Male Tummy Tuck Thread

[bhrobins 66]

49yr Male, 5/18/20 VSG

HW 382, SW 309, CW 217

First visit to the surgeon was 6/27/19 and first nutritionist visit was 7/3/19. Had a long pre-op program then was delayed by COVID-19, so wasn't sleeved until 5/18/20. Lost 73 pre-op, 92 since - for a total of 165 lbs down!

I hit 218 in mid Dec 2020 and have been maintaining in the 213-222 range over the past 9 months.

The next step for me is getting rid of the excess skin on my stomach. I carried most of my weight in my abdomen and it shows. I feel like this is the last thing I need to complete my transformation. While I could live with it, I am tired of "tucking" my excess skin into my pants. I can mostly hide it, but it is evident to me. Still 100% better than weighing almost 400 lbs.

I am scheduled for an extended abdominoplasty in my local area on Thu 9/30/21. I am ready, but nervous (thus the 3am post on BP).

I plan to post regularly over the coming weeks to document this for me and others on this forum. Thanks to all who have shared their PS stories before, especially the men, whose stories are rare.

Wish me luck!



[Lynnlovesthebeach 625]

Congratulations on your weight loss and decision to have plastics. My plastic surgeon has been the guest speaker at our WLS support group a few times and he shows a lot of pictures of different procedures. He has several pictures of men. I think it's great. Men deserve to be just as happy with their bodies as women do! I've had 2 plastic surgeries so far. First was 360 lower body lift and arm lift. Second was upper body lift...breast lift, back lift, reverse Tummy Tuck . I have one more to do which will be thigh lift. I can't wait to be done! This has all been worth it!

[lizonaplane 1,605]

Congrats on your success! I hope the recovery is smooth.

[vikingbeast 985]

Following for updates, because even just 27 pounds down I can see what's going to happen and I will absolutely 100% need a Tummy Tuck when I've been stable long enough.

[bhrobins 66]

Extended Abdominoplasty complete!

Surgery was at 7:30 today, and all went well. I was home by about 3pm.

Surgeon said he took off 9 lbs of excess skin. Amazing!

Still feeling a bit groggy this evening. Mostly just sitting and sleeping other than short walks around the house.

I came home with a catheter and 2 drains. I am to take out the catheter on my own tomorrow morning. Should be fun.

I'm still trussed up with a couple of compression wraps Not much pain now, but have only been home a few hours.

More updates to come.

[Kris77 1,506]

Wow! Sounds like you’re doing really well!
Catheter still in place? Why did they leave it? ESP since you are able to get up and move

[bhrobins 66]

The surgeon's office said that between what I drink and the 4 bags of Fluid they used during surgery, I would be better served by leaving the catheter in place until tomorrow morning.

This makes it a bit easier that I don't have to be up and down every hour going to the bathroom.

I will remove it myself about 8am tomorrow. Sounds like a rip-roaring good time.

Edited October 1, 2021 by bhrobins

[vikingbeast 985]

Oh, 🤬 no. I couldn't. I just couldn't. I've given myself stitches but I don't think I could take out my own cath.

[bhrobins 66]

Surgery day is coming to a close and I feel pretty good. I ate some today and drank my normal 80+ oz of Water. but like others have mentioned, my stomach capacity seems reduced. This is probably from the muscle tightening. It feels more like how it was at 5-6 months after VSG.

Just a few sleeping hours before the catheter comes out. I am not looking forward to the removal process, but will be glad to have that off of me.

I haven't taken off the compression binders yet, but will likely do so this weekend sometime. I can then get some before and after shots to share.

The doctor recommended I sleep in a lounge chair for 5-6 days. After trying to lie flat one time today, I agree. Too much discomfort lying flat.

More updates to come.

Edited October 1, 2021 by bhrobins

[bhrobins 66]

Update on my progress.

1. Took out the catheter yesterday morning. The nurse said it would just about "fall out". The nurse lied. Things are still tender there. I understand why they sent me home with the catheter, but definitely my least favorite part of this whole process.

2. I'm now officially 48 hrs post-op. I used narcotic pain meds until this morning. Now I am alternating Tylenol and Ibuprofen at the surgeon's instruction. Yes I know that we sleevers shouldn't use many nsaids, but his opinion was to do about 800mg/day for a few days to manage pain and help with the swelling. I doubt I have any significant issues over that short time frame.

3. Getting a bit tired of sleeping in a recliner, but it is easier on my body to do so. Make sure you have a chair you really like, because you are going to be spending some quality time there.

4. I haven't yet removed the compression wraps they sent me home in. Tomorrow I'm allowed to shower for the first time and it will be nice to see what everything looks like under the compression.

All in all, I feel like I'm doing well. Some discomfort when transitioning from place to place, but overall OK. Of course I may still be enjoying that Exparel and worse days are ahead. I've read from others on the forum that days 2,3,4 were the worst. So far, day 2 is OK.

More to come tomorrow after I get out of the compression wraps for the first time.

[Officially Not Fatty Matty 459]

Thank you for this. It’s a rare treat to read about it from a guys perspective… not that there’s any less valuable info on the women who have it but… well you get it. I’m thinking about it myself. I don’t have a ton of loose skin but I’d be way happier if the loose bag of fat I still have was gone. When I pull it up Im much happier with the appearance, and the saggy fupa is gone so bonus down “there” too. The only bad thing I have experienced is sometimes when I sleep skin will fold over and it feels like a blanket is trapped under me…. But it’s skin. So I doubt insurance will pay but I’m ready to make a second trip to Mexico where I had my sleeve in the first place. Not worried about pain, just the scars tbh. Thank you and I look forward to pics when/if you’re ready. Continued success my friend.

[bhrobins 66]

Sunday - 3 days post op - 1st shower day. Never had a shower felt so nice. Had to rig up a lanyard for the drains, but otherwise all went well. Unfortunately, realized I had the wrong gauze/cotton padding and my wife had to make a quick run to the store before I could get trussed back up.

Here are some mortifying before and after shots. Lots of swelling still, especially on the "love handle" area. It feels tight.

Overall I think I will be pleased, but it is difficult to imagine what the final results will look like at this stage.

The extra horizontal lines above the incision are some scrapes from the edges of the compression bands.

Edited October 3, 2021 by bhrobins

[Kris77 1,506]

Congrats!!!! So happy for you! Def a little treat to have this done after all the work to get to and stay at goal!

[bhrobins 66]

3 week post-op update:

1. I used narcotic pain meds for the first 4 days post op, then alternated Tylenol and Ibuprofen until 3 weeks post-op. I likely didn't need the meds after week 2, but that was my doctor's recommendation.

2. My drains were quite active for 2 1/2 weeks, and didn't come out until 3 weeks post-op. The surgeon originally told me 7-10 days, so I wasn't mentally prepared for 3 weeks. I understand that the drains take Fluid off faster than your body could absorb it and see the value. But they were painful more often than not (pulling against the stitch that held them in place) and I was happy when they were removed. Well, not happy during the removal (that hurt like crazy, but subsided within an hour or so).

3. I can walk very nearly upright and am working to stretch to fully upright, shoulders back. No real pain, just tightness at this point.

4. My incisions are healing nicely and the surgical glue has come off. I moved to Mepitac silicone tape over everything but my navel.

5. The swelling is starting to be noticeably reduced from early days. Still a ways to go, but heading in the right direction.

6. I had surgery on Thu 9/30, then started working from home on Mon 10/4, with a couple of hours of rest time each day. By week 2, I worked from home a full schedule and did the same for week 3 because I still had the drains. Going to try to work in the office all next week, but expect to be zapped since I have been so idle I'm sure my endurance is down. Other than two follow up surgeon visits, I haven't left the house in 3 weeks.

All in all, doing pretty well. The pain is mostly transient with weird random nerve firing and such. Some muscle pain, but not too bad unless I cough or sneeze or twist funny.

Will update again with pics in a week or so.

Edited October 23, 2021 by bhrobins

[bhrobins 66]

4 week Post-Op Update

Continuing to heal well and the muscle pain is largely gone now. I am back in the office working full time days. Biggest challenge has been getting the compression garments to work with my work clothing (pants like to slide down the slick compression bands).

2 more weeks of compression bands, then I get to transition to regular compression shirts or shorts. Would be interested to hear from the guys what products worked well for them.

Below are some pics showing the healing progress. I see the doctor again at 3 months PO, so we should be able to see the final results by then.