Tummy tuck surgery is an extremely rewarding plastic surgery procedure that can help both women and men with loose abdominal tissue and the dreaded stomach “pooch” reclaim their confidence.

The tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, procedure has historically been associated with a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery period that may prevent some patients from seeking this life-changing surgery.

The new and improved pain management technique uses nerve blocks, or long-acting local anesthetic injections placed precisely along an area where the back and side meet.  These nerve blocks do just what they imply—they dull the nerves in the area affected by the tummy tuck procedure to temporarily control pain.

In addition, improved pain management also makes it easier and safer for plastic surgeons to perform a tummy tuck at the same time as other surgical procedures.  This can be very helpful for patients who desire a mommy makeover, which restores upper body contours after pregnancy and includes breast lift and sometimes breast augmentation procedures.

Study results recently released by Dr. Lu-Jean Feng showed that patients who had a combination of nerve blocks in conjunction with tummy tuck surgery instead of typical pain management methods reported the following:

• Less time spent in the recovery room
• Less pain initially after tummy tuck
• Less pain after the first week of recovery
• Decreased use of narcotic pain medication
• Decreased nausea
• Faster return to driving and normal activities
• Less time required to reach a pain-free state

Unfortunately, some of those men may feel hesitant about investigating the tummy tuck and talking to cosmetic surgeons. One man who documented his experience online said he perceived a “stigma or shame associated with male tummy tucks,” saying he was “initially embarrassed” when he first made inquiries about the operation.

A good surgeon will have experience and advice to share about abdominoplasty for a male patient. On RealSelf.com, a man asks about the procedure:

I’m dealing with loose skin after a 50 lb weight loss in my teens. I’ve totally transformed and I’m very athletic with well-defined abs, but [skin] laxity mostly below the navel and around the lower back. The problem areas are very localized and I hide it under the belt line, and even under form fitting swimwear, with no one suspecting I was obese. But I feel “unfinished.” The front skin is very thin and hangs, the back is mostly smooth. Is there a tummy tuck technique that would excise the abdominal skin and provide modest tightening in the lower back?

Dr. Chris Hess, a plastic surgeon practicing near Washington DC, answers “even though we (men) tend to have better skin tone than women, we can still end up with excess skin due to skin memory. It sounds like you could undergo a mild excision of the excess tissue – less than a mini tummy tuck.”

However, in cases where the male patient has experienced a greater weight reduction, the full tummy tuck may be recommended. Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, an Oklahoma cosmetic surgeon writes “Do not hesitate to use a full abdominoplasty for a male patient with extreme skin laxity. Men tend to heal better than women after abdominoplasty.”

This comprehensive approach may be optimal in many cases to provide the results men expect. In Cosmetic Surgery Times, Dr. Alan Matarasso, scientific editor of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, says “you really need to treat [men] circumferentially, all the way around, because if you ask most men what bothers them, it’s the ‘love handles,’ and that goes all the way around to the back.”

Clearly, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons can offer specific advice for men considering abdominoplasty. If you think you might benefit from the procedure, don’t hesitate to ask a qualified surgeon for more details.