Procedure Details

Liposuction of the Abdomen, Waist and Back

Liposuction is a very common plastic surgery procedure. It is minimally invasive and leaves the patient with little to no scarring. The ideal candidate for this procedure is someone who is in excellent health and is within 25 pounds of his or her ideal weight. Additionally, the excess fat should be deposits of fat that have not responded to diet or exercise. This procedure does not replace what diet and exercise will do; merely, it assists patients in removing pesky fat that has not responded to other methods.

All liposuction cases begin with injecting the procedure area with local anesthesia. A small incision will be made where the patient is initially injected; the cannula is used to infiltrate and numb the entire area. The infiltrated area will sit, also known as marinate, for 15 to 20 minutes. This step is necessary to ensure that the patient does not feel any discomfort during the procedure. Additionally, this makes it easier for the cannula to remove the fat.

A contour irregularity occurs when the skin has a dip, dimple, or anything that makes the skin appear rough and not smooth. Contour irregularities are more likely to happen if the liposuction is being performed in an area with a lot of skin.

Undermining is another term commonly used in liposuction cases. Undermining refers to when the larger cannula is used without any suction to make a path for the smaller cannula. Suction is then applied with the smaller cannula after the path has been made.

Following the liposuction of the abdomen, abdominal skin may still hang down. The skin will retract and be smooth afterwards. Typically, the waist will show immediate results due to the bone and the body structure.

How Much Fat Gets Removed?

In regards to the abdomen and the waist, the goal is to remove at least 70% of the local solution that was put in prior to beginning the liposuction. The upper back typically has less fat than other areas, therefore the goal for this area is to get out at least 50% of the local solution that was put in.

All liposuction cases begin with injecting the procedure area with local anesthesia. Contour irregularities are more likely to happen if the liposuction is being performed in an area with a lot of skin.

Following the liposuction of the abdomen, abdominal skin may still hang down.

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