A large proportion of Dr Kumar’s body contouring work is on men, most of it after major weight loss. The operations are the same operations; what differs is where men carry the excess, what they want the result to do, and the fact that male skin and fat behave differently under the knife.
Where the problem sits in men
| Area | What men describe | Usual operation |
|---|---|---|
| Chest | Loose skin, a low nipple, tissue that folds over | Male chest contouring |
| Abdomen | An apron of skin, rashes beneath it, trouble with clothing | Abdominoplasty, panniculectomy or fleur-de-lis |
| Flanks and lower back | Rolls above the waistband | Flank contouring or a body lift |
| Arms | Hanging skin on the inner upper arm | Arm lift, often extended |
| Thighs | Chafing, skin folds, difficulty with activity | Thigh lift |
Three things that differ in men
Fat is more fibrous. Male fat, particularly at the flanks and chest, is denser and more fibrous than female fat. It takes longer to remove by liposuction and is more likely to need a second pass.
Intra-abdominal fat is more common. A firm, rounded abdomen that does not pinch is fat inside the abdominal cavity, around the organs. No operation removes it — only weight loss does. This is the single most common reason a man is told that surgery will do less than he hoped, and it is better said at the consultation than discovered afterwards.
Scar placement is different. There is no bra or bikini line to hide a scar in. Incisions are placed to sit beneath a waistband or in a natural fold, and men generally need to be more accepting of a visible scar in exchange for the correction.
What men usually want
In this practice, the stated goals are practical more often than aesthetic: being able to exercise without skin chafing or folding, wearing a shirt that fits, getting rid of recurrent rashes, and not having to manage an apron of skin. Those are also the terms Medicare uses, which is convenient — functional problems are what the items are written around.
Medicare
The same items apply to men as to women:
- 30177 — lipectomy with radical abdominoplasty after significant weight loss. Requires intertrigo or another skin condition risking loss of skin integrity that has failed three months of conventional treatment, interference with activities of daily living, and weight stable for at least six months.
- 30166 — removal of redundant abdominal skin as a wedge excision, after weight loss equivalent to at least five BMI points, weight stable six months.
- 30169 — removal of redundant non-abdominal skin for functional problems after weight loss.
- 30179 — circumferential lipectomy.
- 31525 / 31526 — gynaecomastia, where the chest problem is glandular rather than skin. Criteria here.
MBS figures as at 1 July 2026, surgeon’s fee only. Note how often “documented” and “three months” appear — raising rashes with your GP and having them treated and recorded is the practical groundwork.
Preparing
- Weight stable at least six months. Required by the items and by common sense.
- Nutrition. Protein, iron, B12 and vitamin D are commonly low after bariatric surgery. Dr Kumar’s practice offers dietitian input before surgery.
- Nicotine. Complete abstinence from all nicotine, not just smoking, for eight weeks before and after body contouring after weight loss.
- A plan, not a procedure. Most men need more than one operation, and the order matters. Staged body contouring.
There is background on when weight is stable enough at My Weight Loss Journey.
Recovery
Two weeks off work, a gradual return over the following four weeks, and full clearance at around twelve weeks. Drains are used, a compression garment is worn for six weeks, and Dr Kumar reviews his surgical patients for twelve months. The week-by-week timeline.
Common questions
Is the loose tissue on my chest gynaecomastia or just skin?
After major weight loss it is frequently skin rather than glandular tissue, and the two are managed differently. True gynaecomastia is firm tissue sitting directly behind the nipple; redundant skin hangs and moves. Examination sorts it out, and the distinction matters because it changes both the operation and whether a Medicare item can apply.
Where will the scars sit, and will they show with my shirt off?
They will be visible. Chest scars after significant weight loss usually run along or below the fold of the pectoral muscle, and abdominal scars sit low, below the waistband of shorts. Dr Kumar will mark the likely position on you at consultation so you can see it on your own body rather than on a diagram. Scars fade but do not disappear, and individual results will vary.
Can the chest and abdomen be done at the same time?
Sometimes, and it depends on operating time, your general health and how much tissue is being removed. Combining areas means one anaesthetic and one recovery, but a longer operation carries more risk. Where the total time would be excessive, Dr Kumar will recommend staging, and will tell you which area to do first based on which one is causing you the most trouble.
Does Medicare cover body contouring for men?
The Medicare items are not sex-specific. Where the clinical criteria are met, item 30177 or 30179 may apply to abdominal and circumferential skin removal, 30169 to non-abdominal areas such as the arms, and items 31525 and 31526 to gynaecomastia. The criteria concern functional problems, weight loss and weight stability, not appearance, and whether you meet them is a clinical assessment.
How much time off work will I need if my job is physical?
Six weeks is the usual figure for trades, warehouse work, emergency services or anything involving lifting or climbing, and longer after a body lift. Desk-based work is generally two to three weeks. Returning to heavy work early puts tension on a long wound, which is how scars widen. Plan the time off before booking rather than afterwards.
I want to lose a few more kilograms. Should I wait?
Generally, yes. Operating while the weight is still moving produces a result that changes again, and the Medicare criteria require a documented period of weight stability in any case. An early consultation is still worth having, because it lets you plan the order of operations and start the GP documentation while you finish losing.
Will removing the skin make it easier to train?
For many men it removes a mechanical obstacle: an abdominal apron that chafes, catches in a waistband or makes running uncomfortable. What surgery does not do is build muscle or replace training and nutrition. Dr Kumar’s approach is to treat the skin problem and leave the body composition work to you, with an Accredited Practising Dietitian involved where that helps.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar, and it is also what starts the Medicare record if an item number may apply later. If you are getting rashes or skin infections in a fold, have your GP document the treatment now rather than shortly before your consultation.
Next step
Bring a GP referral — it is required to see Dr Kumar — and ask for a plan for the whole body rather than one area. He consults at Westmead, Penrith and Orange, and many patients send photos first rather than travel. Call 1300 267 726. More about body contouring after weight loss and costs.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
