Tummy Tuck For Men: What to Expect
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| Before Tummy Tuck | |
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Man with Tummy Tuck & Body Lift |
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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2008 Tummy Tuck Statistics
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons 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 an elective cosmetic surgery of the
abdomen needed to remove
excess skin and fat (saggy skin and wrinkles) and 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 excess 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,
articles, blogs and information that I could find
on the internet concerning this type of plastic surgery for men. 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. 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 Surgeon links.
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Tummy Tuck Surgery
The 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. ref: http://www.plastic-surgery.net |
(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 mostly 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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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
Examination
I was lead into an examining room where a nurse provided me
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 provide me with written price quotes for
the procedures and a schedule 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 Tummy Tuck with Lateral Thigh Lift: $11,200
(Included doctor's fee, facility and support personnel – $10,000 for the doctors 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 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.
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 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.
TUMMY TUCK FOR MEN with Body Lift; The Day After
Dec. 4, 2007 - Day of "Tummy Tuck" Surgery
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 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 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 the dog and taking my pills I went to bed. Throughout the evening and night, every four hours Donna would empty my drains and give me my medications.
The Morning after Surgery
SEE HOW I RECOVERED AFTER THE SURGERY.
About 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. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about:
TUMMY TUCKS (ABDOMINOPLASTY) FOR MEN
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TUMMY TUCKS (ABDOMINOPLASTY) FOR MEN
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