Sometimes, after large fluctuations in weight, the tissues of the abdominal wall lose their elasticity and become lax and flaccid. The active man who has been working hard to get muscle definition in his abdomen may not be able to see the fruits of his labor due to thickness of the abdominal skin. Stretch marks from large weight fluctuations may cover the skin of the abdomen. The purpose of tummy tuck in men is to eliminate many of these deformities and to give the abdomen a tighter, firmer, and more athletic shape.
It must be remembered that tummy tuck for men is not a substitute for more conventional methods of weight loss, such as dieting and exercise. In certain men, accumulations of fat in these areas do not respond to normal measures, and, for these men, tummy tuck can provide a means to achieve this goal.
Tummy tuck for men is best thought of as a spectrum of surgical procedures that can be tailored to your specific need. In other words, not every person requires an extensive procedure, and, depending on the situation, the patient may be able to get by with doing less. Often, this procedure is done in conjunction with liposuction (fat removal), which enables the surgeon to enhance the end result of surgery and to put finishing touches where necessary.
The operation is done with the patient under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia and sedation. Depending on the extent of skin laxity or excess, the incision may be long or short but is always hidden by the underwear or swimming suit. If the skin that needs to be removed distorts the navel, it may be necessary to reposition this structure so that its ultimate location is as it was before. Muscle under the skin can be tightened to make the abdomen firmer and flatter. Such maneuvers under the skin help contour the shape of the abdomen and can sometimes result in a narrower waist and more athletic shape to the body.
Unless there is a clear indication for postoperative observation in a hospital, men may go home after tummy tuck surgery. You will have a moderate degree of discomfort in the first few days after surgery that is easily controlled with oral pain medication. Swelling and discoloration from the surgery will depend on the extent of the procedure, but, generally, most of this will resolve in 1-2 weeks. You will be able to return to most usual activities by the end of the first week and resume strenuous exercise in a few weeks. A support garment is recommended for approximately 2 months to ensure proper healing. Minor changes in sensation are not unusual for a short period after tummy tuck surgery for men.
Abdominoplasty is a procedure that is designed to improve the shape of the abdomen and mid-body of both men and women. It is commonly called tummy tuck.
With abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for men, you can dramatically improve your mid-body shape. With this procedure, you can permanently remove fat, tighten loose muscles, and trim excess skin. There are different kinds of abdominoplasty, ranging from a complete tummy tuck to minimal incision operations that address specific problems in the abdomen.
In the first consultation, you will have a chance to discuss your concerns with our patient care coordinators and Dr. Marefat. We will explain what you need to know about tummy tuck for men and help to determine what is best for you. You will receive information booklets and pricing on the procedure.
Abdominoplasty is done by first performing liposuction on the abdomen if necessary. This suctioning is limited to a safe amount as to not jeopardize the viability of the abdominal skin. The tumescent solution used in liposuction is also used for Virginia tummy tuck surgery for men. This significantly reduces blood loss and the need for hospitalization. The muscles above and below the belly button are then folded, improving the shape of the abdomen. Finally, the excess skin is trimmed from the lower part of the abdomen.
After tummy tuck surgery, men will have a moderate amount of drainage from the incisions. You may have drains under the skin to collect some of this extra fluid. You will need to rest for 2-3 days, but most people are up and about shortly after surgery. We generally recommend our patients take off 7-10 days from work. Heavy lifting and exercising should be avoided in the first 2-3 weeks. Your body will tell you when you are ready to get back into your regular exercise routine. Most men are able to return to their normal exercise level in 4-6 weeks.
The sutures in tummy tuck for men come out in 10 days. You may have absorbable sutures that do not need to come out.
We like to see our patients frequently after surgery. Men are seen by the doctor or nurse within 2-3 days of Virginia tummy tuck surgery. Then, the normal postoperative routine is 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. Of course, if there is a need, you may be seen more often. After a year, we encourage our patients to come in for routine follow-up visits every 3-5 years.
You are a good candidate for Virginia tummy tuck if you have good general health and realistic expectations. The best results are seen in men who do not have large amounts of fat that need to be removed. In such cases, it is better to stage the operation so that some of the fat is taken out before or after the actual tummy tuck. Generally, the younger you are, the better a candidate you are for surgery. A person’s physiological age is more important than his chronological age. That is to say, you may be 60 years old, but your skin and general health may be better than that of most 50 year olds.
You can pay for tummy tuck surgery by certified check, credit card, or cash. Payment for cosmetic surgery is expected prior to any procedure. If you are scheduled for surgery several weeks in advance, you may pay by personal check.
Yes. The length of the scar will vary according to the procedure you need. If a mini-tummy tuck is being done, the scars are very short. If a full tummy tuck is being done, the scars are longer. Usually, you will have a scar around the belly button, and you may have a small scar between the belly button and the pubic hairline. After several months, these scars fade and become less visible. Remember that tummy tuck for men is an operation that strives for improved shape in exchange for scars. You must be comfortable with this idea.
The pain involved in a tummy tuck for men is very tolerable. We have heard our patients describe it as muscle aches and pains or soreness. Many patients say that it was better than what they expected. Having said that, remember that pain is very subjective, and it is not easy to predict what degree of pain you will have. Since muscle is not cut in this procedure, the pain level is usually not as significant as many other operations.
Not usually. If you are having a large area of liposuction and undergoing abdominoplasty at the same time, you will have the operation in an outpatient facility under general anesthesia. Minor lower abdominal skin excisions can sometimes be done under local anesthesia.
The tummy tuck surgery for men is usually done in an outpatient facility. Only in rare situations in which the patient may have risk factors does Dr. Marefat suggest surgery in a hospital environment. Minimal skin excisions could be done in our Virginia offices; however, this is very seldomly done.
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Yes. In all cosmetic and reconstructive cases, medical photos are taken. Photographs are mandatory because this is the only way for us to compare your before and after results. Photographs in plastic surgery serve the same role that x-rays do in orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Marefat and the staff at Metropolitan Plastic Surgery would be happy to help you set up a private consultation to discuss abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for men in Virginia. Schedule an appointment online or call one of our locations at 703-516-7600 (Arlington area) or at 703-560-9583 (Woodbridge).
Dr. Marefat offers a number of financial assistance programs and payment programs to cover the cost of abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for men in Virginia. Please visit the patient financing section of our website for more details or ask the staff at Metropolitan Plastic Surgery about these options so that you can get started with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) for men in Virginia today.
