Sussex Premier Health, Hastings: Important update for patients with upcoming appointments

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) for Men at Sussex Premier Health

Once considered primarily a procedure for women, tummy tuck surgery has become increasingly popular amongst men seeking to remove stubborn belly fat and excess skin. Whether you’ve lost significant weight, struggled with genetic fat distribution, or simply want to feel better about your body, a tummy tuck for men could be an option. The team at Sussex Premier Health is here to help you learn more about this type of cosmetic surgery and explore other treatment methods.

What is a tummy tuck?

A tummy tuck, or male abdominoplasty surgery, flattens your stomach by tightening your abdominal muscles. Oftentimes, patients have excess folds of skin after ageing or losing a lot of weight quickly. While everyone has different motivators for getting this procedure, the general aim is to give you a slimmer, shapelier figure – as well as a big confidence boost.  Remember that a tummy tuck is not a weight loss procedure, and it’s generally better if you’ve already achieved your target weight before getting one.

Why us

  • Fast access to treatment when you need it
  • Internationally and nationally renowned consultants
  • Clear, inclusive pricing
Typical Hospital Stay

1 – 2 nights

Type of anaesthetic

General

Covered by health insurance?

No

Procedure duration

1 – 2 hours

Available to self-pay?

Yes

Why Men Might Choose a Tummy Tuck and Our Recommendations for Excess Skin Removal

Every patient is unique and comes to us with different needs and goals. Some men choose to remove excess skin because they’re self-conscious about their appearance, especially their stomach. Others have made a tremendous effort to lose belly fat, only to find loose skin left behind. If either of these circumstances sounds like you, you may be a candidate for men’s cosmetic surgery. We will thoroughly evaluate your condition and let you know if a tummy tuck could be a viable option.

Find a consultant at Sussex Premier Health

Mr John Pereira

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Mr Mark Pickford

Consultant Plastic Surgeon

What Happens Before Surgery

If you’re interested in this stomach surgery for men, don’t hesitate to talk to our team. We will begin with a comprehensive consultation where our surgeon will assess your individual needs. During this appointment, you will discuss your medical history, current medications, and any previous surgeries. After that, your surgeon will examine your abdominal area and work out the best approach. Follow your pre-operative instructions to the letter, which might include:

  • Refraining from smoking at least six weeks before surgery
  • Avoiding medications that increase bleeding risk (don’t cease medication without speaking to your physician first)
  • Arranging time off work for recovery
  • Preparing a comfortable area at home where you can heal

What to expect

You’ll meet your consultant surgeon in one of our private consultation rooms, during this time you will be able to discuss your medical history and your cosmetic surgeon will help you choose the right tummy tuck for you.

On the day of your operation, our ward staff will show you to your own private room. Your private room will have an en-suite bathroom and TV and Wi-Fi facilities.

Once you’re ready, our nurses will help you prepare for your procedure, you will also see your consultant surgeon and anaesthetist before having surgery.

Aftercare

You’ll probably need to stay with us for at least a night though sometimes people need to stay a little longer.

Recovery time

When you get home you’ll need to take things easy at first. Arrange at least a week off work and you should gradually be able to return to normal activity within four to six weeks. Light activity should be comfortable after around two weeks but you shouldn’t do anything too active – like go to the gym or take an exercise class – for around six weeks.

You will be asked to keep your knees and hips bent when resting, to take the strain off the stitches. A corset will also help reduce pain and swelling in the first month.

Treatment and recovery timeline

What Does Recovery Look Like?

A tummy tuck for men comes with significant recovery time, especially after a full abdominoplasty. Recovery times will vary among patients, but the timeline generally looks like this:

First Two Weeks

Immediately after surgery, you’ll have surgical drains to prevent fluid buildup. Most patients go home the same day or after one night in hospital. During this initial phase, you can expect moderate discomfort. However, this can be managed with prescribed pain medication and compression garments. Most patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity, but to continue walking short distances to maintain blood circulation. You should be able to return to work within 10 days, given that you avoid heavy lifting on the job.

Weeks 3-6

As this second phase of recovery begins, you’ll likely be able to return to your normal activities. Swelling should be subsiding, and your incision should be mostly healed. Nevertheless, continue to meet with your surgeon so they can monitor your progress. During this time, most patients can:

  • Return to light exercise like walking
  • Drive, given that they can comfortably wear a seatbelt
  • Resume most activities that don’t require heavy lifting

Long-Term Recovery

Most men find they can return to their regular fitness routine, including weightlifting and sports, within two to three months post-surgery. However, expect a full recovery to take between six and 12 months. Keep in mind that, even after a year, you may still have a few scars. These should continue to improve and fade for up to 18 months. If you have any concerns along the way, reach out to your surgeon immediately.

Your consultant will discuss the different types of tummy tucks with you and will help you choose the one that’s right for you:

Mini abdominoplasty

Suitable if you only have a little excess skin. Your surgeon will only need to make a small cut just above the pubic area to remove the excess skin and your belly button won’t be disturbed. This usually takes about an hour.

Endoscopic abdominoplasty

This may be the best option if you only need to have the muscles of your abdominal wall tightened. Your surgeon will make small cuts and use special surgical instruments to tighten the muscles. This procedure usually takes around an hour.

Full abdominoplasty

This is the best option if you have a lot of excess skin. A cut will be made between the hips, fat may be removed using liposuction, your belly button will be freed and loose muscles pulled and stitched together. Sometimes the doctor will need to reconstruct your belly button and tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall. This usually takes around two hours.

Sometimes your surgeon may suggest liposuction in addition to the abdominoplasty. Where liposuction is performed in conjunction with any other cosmetic procedure, our policy is that we will remove no more than a maximum of 2000ml of aspirate (fat and fluid) from all areas combined. With the Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty (where a vertical as well as a horizontal incision is made), no liposuction can be performed.

The amount of scarring you are left with will depend on your skin type, overall health and the type of procedure you have.

You will feel some pain and swelling around your tummy immediately after the operation. This is normal and your symptoms should start to improve within a few weeks.

We will provide you with a supply of any medicines that your consultant feels you need to take home with you after you’ve left hospital, up to 14 days. This may be at an additional cost to some patients.

Suffering from pain could slow down your recovery, so please discuss any discomfort with your doctors or nurses.

There will be visible scars and you may feel that your tummy looks unnatural at first, but this is almost always temporary.

Everyone is different but you should start to look and feel better within a few months.

Your surgeon will talk to you about the results that are likely to be realistic for you and what you should expect after surgery.

Even after your surgery we’re still here when you need us.

If you have any questions or concerns about your recovery you can call and speak to a member of the nursing team at any time, please call 01424 757459.

Interested in finding out more?

Speak to a member of our team

Phone01424 757400




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