Tummy Tuck Considerations for Older Male Patients?

Hi, my husband is considering an Abdominoplasty. He is 63 years old and carries all his weight in his belly. He has back problems and cannot do any significant amount of exercising for the abdomen.

We are not sure whether he is a candidate for a Tummy tuck. What questions and considerations should we raise when we explore options with a plastic surgeon?

Thanks for your comments.
Liz

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abdomen

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Liz in central valley CA in Turlock, CA

Doctor Answers (10)
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What makes a man a candidate for a "tummy Tuck"

Liz Your husband should ask whether his "full abdomen" is secondary to subcutaneous fat (fat between the skin and abdominal wall muscle) and skin excess or more due to fat below the abdominal wall-fat we call visceral fat. An abdominoplasty can treat superficial fat and skin excess but not abdominal fullness secondary to deep "visceral" fat. Visceral fat needs to be addressed with diet and excercise. If, on the otherhand, he just has excess subcutaneous fat with minimal... more

What to consider for Tummy Tuck in older male patients

In order of importance: 1- Is he fit for surgery? This needs evaluation by an internist. There may be other issues such as heart or lung conditions that need to be tackled before surgery. 2- Are the back problems related to the abdomen? If the back problem is independent of the abdominal girth, he may benefit more from addressing that problem first, as the increased mobility and comfort will help him solve some of the weight related problems. For this I would have him evaluated by a... more

Male tummy tuck candidates

As has been mentioned by other doctors, fat can exist in 2 locations on the trunk; within the abdominal cavity (i.e. surrounding the internal organs) and outside the abdominal cavity (i.e. the fatty layer). Tummy tuck and liposuction targets fat outside of the abdominal cavity; these treatments cannot treat fat on the inside. Most men with an "apple" shaped torso have a very large component of fat within the abdominal cavity, and thus aren't candidates for body contouring... more

The fat may be inside the abdomen.

Hi! Your husband needs a good physical exam by an experienced plastic surgeon. You need to know exactly where the fat is. In many men with big bellies, the fat is unfortunately inside the abdomen (around the intestines). In that case surgery will not help him. If the protuberant fat is mostly under the skin and outside the muscles, then either liposuction or a tummy tuck may well help him.

Tummy tuck in a mature male

It is unlikely that all his back problems are due to the loose skin or fat. They are more likely related to the abdominal muscles or spine. After seeing your primary care physician for a general workup to exclude other health considerations, you may want to have his back evaluated. After completing this, I would highly recommend you either seeing a physical therapist and or undertake a core strengthening regimen. He may also want to discuss dietary issues with a nutritionist. After these... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Depends on his physical exam.

It all really depends on his physical examination. There are two placed for fat to go in the belly. One the "inside" and on the "outside." For inside fat, the only really option is weight loss. For fat on the outside, liposuction and/or abdominoplasty may be good. However, you really need an exam to see where he "carries" most of his fat.

Is his fat inside the abdomen or under the skin?

Most men with large abdomens carry the fat inside the abdomen (beer belly) where it can't be changed by tummy tucks or liposuction. Only fat under the skin can be changed that way. Go to a plastic surgeon and see where his fat is and if he is a candidate for surgery. I am betting he isn't.

Tummy tuck for men

The best piece of advice I could give you is to locate a board-certified plastic surgeon and go in for a consultation. It's simply too hard to give you more of a definitive opinion without examining your husband in person. But remember, tummy tucks in men or women are not performed for weight loss. They are best used for patients with excess abdominal skin. If your husband has significant intra-abdominal fat and minimal or no skin laxity then he is probably a poor surgical candidate and... more

Needs evaluation

A surgoen needs to examine him to see if he is a candidate. Choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who perfoms tummy tucks all the time. Good Luck.

Tummy tuck considerations for male patients

Dear Liz, I have several concerns with your posting. 1."He is 63 years old ..." Before considering ANY cosmetic surgery, make sure your husband does not have any underlying risk factors. Especially heart disease. 2. He "... carries all his weight in his belly" Men commonly have the dreaded "Beer Gut" In these cases, the excess fat is INSIDE the abdominal cavity NOT under the skin and over the muscle where it can either be removed with liposuction OR excised by a T more