Extended Belly Treatment Options?

I am male, 46, and have an extended belly, but no fat, no loose skin, none of the indicators that Liposuction and Tummy Tucks are relevant. I have held this bulge in for 25 years, it has never got worse or better, even when I have done sit-ups and Pilates. When I breathe in and pull my muscles in, my stomach flattens nicely to the way it should look; the muscles are in place, not split.

Some websites say this is not uncommon in males and recommend plication; there is no fat I need to have removed and no skin that needs folding or removing. In most respects, my physique is attractive, as long as I hold my stomach muscles in. Is plication indeed an option at this point, or are there other options? I attached a photograph, if it helps.

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A tummy tuck may be the answer

Based on your photo, a tummy tuck with particular attention to plication of the muscles of your abdomen may indeed be the best option to improve your abdominal profile. I agree it does not appear as if you have any significantly extra skin or fat, but that doesn't mean a tummy tuck is the wrong option. The incisions are the same, the muscles are tightened and then the skin is redraped (a little skin is usually removed) and the incision closed. My recommendation is to see an experienced... more

Multiple factors for extended belly

The abdominal protrusion in men is a combination of multiple things: 1. Exagerated Lumbar lordosis. 2. Intra-abdominal fat.(ometum) 3. Divercation of the rectus muscle. 4. Sucutaneous fat and skin. A tummy tuck will only help with the last two. Diet will improve the intra-abdominal fat and nothing will change the lumbar spine! Hope that helps!

Male with distended tummy: what to do

I would seek the evaluation of a certifiied plastic surgeon to conduct an examination for a muscle separation. I believe you could get an excellent long term result with muscle re-education and supervised personal training sessions for core strengthening.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Recontouring an extended abdomen

There are many options for recontouring did on the wall. If you do not have excess skin or fat is possible that your extended abdomen may be due to the contents of your abdomen rather than the surface. Your best bet is to be evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in abdominoplasty and body contouring techniques. They will be able to examine you and determine if you are a candidate for removing extra skin and fat that remained on the surface of the abdominal... more

Not sure you can improve this over the long term

Your intraabdominal contents are accustomed to existing in a larger space. If you try to compress them inward by tightening the rectus muscles, this repair will not last over the long term if there is too much intraabdominal pressure pushing back out against the repair. Take the palm of your hand and see how much pressure it takes to push the abdomen inward. Hold the contents in for a minute and feel how much pressure it takes to maintain a flat abdomen. It is this pressure which the... more

You have diastesis of the rectus muscle

You will benefit from abdaminoplasty and repair of the separation of the rectus muscle. This can be done ith lower abdaminal incision . If you do sit up you will notice a bulge over the midline. Please get more than one consultation and make sure your surgeon is board certified plastic surgeon.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Plication can address abdominal muscle laxity

Abdominal muscle laxity is not uncommon. Sometimes this can happen in patients with poor muscle tone. It is associated with a "beer belly" with patients that have a large intraperitoneal fat component. It would be important to evaluate you in person to get a better idea of what you need. If you truly only have muscle laxity, abdominal plication can be performed.