Abdominoplasty is usually discussed when women are trying to improve their figure after pregnancy. So many potential patients, men included, remain unaware of the surgery and how it may be a benefit to them.

Some men may even feel embarrassed to ask about a tummy tuck. One man who documented his surgery on a blog writes that he felt a “stigma or shame was associated with male tummy tucks,” that caused him to be “embarrassed” when he first made inquiries about the operation.  If you’re one of those men researching the procedure, know that plastic surgeons should be able to give you gender-specific advice.

A man on the realself.com forum asks about skin laxity on his abdomen due to weight loss:

I’m dealing with loose skin after a 50 lbs weight loss in my teens. I’ve totally transformed and I’m very athletic with well-defined abs, but have laxity mostly below the navel and around the lower back. The problem areas are very localized and I hide it under the belt line with no one suspecting I was obese. But I feel “unfinished.” The front skin is very thin and hangs, the back is mostly smooth. Is there a tummy tuck technique that would excise the abdominal skin and provide modest tightening in the lower back?

Christopher Hess MD, a plastic surgeon in Fairfax, Virginia, answers: “Even though we tend to have better skin tone than women, we can still end up with excess skin due to skin memory. It sounds like you could undergo a mild excision of the excess tissue– less than a mini tummy tuck.”

Some cases aren’t that simple. When a man has experienced a greater weight reduction, the full tummy tuck may be recommended. Dr. Angelo Cuzalina in Tulsa advises other surgeons:  “Do not hesitate to use a full abdominoplasty for a male patient with extreme skin laxity. Men tend to heal better than women after abdominoplasty.”

The comprehensive approach he recommends may be necessary to provide satisfactory results. Dr. Alan Matarasso, scientific editor of Aesthetic Surgery Journal agrees. He says in Cosmetic Surgery Times, “you really need to treat [men] circumferentially, all the way around, because if you ask most men what bothers them, it’s the ‘love handles,’ and that goes all the way around to the back.”

Clearly, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons can offer specific advice for men considering a tummy tuck. So if you think you might benefit from the procedure, ignore any perceived “stigma” and ask a qualified surgeon for more details.