
I assume the 22 cc drain rate you refer to is for a 24 hour period. From what I
understand, 30 cc per day and below is a guideline that a surgeon uses to
determine when to remove surgical drains after a tummy tuck. Since you had a
herniolasty as well, perhaps there are additional considerations.
When does your surgeon say the drain can come out? He is the only one that can
(or should) remove it or tell you when it is safe to remove it. Even though you
are tired of having it still in there, the longer it's there the better. It's
there for a reason (reduce risk of infection, prevent other complications such
as seroma or
fistula).
I am not sure what you mean by "Will it get accumulated if the drain pipe is
removed?". If you are asking if the fluid will start to accumulate and pool in
your body, then that will depend on your body and it's ability to absorb the
fluid. Your doctor has the training and experience to best make that
determination.
Good luck.
Tanner
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Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 1:27 PM
Subject:
Tummy Tuck Pain
It's almost three weeks since I have my tummy tuck and liposuction along with a
breast augmentation the recovery for the bust augmentation It was okay, but, the
recovery for the tummy tuck it was a different story, the first two weeks it was
so painful, that my husband had to take care of me the whole first week day and
night, "thanks god" that he is retired from his job, other way he can be kind of
sleepy on his job. the second week I have to managed to take care of myself,
because he was tired of me, ringing the bell every time I have to go to the
bathroom and not to be able to move my body... you see every single movement It
was a pain even do I was taking the medications. to me It was something that has
to be done, with my body, and for almost two years I was saving money for the
tummy tuck operation. I was so disgusted every time I see myself in the mirror
with the tummy. that I decided to go ahead with the surgery and I think the it
was worthy all the pain, and money I spend. I did that, after finding the right
pl, with his credentials, because after all is your life and health you putting
in risk, after several consultations with some others doctors finally I found my
Dr. thank-you Dr.Efrain Gonzalez for been so patient with me "you are the best
surgeon".
Response - Belem,
I am sorry to hear that your tummy tuck was so painful for the first two weeks.
After I had my tummy tuck, I had numbness but no pain and was able to move about
easily but slowly the
day after surgery.
I am curious about your tummy tuck pain and wonder if you would mind answering
the following questions.
1. Did you have numbness around the incision area?
2. Where was the pain located? Did you have pain when you touched the incision
area? Deep inside you beneath the incision area? Your whole body?
3. Did the pain make it hard to sleep? What pain medications were you taking?
4. Did you have more pain when you moved or was it present all the time?
Since I did not have liposuction with my tummy tuck, I wonder if it contributed
to your level of pain?
I hope you are over the worst of it and are feeling better. Good luck with the
rest of your recovery.
Buy the way - I looked up your tummy tuck doctor, Dr. Gonzalez, on the internet.
It must have given you a good warm feeling knowing that he was named one of
“American best physicians” two years in a row along with his other credentials.
Best regards,
Tanner
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Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 11:21 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Prices
If I pay cash for all, would that be cheaper? Thanks,
Henna
Response - Henna,
That would depend on the individual doctor that you choose. I suspect that
some would not take cash for payment of a tummy tuck. Others may only be too
happy to.
Best regards,
Tanner
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Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 9:11 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Surgical Drains Questions
I am interested in getting a tummy tuck. I was wondering if the drains
hurt? is it hard to go to the bathroom? How long does the drains stay inside
you? Do you have to get cut again to get the drains out?
Dominique
Response - Dominique,
I found the
surgical drains to be an interesting part of the tummy tuck
experience. I didn't know anything about them or what to expect before my
operation. When I woke up in the recovery room, THERE THEY WERE. Two of them,
"plugged into" my body a few inches below my waist.
But to answer your questions, no the surgical drains didn't hurt at all. At my
skin's surface where they penetrated my body I couldn't feel anything because
that area was numb even long after the drains were removed. I also could not
feel the 5 inches or so of tubing that was inside my body. I didn't know how
much of it they put in or where it went.
You might want to check out my surgical drains page
http://www.tummytuckformen.com/tummy-tuck-abdominoplasty-surgical-drains.html
and read the feedback comments at the bottom of the page. At least one person
experienced some pain with her surgical drains.
Going to the bathroom after the tummy tuck operation and with the surgical
drains was no problem for me. You just have to move a lot slower and make sure
you have something to hang onto like the nearby tub or sink vanity to steady as
you position yourself.
How long do the surgical drains stay inside you? That changes with each
individual, the degree of surgery he/she had and the rate of drainage after the
surgery. I had to monitor and empty my surgical drains every four hours. When
the drainage rate slowed to below 30cc's over a 24-hour period for 2 consecutive
days, then the drains could be removed, but that was up to the discretion of the
surgeon. My surgical drains stayed in for 6 days.
Getting the surgical drains removed was easy and there was no "cutting" involved
(except for the snipping of a few stitches with a scissor that held the surgical
drains in place). At one of my follow-up visits my surgeon simply put one of his
hands against my body at the insertion point as a brace and gently pulled the
drain tube out. It only took a second. I was surprised to see about 4 - 5 inches
of tubing slide easily out of my body. It didn't hurt at all and there was
little or no bleeding.
I hope this answers your questions. Best of luck.
Tanner
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Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 6:26 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Doctor Question
I really want to get a tummy tuck done but trying to find a good md that does
payment plans is hard to find and I really want a good md that would not mess me
up.
Debbie
Response - Debbie,
Finding a good plastic surgeon is a lot of hard work. Finding one that accepts
payment plans is probably harder yet (though most will accept credit cards).
Finding one that won't MESS YOU UP - well, you won't know that till after the
surgery. That's the scary part and hardest part of it all. The "not knowing" how
it will turn out. The only you can do is research your doctor thoroughly and
make the best choice possible. Surgery is always a gamble and there are no
guarantees.
Good luck.
Tanner
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Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 10:09 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Questions
Hey! I had a full TT w/MR and lipo 3 weeks ago. I have had so many questions and
concerns since the surgery, and I have scoured the internet looking for answers.
I keep coming back to your site! I've visited your site multiple times every day
for the past 3 weeks. You are so awesome for creating this! I'm sure it was
helpful for you during your healing process to document everything, and it is SO
helpful for those of us needing questions answered.
I'm a 34 year old female, so probably not the "demographic" you had in mind when
you created your site! But, reading about your experiences, hints, and answers
to questions has helped me tremendously.
Thanks again!
Sara
Response - Sara,
Thanks for your comments. I hope your recovery goes as well as mine did. Let me
know if you have any questions that I might be able to answer, but after three
weeks the worst should be over with. Best regards,
Tanner
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Sent: Friday, August 20,
2010 12:01 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck
Surgical Drains Complication
After 6 years of having a tummy tuck operation, my mother,67, is experiencing
severe complications: not eating regularly, losing weight, chronic constipation
pain, * especially on the right side of her stomach where the drainage tubes
were placed(stabbing, movement, burning, bloating, pain). What can be done to
ease her pains and who should she seek help from at this point?. we've taken her
to every doctor possible...
Juliann
Response - Juliann,
Sorry to hear about your mother's problems. I have never heard of anyone having
complications from a tummy tuck operation 6 years later. You state that you have
taken her to every doctor possible. What do they say? Do they think it is
related to the surgical drains or a complication from the tummy tuck? Or do they
think it is something else? The only thing that I can advise you to do is keep
trying different doctors. There has to be someone out there who can figure it
out.
Good luck.
Tanner
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Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 10:06 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Swelling
Hello: It's been 2 months since my abdominalplasty with
lipo. When I wake up in
the morning my stomach is flat but throughout the day every time I eat my
stomach blows up. Is this normal? I feel like I look pregnant all over again. I
know I still have a little
swelling but I didn't think this would happen with a
bowl of oatmeal. I hope nothing's wrong. Please advise.
Rika
Response - Rika,
When you say your stomach "blows up", can you actually see a difference when
looking in the mirror (before and after eating) or is it just a feeling of being
bloated?
I can sort of relate to what you feel. I remember soon after my tummy tuck I
noticed that I seemed to get fuller much faster when I ate. I took this as a
good thing and assumed that since my skin and stomach muscles were "tighter", my
stomach did not have as much room to expand when I ate. It also served as a
reminder and incentive not to eat too much. Every time I got that feeling I
would think "I don't want to overeat and cause my skin to stretch again or pull
at the stomach
stitches". Even today, over two years later I get that same
feeling. If it's not just a feeling of being too full and you can actually see
bloating and swelling every time you eat it might be time to go back to the
doctor to check it out. Good luck.
Tanner
Thx. I go see my doc on Wednesday. I don't feel bloated.
I can actually see it. Is this a complication?
Rika
I have never heard of anyone having that problem in
relation to a tummy tuck, but I don't know if it is a complication or not.
Tanner
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Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2010 12:07 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Swelling
Good journey and experience!
mbt
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Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:28 AM
Subject: Tummy Tuck Questions
Dear Tanner,
Thank you SO much for setting up this website with your experiences. I have been
looking for something like this for AGES, and have finally found the resource
I've been looking for.
I lost 90 pounds after a life of being fat. I'm 34 and have had severe migraine
attacks all my life. After having been treated by a neurologist since I was 12,
my neurologist finally told me there was nothing else he could do for me (after
we'd tried every available treatment). The only thing he could think of was me
trying to lose weight. So I did.
And it worked. I have far less migraine attacks, and the ones I do have are far
less intense. However, now I have a lot of skin left. So, I am having the skin
'chopped off' in 3 months. Your results look amazing, and I can only hope that
the results of my own surgery will look the same.
Selecting a surgeon was tough. In the end, I just went on a site which was
specifically for women in my area (I live in the Netherlands), and looked at
which results I liked best. Then I picked the closest one of the results I liked
best, and had a meeting there. One hard demand I have for this procedure,
though, is that it is done in an actual hospital. This is possible here in the
Netherlands, though it is slightly more expensive (only by about 1000 euro's).
It includes 3 nights in hospital, and I wanted this basically for my own peace
of mind.
The total cost for my hip to hip abdominoplasty with lipo of the love handles
will come to 5950 euro's (about 7000 dollars, more of less).
Your site has given me a clear picture of what to expect. However, what I would
like to ask is this: How long does it take after the surgery before I can get
back to work? I have an office job, but one where I frequently have to go on
house calls. I cycle from my office to the homes of people, all through town. I
have 3 weeks of vacation time I am taking for this surgery, and have asked for
an additional week of unpaid time off. In case I don't get this week off, I
would like to know beforehand whether I will need to make arrangements at the
office. I could, if I know what to expect, make arrangements to postpone all
house calls for a week or two.
I hope you can answer that question for me.... I sort of need to know when I can
expect to be able to cycle again, and when I can expect to be able to sit in an
office chair for 7 hours a day again.
Again, thank you So much for this website, it is truly a godsent!
Response - Vincent,
I too had migraines for a long period of time. I am not really sure what caused
them but I suspect the main reasons was being overweight and the type of shirt I
wore (a dress shirt). I was an engineer in an office and often sat at a desk or
drafting board for long periods of time. When I leaned forward, my collar would
rub against the back of my neck. I could tell when a migraine was coming on
because one of my ears would turn red. Since I have lost the weight and had the
tummy tuck operation I only wear stretchy polo type shirts and haven't had a
migraine in many years.
Having your surgery in a hospital is a smart move. If something did go wrong you
know you are at a facility with proper staff and is equipped to handle any
emergency.
How long does it take after the surgery before I can get back to work? I can
just tell you information that I found when I did my research and from my own
personal experience. I have listed some of my work and exercise related
questions from my website as follows:
How will I feel after Tummy Tuck surgery?
It may take 3 - 6 weeks until you feel back to normal, depending on the shape
that you are in. If you are in top shape you may feel normal in 1 -2 weeks.
When can I drive after Tummy Tuck surgery?
Driving after a Tummy Tuck is usually permitted about two weeks after surgery.
When can I exercise after Tummy Tuck surgery?
Typically you can exercise lightly in about 3 - 4 weeks following Tummy Tuck
Surgery. Go slowly and follow your doctor's advice regarding exercise. You can
hurt yourself if you overdo it. Be careful not to stretch or pull in the area of
the stitches or tummy area.
When can I go back to work after Tummy Tuck surgery? How much time do you take
off from work for a Tummy Tuck?
It really depends on how well you are recovering and what type of work you do.
For office work typically you can return to work in one to two weeks. For more
strenuous manual labor work up to 6 weeks or longer. I had a Tummy Tuck with a
Lateral Thigh Lift operation and I felt that one week was about right for me
(office work).
My Personal Experience
(12/5/07) The Day After my Tummy Tuck - I could walk slowly
(12/11/07) I cheated and drove before I should have.
(12/16/07) I exercised with light dumbbell weights (15 lbs weights) and various
stretches for 1 hour. I think I was suppose to wait a few weeks after a Tummy
Tuck before exercising but I was feeling very good. I took great care to avoid
any pulling on the mid-section area and on my stitches.
(12/19/07) Stitches Removed. Fluid drained with needle.
(12/20/07) 1 hour of exercise. Still using the lower 15 lb weights.
(12/23/07) Exercised 1 hour using the 25 lb weights
Remember, I had a worst case scenario - a tummy tuck with a
body lift. They cut
skin away from me from all sides of my body. I would think that a regular tummy
tuck would not be as "bad".
Judging from how I felt at that time I would think that 3 weeks should be more
than sufficient time for returning to office work. Riding the bicycle all over
town may be another matter. If you don't use or pull on you abdominal muscles or
tummy area and take it easy, I would think that it is probably "do-able".
It may also depend on the type of bike that you ride, how far and fast you go
and how strenuous it is. If you do ride your bike I would suggest that you
invest in additional compression garments to wear while you are cycling. I would
bind myself up pretty tight to make it impossible to pull at stitches or the
surgical wound area. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself and cause
complications to your recovery. If you have a bike that forces you into leaning
forward or in awkward positions you may want to borrow or rent a different bike
that will be more compatible with a tummy tuck operation.
Bottom line is that I probably could have returned to work and ridden a bicycle
at the end of three weeks (especially if I did not have the thigh lift) but I am
told that I was lucky in my recovery experience. Others have not been as
fortunate or pain free in their recovery. Every individual's experiences are
different.
How long do you need in order to postpone your house calls? Would it be possible
to have the operation, recover for two weeks then determine if you need to
postpone your house calls?
As far as sitting at a desk for 7 hours a day I wouldn't think that it would be
a problem as long as you can take frequent breaks and move around. Sitting after
my tummy tuck was never a problem for me.
I would also suggest that you discuss your return to work plan with your
surgeon. He will be in the best possible position to give you a clear answer to
your question.
Hope this helped with your decision.
Good luck.
Tanner
Follow-Up
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 2:40 PM
Hi Tanner,
Thank you so much for your reply! And quick too!
Like I said, I've had the migraines since i was twelve, and we've never been
able to figure out where they come from. I'm just glad they've been gone for a
while now. Only 7 and a half weeks, so far, but still, coming from a situation
where I had a severe attack every other day, not having any kind of attack at
all for over 7 weeks is a miracle.
The trick for me, as it turns out, is the weight loss in combination with some
weightlifting. During my weight loss I'd been cycling about 20 miles a day for
work anyways, so I know it's not the cardio, but after a visit to a cosmetic
surgeon (I was told, like you were, that the skin problem with the skin in the
man-boob area isn't severe enough for surgery, and the only thing to do is
weightlifting to fill it out with muscle.... so I took that as a challenge) I
started weightlifting 7 weeks ago. Not a single migraine since. Maybe it's
because I am using and stretching certain muscle correctly now.... who knows.
I'm just happy as can be.
Your answer have really helped me a lot. I had already expected (and hoped) to a
least be back to work after 3 weeks, and now I know I will be. I have a high
pain tolerance (you have to develop that with the frequent migraines), so any
pain I may have won't really be an issue. The only issue might be getting tired
easily. But as I can sit at the desk most of the time, I should be fine.
As for cycling.... hey, I'm Dutch.... I have 3 bikes.... I will simply select
the most comfortable bike (with shock dampening technology and all) and use that
one. And go slowly. But I can pretty much postpone the house calls for a week or
two. The most urgent things... well... I can figure something out.
By the way.... I wanted the body lift, as I have a lot of skin around the love
handle area....but they simply won't perform that surgery here in the
Netherlands. They feel it's too big/invasive an operation to do in one go.
Instead, they're going to do some lipo on the love handles. We'll see how it
comes out, but if I'm not happy with it, I guess round two will be next year.
Again, thanks for the help!
Vincent
-------------------------------------
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 1:04 PM
Subject:
Tummy Tuck Lipo
Thanks for this Tanner...I really appreciate it! I'm down 115 pounds...and have
a lot of excess skin. I'm trying to lose 10 more...and then consider the surgery
end of next year. I'm interested in reaching out to the response/guy from the
5/23 post who did the lipo on the chest...as I'm thinking of that also. Would
you ask him if I could connect with him? Thanks,
Response - If you like, I will forward this email (with
your email address) to him. That will provide him the opportunity to contact you
directly if he cares to. Let me know if you want me to do that.
Best regards,
Tanner
That would be great! I just have some questions regarding his procedure...as it sounds similar to what I'd like to do! How are you? Feeling great? Did you not have any excess skin in your chest area?
Response - Request sent. It will be up to him if he
wants to contact you. I am doing fine and have had no problems. I did not have
enough excess skin in my chest area to worry about.
Best regards,
Tanner
-------------------------
Sent: Sunday, May 23,
2010 10:54 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck For Men
I like your website. I too am a guy who lost a lot of weigh (100 lbs - 120 lbs),
had sagging skin for about 2 years and decided to go through with it. I had an
abdominoplasty done with liposuction on chest and abdominal region. It's been a
year and I love the new look. I applaud you for putting your story up because it
takes a lot of courage.
Response - Thanks.
It is disappointing to end up with all that sagging skin after doing so much
work to lose the weight isn't is?
Getting rid of it with the tummy tuck sure made a big difference for me as well.
As far as taking a lot of courage, not so much.
Even though my tummy tuck experience is published to the world, I took the
precautions of blurring my face in the photographs and I did not use my real
name. I did that because once you put something on the internet you can never
take it back. I wanted to play it safe.
Good luck with your post tummy tuck period. Now the challenge for us is to keep
the weight from coming back.
Best regards,
Tanner
-------------------------
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 10:30 PM
Subject: Tummy Tuck For Guys
Hi. I'm another guy (27 years old; lost over 100 pounds) thinking about doing
this. Thanks a lot for posting your story.
Have you come across any similar sites/stories/posts/blogs from guys? I see a
lot from women, but I'd like to know what other men went through, and I know
everyone is different.
Also, if you found any good resources for doctor reviews, I'd be interested-
I've found a few sites but just a few comments.
Thanks again- it's good to hear from someone who has done this before.
Response - I haven't seen or read about
any other men's experiences with tummy tucks. I have seen a couple of television
shows about people losing weight then undergoing tummy tuck surgery (including
some guys) but I have found nothing on the internet.
Tummy tucks for men do seem to becoming more "acceptable" and common place. In
the next few years we will probably see more and more stories and information
about them. I recently received an email from a television producer's assistant
(from England) if they could use some of my before and after photos in a new
prime time television series they are producing this summer. So the interest is
out there.
As far as finding good sources for doctor reviews, not really. It would have
been nice to be able to find one site that you could trust to have all of the
information (good and bad) about a surgeon as well as the facilities that he
uses, but I couldn't find it. I don't think there is an easy way to find a good
surgeon. After I went to a few consultations (to get a variety of opinions and
to gain as much information as I could) I selected the one that I liked best. My
decision was based on his facility, personnel, background and experience,
certifications, pictures of his previous patients, professionalism, and his
willingness to answer my questions.
After I selected the surgeon that I liked best, I spent hours on the internet
using all of the different search engines trying to find out any information
that I could on the guy. I tried all of the variations of his name in my search.
Having found only good things and no "bad information" about the surgeon, I paid
for two background checks using two different online background services. I
would tell you which companies I used, but I can no longer find the reports.
Just do an internet search for "surgeon background check". I was particularly
looking for malpractice law suits and patient complaints against the surgeon.
Finding his education, credentials and experience is easy. The bad stuff is
harder to find.
Good luck with your decision. I know there is a lot of "thinking" for you to do.
It's a scary decision, but I a definitely happy that I chose to have it done.
Tanner
About Our Tummy Tuck Forum; Tummy Tuck Message
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This tummy tuck forum/message board is provided as a source of tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
information and to provide you with answers to your tummy tuck questions. You
are welcome to ask a question, express your opinion or describe your own tummy
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All information presented is the opinion of the writer and should not be relied
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