Would an Obese Man, Whose Stomach Has Dropped Below His Genitals Benefit from a Tummy Tuck to Undo the Shortening of His Penis?

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding whether a tummy tuck can help restore your husband’s visible penis length, which appears shortened due to a large overhanging abdomen. I appreciate you sharing such a personal and important concern — what you're describing is actually very common in men with significant abdominal weight gain or skin redundancy.

This condition is known as a buried penis, where the penis becomes concealed beneath excess abdominal fat and a large mons pubis (fat pad above the genital area). Although the penis itself has not actually lost length, the surrounding tissue "buries" it, making it appear smaller or retracted.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) — often combined with mons pubis lift and reduction — can be very effective in improving this condition. Here’s how:

A full tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and fat, tightens the abdominal wall, and lifts the overhanging apron that contributes to the buried appearance.

During the tummy tuck, the mons pubis can also be reduced and lifted, improving the contour of the pubic area.

In many male tummy tucks, release of the "checkrein ligaments" is performed. These ligaments, which run from the base of the penis to the pubic bone and lower abdomen, can tether the penis inward — especially when reinforced by scar tissue or surrounding fat. By releasing the checkrein ligaments, the penis is freed from the internal traction, allowing it to project more normally and restoring a more natural length and appearance.

This release is a critical step in some male body contouring cases — especially when the penis remains partially hidden despite skin and fat removal.

The result is not only a dramatic improvement in visible length, but also in urinary function, sexual health, hygiene, and confidence. Many patients report life-changing benefits after this surgery.

If your husband is still significantly overweight, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon will help determine whether he needs to lose additional weight first to be a safe surgical candidate. Once he's within an appropriate BMI range and medically cleared, a tummy tuck with mons lift and checkrein ligament release may be exactly what he needs to restore both function and confidence.

Thank you again for your thoughtful question and support of your husband's journey. You're already taking an important step toward helping him feel like himself again.

Sincerely,
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen, MD, MBA, FASMBS, FICS
(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and President of the American Board of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons)

Removing the large flap of skin will help expose more of the penis. My adamant warning is that he should not undergo any specific " penile lengthening" procedure. They have a high incidence of problems.

     The amount of fat and skin removed with a tummy tuck may well create the appearance of more length, but a physical exam would be necessary to determine if the patient is a good candidate for tummy tuck.  Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tuck procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA