Most men and women would like to have a firmer, more toned abdomen or stomach. But despite diet and exercise, many people still cannot seem to lose the fat deposits in this area. For this reason, abdominal liposculpture has become a popular cosmetic treatment for getting rid of unwanted fat around the stomach and waistline.

In liposuction, fat cells are permanently removed from the abdomen, creating a slimmer profile that could not be achieved by diet and exercise alone. The newer methods are often distinguished by the term “liposculpture” because the doctor is able to get a smoother, more sculpted result. Tumescent liposculpture is one of the latest techniques that results in less swelling, bruising and results in a quicker recovery than traditional liposuction. Most importantly, a local anesthetic is used eliminating many of the complications of general anesthesia.

Who Should Get Abdominal Liposculpture?

Abdominal liposculpture is not for everyone. It is not a treatment for obesity. The ideal candidate for this procedure is a person who is in good health, exercises regularly, maintains good eating habits and is at or near his or her ideal body weight. Some factors that affect the success of abdominal liposculpture include age, prior pregnancies and location and amount of abdominal fat deposits. Abdominal liposculpture can be done at any age as long as the skin has enough elasticity to achieve a sculptured appearance after the fat is removed. Where the skin is less elastic as in some older patients, liposculpture can be combined with another corrective cosmetic procedure like skin tightening.

A previous pregnancy may stretch the abdominal muscles and cause an unattractive bulge. The remedy in the past was to resort to a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. However, with new techniques in liposculpture, most women get satisfactory results without resorting to surgery. A cesarean or C-section may also cause a bulge above the scar which cannot be eliminated through exercise. Abdominal liposculpture can successfully remedy this condition with excellent results.

Multiple Levels of Fat in the Abdomen

There are two levels of fat in the abdomen: subcutaneous fat (beneath the skin) and deep fat located in the abdomen around the intestines and other organs. Liposuction is effective in removing subcutaneous fat. Because of the depth and proximity to organs, internal body fat cannot be removed by liposuction. Fortunately, in most cases the majority of fat from overweight is subcutaneous fat which can be safely removed through liposuction.

Traditional abdominal liposuction requires general anesthesia. The patient is administered anesthesia and the doctor uses thin straw-like instruments called cannulas which are inserted into the fat deposits which are then suctioned out through a tube. The doctor uses sutures or stitches to close the incisions therefore some bleeding will occur. Some patients may even require blood transfusions. There is also usually swelling and bruising in the treated area.

Ab Liposculpture Risks

Risks associated with traditional liposuction are possible infection at the incision or entry point, excessive bleeding, bruising and risks associated with general anesthesia. A newer technique called “tumescent liposculpture” gives more attractive results with fewer risks than traditional liposuction. Tumescent liposculpture gives the doctor more freedom to remove fat cells while sculpting the area to get a more attractive outcome.

The term tumescent means “swelling” because the doctor injects the area to be treated with a solution which swells the fat cells to be removed. Because the fat cells are more visible, removal is easier. The instruments used in this procedure are smaller (“microcannulas“) than those in traditional liposuction. This method takes longer because the instruments are smaller but the results are usually smoother. Also because the incision is smaller, no sutures are needed. The open incisions allow the injected fluid to drain. When sutures are closed, the fluid is trapped causing prolonged swelling of the area.

Patients Are Usually Awake During the Liposculpture Procedure

One of the biggest differences is that liposculpture does not require general anesthesia. The surgeon injects a large volume of a special solution prior to the procedure. This swells the area allowing easier access to the fat cells. The solution contains a local anesthetic to numb the area, and medication to control inflammation. Adrenaline is also injected to constrict the blood vessels so bleeding is minimized. The injected fluid is absorbed into the body or excreted in the urine. A small amount is sucked out with the fat or drained through the incisions.

The patient is awake during the entire procedure. The doctor can communicate with the patient and the patient is able to change positions if necessary. The problems associated with anesthesia are eliminated. Recovery time is quicker because the procedure is less invasive and the instruments smaller so bruising is also reduced. Result are visible much sooner because there is less swelling therefore the patient is better able to see the final results.

Recovering from Abs Liposculpture

For 6 to 18 hours after the surgery most patients who undergo the tumescent method experience little pain or discomfort This is because traces of the anesthetic are still present in the system therefore reducing pain. After this period, some patients experience muscle soreness or slight aching. This can be relieved with over the counter pain medication.

The incisions in this method are left open so there will be drainage of the anesthetic fluid for 2-3 days after the procedure. This drainage accelerates healing while reducing post-operative swelling. The doctor covers the area with absorbent pads and secures the area with a pressure garment. Over the next several days there will be some swelling which should decrease gradually over the next 4 to 12 weeks. A certain degree of firmness and lumpiness of the skin is normal during the healing process. This gradually decreases over a period of 2 to 6 months after the surgery.

How Long for Abdominal Area to Recover?

Most patients report seeing improvement as soon as one week after surgery. However, for most people the final result will not be apparent for 3 to 6 months. Abdominal liposculpture, whether traditional or tumescent, can be the answer to stubborn or resistant fat deposits in the stomach area. Once you have completed your research on the best doctor and facility for your finances, you may be on your way to a sleeker, more attractive profile.

Liposculpture is a body contouring procedure that involves removing localized fat deposits from the body. This procedure can be performed in a few different ways but in the end the results will be similar. While liposuction is a procedure that mostly involves the removal of bulges, the term “liposculpture” involves circumferential sculpting. It is called liposculpture because the body is artistically sculpted by the surgeon to form a new shape for the body by using delicate instruments. Two of the most common liposculpture procedures nowadays are UAL, or ultra-sonic assisted, liposculpture and tumescent liposculpture.

UAL Liposculpture Procedure

During this type of liposculpture an ultrasound probe is used to transform the fat into a liquid before it is sucked out of the body by something called a “cannula”. A “cannula” is used in all methods of liposculpture and is a special tube that has been designed as a suction device for the fatty tissue. This method is preferred for more fibrous parts of the body, such as the male breast area or the upper back. There is a very small added risk of seromas, which are pockets of fluid, forming from this type of liposculpture procedure, but they can be easily drained with a needle if they do become present. While UAL (ultrasonic assisted) devices were formerly known to cause tissue damage due to prolonged exposure to the energy supplied by the ultrasound, recent technology, such as the Vaser Lipo system, allows the fat to be removed without these complications.

Tumescent Liposculpture Procedure

This type of liposculpture is one of the most common procedures used for cosmetic surgery. It can safely and permanently remove excess fat deposits that are unresponsive to exercise and diet. Tumescent means “to swell” and is basically a description of what takes place during the procedure. Before the procedure the surgeon will fill the fatty areas that are going to be removed with a special solution that will cause the fatty area to swell. The local anesthetic in the solution will numb the area, which cuts out the need for intravenous sedation or general anesthesia.

Bleeding is reduced to a minimum by the constricting of blood vessels caused by the substance adrenalin. The fatty deposits are then removed by the cannula. In addition to the benefits of the local anesthetic, tumescent liposculpture allows the patient to cooperate with their doctor by moving into a position that will allow the procedure to be performed most easily. This includes things like standing up so the surgeon can observe and optimize the results as well as contracting muscles during the sculpting of the buttocks or abdomen to make fatty deposits more visible.

General Liposculpture Procedures and Information

Liposculpture procedures can be performed in a major hospital or at an out-patient operating location. Depending on the amount of work that the individual needs done the procedure can take anywhere from one to four hours. It is rare that any hair will have to be shaved for the procedure, but in the event this is required the amount of hair removed will be minimal. Incisions required during the surgery are generally done in the folds of the skin where they are least likely to be noticed and are very small incisions that are typically smaller than one quarter of an inch. It is possible for other procedures to be performed in addition to the liposculpture, with the most common being breast reduction and abdominoplasty.This will increase the longevity of the procedure as well as increasing the probability of blood loss.

Prior to having the procedure the patient will consult the surgeon to make sure they agree on the areas that are to be treated and what the expected outcome is. On the day of the surgery the patient will have to sign a consent form before being permitted to undergo the procedure. Normally, an antibiotic will be given to the patient about an hour prior to the surgery, although this can be administered after the surgery as well. While in a standing position the areas that will be targeted during the procedure will be marked off by the surgeon or an assistant.

In certain instances photos are taken of the area that has been treated so that the patient can see the results through viewing before and after photos. Prior to the surgery a sterilizing solution will be applied to the treatment areas while in the operating room. During the surgery the patient will only feel a rasping or scraping sensation due to the movement of the cannula. While they may need someone else do drive them home, patients are generally allowed to go home the same day and can even get up and walk around.

Physician Approval Before the Liposculpture Procedure

Only people who have been cleared by a physician are allowed to undergo liposculpture surgery. Prior to the procedure it is important to disclose to the surgeon any medical conditions or medications that the patient is taking to be sure that the surgery will remain safe. Smoking within two weeks prior to and two weeks after the surgery is not recommended as it will hinder the healing process. This same time frame also applies to taking aspirin or products containing aspirin. Since it is important to be in the best nutritional state possible prior to the procedure, it is recommended that the patient takes vitamin supplements, especially Vitamin C, in the days or weeks prior to having the surgery. Before having any liposculpture procedure it is recommended that the patient also be well hydrated.

Excess fat will normally be present in different areas in men and women. The most common locations that undergo liposculpture surgery are the:

*Abdominal area
*Buttocks
*Back
*Calves
*Inner and outer thighs

Facial liposculpture is also a very popular procedure with the most commonly worked on areas being the jowls, neck, and chin. Breast liposculpture can be performed as a breast reduction method for both men and women. Liposculpture procedures are generally painless, with many patients even being able to talk during the procedure. The anesthetic normally lasts for around 24 hours and the patient may experience a minimum amount of soreness once the anesthetic wears off, which normally will last from one to two weeks.