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Will Muscle Repair Be Necessary?

asked 9 months ago by Westbury7294 in Brooklyn, NY
Latest answer by Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Question viewed 406 times
Tags: muscle repair, after weight loss, candidate, muscle tightening, recovery

In the past 5 years I've lost about 75lbs, and I'm finally ready to get a TT. A buddy of mine had one done some years ago and cautioned against getting the muscle repair. I already don't want it b/c of the recovery time and I hate not being able to go to the gym. Are you able to tell from photos if I'll need a muscle repair? When I touch my stomach it feels like my abs are flat underneath. I realize they may not be able to tell until they get in there, but I figured I'd ask.

17 answers to Will Muscle Repair Be Necessary?

+2

Will I need a muscle repair during abdominoplasty?

You can tell if your rectus abdominis muscles (the six pack) have splayed by tensing them and feeling the gap between them. You can tense them by lying on the floor and lift your head and neck off the floor and feel your abdomen above your belly button. Alternatively, you can keep both legs straight and lift them both in the air - this will have the same effect. Sometimes you can see a bulge in the upper abdomen when you do this, but for more subtle changes, you need to... more
Jonathan J Staiano, MBBS

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Male abdominoplasties seldom need muscle repair.

Seldom is repair of the fascia that supports the muscle needed in males undergoing abdominoplasty. Women who have had children almost always have some laxity that benefits from repair.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle repair and male tummy tucks

The main cause of rectus diastasis in tummy tuck patients is pregnancy. The dramatic amount of tension placed on the abdominal can cause small tears and stretches out the fascia. Thus, men rarely require plication of the rectus fascia (aka muscle repair) during a tummy tuck. It is true that plicating the fascia can narrow the waist dramatically causing a more feminine appearance. From your statement and your photos, it appears that a plication will most... more
Kelly Gallego, MD

Sioux City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Male abdominoplasty diastasis

Congratulations on your weight loss! That's outstanding. Generally, men are less likely to require the diastasis repair than women but the only way to know for certain is to be examined by aplastic surgeon. The operation is easier to undergo without the muscle repair but the goal is always to achieve the best possible result.
Robert L. Kraft, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Skin Tightening without Tummy Tuck

Based on your photographs, and in patient's who maintain good skin elasticity (as your photos support) after significant weight loss, an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is rarely indicated. In patients such as this, I generally recommend a non-invasive/minimally invasive approach such as externally delivered laser such as Skin Tyte or internally delivered laser such as Pro Lipo Plus. Of course the most accurate advice is given only after a comprehensive in-office examination and personal... more
Z. Paul Lorenc, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Male Tummy Tuck.

Westbury, It's a really good question you ask about tightening the muscle in male patients. I have a specific view on this issue. In my opinion tightening the recutus abdominus muscles has a very feminizing effect on the waist by narrowiing it. It my male patients we prefer to avoid this. In rare cases it may be necesary. Based on your photos, it does not look like you require it and I would suggest you avoid that maneuver. Best of luck, Bernard Shuster
Bernard Shuster, MD

Hollywood Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle Repair after Tummy Tuck

Great question. It is obvious that your primary problem is skin laxity, not muscle laxity. However, you are considering an elective cosmetic surgery. I would not shortcut your result so you can get back to the gym a few weeks earlier. Based on your exam, if the plastic surgeon feels he or she can tighten your muscle to provide a narrower waistline and improved contour and result, it may be worth the extra recovery in the longterm. Bottomline, it is... more
Paul S. Gill, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Abdominoplasty

If you had a large weight loss the intraperitoneal component may have stretched your muscles and caused a diastasis. If you do not have one, then you do not need the muscles tightened.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Male tummy tuck

Hello ~ Its difficult to tell whether you will need a diastasis recti repair without examining you first hand. In general, the recovery period prior to resuming abdominal/torso exercises is about 8 weeks following a tummy tuck with muscle repair. Sometimes more. I think if you're considering a tummy tuck, I would relay your concerns with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck ~ Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Glenn Vallecillos, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle repair with tummy tuck

The 2nd photo shows some reduced tone of the six pack muscles (rectus) - so there is a possibility. Basically if there is a palpable gap between the right and the left six pack muscles, they need to be brought together with some strong permanent/long-term stitches. You are right in wishing to avoid them as the muscle repair prolongs the recovery and causes more pain than a skin only tummy tuck. However, if there is a significant gap, then it does need to be repaired to reduce the chance... more
Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle repair and male tummy tuck

It is difficult to tell from these photos but it seems that you are in good shape and will not need muscle plication. In general I approach male tummy tucks differently. One of the most important elements is not to feminize the male torso. Men should not have a very tight waistline and they will look feminine. If you look at some of the popular models, you will not see a thin waistline. Plication can cause that. Of course, if the abdomen has diastasis and both pre-operatively and... more
Sepehr Egrari, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle Repair Necessary?

Congratulations on your weight loss! Based on the photos you provided, you appear to be a good candidate for a tummy tuck. If your muscles are tight and no muscle diastasis is evident during your examination, then any loose/excess tissue can be removed and muscle repair may not be necessary in your case. This issue may be better determined during your examination with a board certified plastic surgeon. You may want to leave this decision to his/her discretion depending on the... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Muscle repair, ie rectus diastasis repair in tummy tuck

A so-called "muscle repair" is most of the times needed in women who were pregant. the fascia between the muscles is beeing strechted out and the muscles seperate. in men this is for the obvious reasons not really an issue. ... good luck
Bianca Knoll, MD

Frankfurt Plastic Surgeon
+1

Is muscle repair necessary in a male tumy tuck?

It is not common for men to require the use of muscle plication when doing a tummy-tuck. But you did lose 75 pounds so there may be some laxity of the abdominal muscles. You need to be examine by a plastic surgeon and see what he recommends. Good luck!
George Lefkovits, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Will muscle repair be needed

Muscle repair is needed less in male abdominoplasty. Your surgeon will be able to tell at the time of surgery if any tightening of the abdomional muscles is needed. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.
Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Options for muscle repair

Muscle Repair (Diastasis Recti Repair) is generally performed at the same time as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). In rare cases, when you truly just have loose skin and your muscles are tight, then you do not need the muscle repair. This is more often the case in male patients. If your abdomen bulges out considerably when you push out, then you likely need to have your muscles tightened to maximize your results. Good Luck.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Muscle repair in male tummy tuck

Your photos do not seem to show an excessive amount of wall laxity, which would make sense in a male with your history and body habitus. Obviously, a physical examination is necessary to determine this with more certainty. Avoiding the muscle plication would give you a significantly faster recovery time.
David A. Bottger, MD

Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

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