Abdominal Liposuction: What It Involves

Abdominal liposuction is one of the most requested body contouring procedures, which makes sense: the abdomen is where fat tends to settle first.

It is very effective. But it is not a substitute for losing weight, and it is worth being clear about that before anything else. For a good result you need to be at or near a normal weight, with good skin quality and reasonable muscle tone.

Why does that matter? Because liposuction removes superficial fat — the fat you can pinch. It does not remove visceral fat, the fat that sits behind the abdominal wall around the organs. No liposuction can.

What the operation involves

Abdominal liposuction is performed under general anaesthetic. The abdomen is a complex and sensitive area and it is treated as such.

The fat is removed by suction, using very fine cannulas connected to a dedicated aspiration system. It has to be done delicately and precisely, so that the remaining fat layer is even — an uneven result is far more noticeable on the abdomen than anywhere else.

The surgeon shapes and sculpts the area as the fat is removed, which is what produces a natural result rather than simply a flatter one.

If the muscle tone was poor to begin with, liposuction alone will not be enough and an abdominoplasty is needed to complete it.

The four techniques

• Wet. Cold saline with epinephrine is infiltrated first, so the fat comes away more easily.
• Tumescent. Similar to the wet technique, but the volume of fluid infiltrated equals or exceeds the volume of fat to be removed.
• Ultrasound-assisted. Ultrasonic vibration liquefies the fat under the skin before it is removed.
• Laser-assisted. A laser fibre inside a very fine cannula breaks the fat down to make removal easier.

How long is the recovery?

Recovery times have shortened considerably, but the abdomen is still slower than other areas because of how sensitive it is. How long depends on the volume removed and on the post-operative care.

Bruising usually lasts two to three weeks, and the area must be kept out of the sun during that time. Swelling reabsorbs naturally and gradually, on average over two to three months.

There are post-operative treatments that speed this up. We go through all of it with you, along with what you can do yourself to help.

Dr. María Lourdes Yagües assesses and operates personally at her clinic in Málaga. Consultations are available in English.