One of the more common problem areas men and women seek
cosmetic treatments for is the stomach area. More accurately
called abdominal liposuction, stomach liposuction is a highly-
sought procedure and liposuction overall ranks in the top five for
cosmetic procedures worldwide.
Many people naturally carry excess weight in the abdomen,
especially from middle age and after pregnancy and menopause,
or it can be genetically inherited from an early age. It can be very
difficult to budge and may have a significant impact on how we
feel in clothes and our self-confidence.
There are several things you need to know about stomach
liposuction, and you must understand the difference between
liposuction and liposculpture so that you can determine which
approach will be best for you. Essentially the terms liposuction and
liposculpture are synonymous, but there are a few differences,
outlined below…..
What is Stomach Liposuction?
When you put on weight, the volume of fat cells in your
body increases, as does their size.
Liposuction (also called suction-assisted lipectomy
or lipoplasty) reduces the number of fat cells in a specific area of
the body. It results in a permanent change to the amount of fat in
the area and the resultant contour of the body, provided your
weight remains stable thereafter.
Stomach liposuction is performed on men and women when
there is a significant amount of localised fat (subcutaneously,
under the skin), in certain abdominal areas, including the “muffin
top” and over the “six-pack”. It’s important to understand that
liposuction is not an effective weight loss solution, but rather an
approach for people with stable body weight, but who
have specific problem areas of fat that don’t respond to diet and
exercise. Visceral (internal) fat is only reduced by diet and / or
weight loss drugs or weight loss bariatric surgery.
Liposuction, while it is an effective treatment approach, it is
usually associated with general anaesthesia and larger bore
cannulas. Liposuction and liposculpture are best suited to people
with elastic skin and good muscle tone.
Tumescent liposculpture is an approach to liposuction that can be
performed under local anaesthesia (the tumescent local
anaesthetic technique) and targets the area to not only remove fat
but recontour the body. Finer bore cannulas (microcannnulas) are
used. Because the procedure is done under local anaesthetic (with
additional sedation provided by an anaesthetist), patients can
move freely into the desired positions to effectively contour the
body, plus fine tuning can be performed at the end of the
procedure, as the patient is able to stand up afterwards. During
this process, the liposculpture proceduralist can assess for
symmetry and visualise possibly more fat to be
removed. Remaining fat becomes more evident with the effect of
gravity when the patient stands temporarily near the end of the
procedure, allowing for more removal of fat.
What Can I Expect From Stomach Liposuction?
To qualify as a good candidate for liposuction, you must be in
good general health and not be a smoker or obese (BMI>35), or
have compromised immunity, heart disease, or other conditions
which may complicate surgery and recovery.
1. Results – stomach liposuction is a suitable procedure
for anyone in good general health who has excess
abdominal fat. This fat must be subcutaneous (between
the skin and the muscle) and not be visceral fat (fat
located within the abdomen itself, under the muscle
and located around the internal organs). Up to 70% of
the fat volume present in the area may be able to be
removed.
2. Cost – You need to also factor in additional fees for
hospital theatre fee and the anaesthetist, in addition to
the procedure fee.
3. Restrictions/Requirements – limited numbers of areas
can be treated at one time.
People who have high amounts of visceral fat (within
the abdomen rather than just under the skin) are less
suitable for liposuction/liposculpture.
Abdominal hernias within the treatment area will need
to be repaired before treatment.
Stomach Liposuction versus Liposculpture
To remove excess fat from the abdomen (and other areas) you
may elect to have liposuction or liposculpture. Though similar,
these procedures have important differences which you must
understand.
Liposuction is most commonly used on larger body areas, of
which the abdomen is one. It is suited to remove amounts of
fat and can be a good option for the abdomen and hips. A general
anaesthetic is most often utilised and often larger suction
cannulas are used. Patients can be very difficult to move during
general anaesthesia, making it more difficult to contour the body
compare to the patient moving herself, himself. Sagginess of the
skin may be an after-effect, potentially of both liposuction and
liposculpture, requiring further treatment like a “tummy tuck”
(abdominoplasty) for tighter skin, but often the patient may be
happy with the level of skin retraction with liposuction /
liposculpture alone. Appropriate candidates are assessed during
the consultation process.
Liposculpture, while derived from traditional liposuction, is an
alternative option. Excess body fat is eliminated via narrow bore
cannulas (2-3mm in diameter). This often helps to get smoother,
less irregular results. At the same time, the skin retracts (by “de-
weighting” the skin with removal of the underlying fat) and the
body shape is changed by body contouring with the narrow bore
cannulas. Obvious irregularities are addressed on the spot,
reducing the chance of touch-up procedures later down the track.
Muscles are still taught with local anaesthesia, allowing for
contouring over the natural body shape.
Liposculpture requires only a local anaesthetic and mild-
moderate sedation, minimises bleeding because of adrenaline,
which is added to the local anaesthetic solution, and discomfort is
often reduced post-operatively because the areas have been
adequately initially anaesthetised pre-operatively and during the
procedure.
Stomach liposculpture is a different approach to liposuction to
eliminate fat on the abdomen. It is suited to both women
and men.
Book an Appointment for Liposculpture Now!
If you are at or near your optimal weight and simply wish to
address problem areas of stubborn fat that are resistant to diet
and exercise, tumescent liposculpture may be the ideal solution
for you.
Book an appointment now for an obligation-free, 60-minute
consultation with Dr Meaghan Heckenberg at Be Sculptured, a
liposculpture proceduralist. Her understanding, welcoming
approach puts her patients at ease and she offers liposculpture
treatments available in Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Call us today on 0484 898 977 or
email [email protected]
You may also make any online enquiry 24/7 here on our
website.
