Tummy Tucks are very popular procedures, especially for many women following pregnancy, but tummy tucks aren’t limited in their popularity to just women. Growing numbers of men are making the decision to undergo a tummy tuck, and we’re seeing plastic surgery procedures, in general, becoming more popular among the male demographic.
Men want to look younger, firmer, and more toned too! But once the muscles and skin around the abdomen have been stretched to a certain point, getting them to return to their previous degree of tautness is difficult.
Weight loss surgery is the first step for men pursuing a healthier, more muscular physique, the ultimate goal being those prized 6-pack abs. But is it possible to achieve that look after undergoing a tummy tuck? Read on to find out!
The Ideal Male Candidate for a Tummy Tuck
If you’re a man desiring a tummy tuck, there are some qualifications you need to meet to be considered an ideal candidate. You should be in good medical health with a realistic expectation of what the procedure can and can’t do for you.
You should be at or near your ideal body weight, as a tummy tuck will not improve the appearance of your midsection if you’re carrying large amounts of intra-abdominal fat located around your organs. Individuals in this condition might consider a more conventional weight loss regimen of diet and exercise or weight loss surgery before going in for a tummy tuck.
Should you be an ideal candidate, your board-certified New York plastic surgeon will start the process by giving you a list of important preoperative instructions. You’ll be required to avoid certain medications such as aspirin and other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs that can thin your blood and increase your risk of bleeding during and after your tummy tuck procedure.
There are certain herbal supplements that might also increase risks to your tummy tuck, as well as smoking which your plastic surgeon will recommend you quit before undergoing surgery.
Undergoing The Tummy Tuck
The tummy tuck procedure is performed under general anesthesia and can take between two and five hours. Depending on the complexity of your procedure, you may have inpatient or outpatient surgery.
If you’re undergoing a full tummy tuck, it involves making two incisions: the first made from hip bone to hip bone, and the second at the navel. Through this process, the navel is detached which helps your surgeon gain access to the underlying abdominal muscles that have become weak and separated. The muscles are pulled together and stitched into place to create a firmer abdomen and narrower waist. With newly tightened muscles, the skin is stretched downward over them, and excess skin is trimmed. The navel is then reattached.
If you’re a patient who still has good muscle tone, you may be better suited to a mini tummy tuck. In this procedure, only a single incision is made down around the pubic region. The muscles are usually not affected in a mini tuck, the process only involves loose skin pulled down over the muscles and trimmed of excess. Mini tummy tucks can also benefit older patients who have developed loose abdominal skin due to aging.
Additional liposuction may be required for some men to improve love handles, while other men may choose to have their skin etched to give them the appearance of a “six-pack” or V-lines. Scars will remain for a time after the incisions opened for surgery are closed, but they will become less pronounced over time, eventually unable to be seen from the outside. Results are the opposite: they become more pronounced over time. Although your initial results can start to appear in the 4th week following your procedure, you’ll have to wait a full year to notice full results.
Tummy Tuck Recovery
Once your tummy tuck is completed, the hard work begins. Recovery from tummy tuck surgery takes time and dedication to your plastic surgeon’s instructions. The first step is wearing compression garments to keep post-surgery swelling down and giving your body time to conform to its new contours.
Pain and swelling will be present for the first few days, followed by some residual soreness for weeks and possibly months. This is part of the normal recovery, so just be patient. You’ll need to take about a month off work and wait at least six weeks before you’re in any condition to lift heavy objects or engage in any strenuous activity.
But the results you’ll eventually see will make all the weeks of recovery worth it! Patients love the results of their tummy tuck surgeries, and the flat stomachs they’ve regained from their youth. And your results will last for decades as long as you maintain a healthy weight and follow an exercise regimen to stay fit.
Rockin’ a Six-Pack
Six-pack abs are the result of two things: well-developed rectus abdominis muscles, and a thin layer of fat between the skin and underlying muscle. The goal of every patient who undergoes tummy tuck surgery is an abdomen that’s aesthetically attractive and appealing. But a tummy tuck alone does not give you a six-pack! After you’ve fully recovered from your surgery, it will take a more strenuous regimen for you to build those defined abs.
The six-pack abdomens that are associated with fitness and athleticism aren’t a routine outcome of tummy tuck surgery. A six-pack abdomen occurs when the tendinous inscriptions within the rectus muscles have good definition, to begin with, and then the combination of the tummy tuck, exercise, and diet help create a six-pack abdomen.
That’s why it’s important to discuss your wishes with your plastic surgeon before you engage in any aggressive exercise routines. In some cases, coordinating your efforts with a personal trainer can help in achieving your goals.
Abdominal Etching
Abdominal etching is a form of ab enhancement and takes liposuction to a higher level. It’s a form of liposculpting that removes excess fat between your abdominal muscles, which creates indentations that resemble the kind of indentations seen on a six-pack or a washboard abs. Abdominal etching helps your stomach look tighter, firmer, and visibly more muscular.
Abdominal etching can be performed with traditional liposuction or abdominoplasty for males or females but has differences between the two procedures. While liposuction of the abdominal area is effective at removing fat pockets, it doesn’t involve detailing on the same level as abdominal etching. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, removes extra fat and skin but is less effective than abdominal etching if you want fine-tuned sculpting.
Is Abdominal Etching Right for You?
Abdominal etching isn’t for everyone. An ideal candidate should be physically fit and naturally athletic-looking, with relatively small fat pockets in the abdominal region. If your total body fat is more than 18%, you’re probably not an appropriate candidate. The best way to find out is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.
The Abdominal Etching Procedure
Abdominal etching is performed in your plastic surgeon’s office or outpatient surgery facility. The surgery only takes about an hour. Your procedure is performed under what is often referred to as “twilight anesthesia,” which leaves you awake but not fully aware of what’s going on, or with general anesthesia. You might be asked to contract your abdominal muscles before your procedure so that the surgeon can locate and mark the areas where indentations will be created.
The surgeon will then create several one-to-two-millimeter incisions in your navel or within your abdomen’s natural creases. Excess fat is then removed with a cannula (a tube-like instrument) and grooves are sculpted into the remaining fat to emphasize your natural musculature.
Abdominal Etching Recovery
You can expect some pain, swelling, and bruising following your treatment, which can all be managed with the right medications and proper care. You’ll be fitted with a medical compression garment that will be worn for about three to six weeks and help minimize swelling.
Detailed instructions outlining what you can and cannot do will be given to you to follow for the days and weeks you’ll be recovering from abdominal etching, including not lifting anything weighing 10 pounds or more. Showering can take place after 48 hours of ab etching surgery. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions so that your risk of complications can be kept to a minimum.
Normal activities can be resumed after about one to three weeks. You’ll notice full results from abdominal etching within six months, but start seeing some positive changes earlier.
Thinking about a Male Tummy Tuck and a 6-Pack?
If you’re contemplating a male tummy tuck in the future to improve the appearance of your abdomen, your first step should be to set up a consultation with Dr. Kevin Tehrani at Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics. Dr. Tehrani is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He’s the founder and director of Aristocrat Plastic Surgery, with offices in Manhattan and Long Island.
Our goal is to attain the highest level of patient satisfaction, and we’re here to help you reach all your goals. Our facilities are equipped with the latest and safest technologies in the field of plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Give us a call today, and relax knowing you’re in the best hands!