Is There an Abdominal Lipoplasty for All Seasons?

ABSTRACT

The goal of traditional liposuction is to create a smooth, flatter abdomen by leaving a 1-cm thickness of superficial fat. A certain degree of undercorrection is advocated to avoid irregularities. The success of this procedure is evident because 70 to 80% of abdominal deformities are treated by liposuction alone. However, traditional liposuction may be suboptimal in physically fit patients because this uniform thickness obliterates subtle muscular undulations. Athletic individuals work hard to create muscular definition and frequently feel these muscles are smothered in fat. Abdominal liposculpture (abdominal etching and modified abdominal etching) offer an alternative treatment with vertical and horizontal detailing of abdominal muscles to enhance natural ridges and indentations. This article reviews the indications, techniques available, results, and potential pitfalls in optimizing lipoplasty of the abdomen.

KEYWORDS

Abdominal etching - modified abdominal etching - abdominal liposculture

REFERENCES

• 1 Pitanguy I. Abdominal lipectomy: an approach to it through an analysis of 300 consecutive cases.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1967;  40 384
• 2 Castanares S, Goethel J A. Abdominal lipectomy: a modification in technique.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1967;  40 378-383
• 3 Regnault P. Abdominoplasty by the W technique.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1975;  55 265-274
• 4 Grazer F M, Goldwyn R M. Abdominoplasty assessed by survey, with emphasis on complications.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1977;  59 513-517
• 5 Psillakis J M. Plastic surgery of the abdomen with improvement in the body contour. Physiopathology and treatment of the aponeurotic musculature.  Clin Plast Surg . 1984;  11 465-477
• 6 Dellon A L. Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1985;  9 27-32
• 7 Greminger R F. The mini-abdominoplasty.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1987;  79 356-365
• 8 Wilkinson T, Swartz B. Individual modifications in body contour surgery: the ``limited abdominoplasty.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1986;  77 779-784
• 9 Bozola A R, Psillakis J M. Abdominoplasty: a new concept and classification for treatment.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1988;  82 983-993
• 10 Illouz Y G. New safe and aesthetic approach to suction abdominoplasty.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1992;  16 237-245
• 11 Eaves F F, Price C I, Bostwick J. Subcutaneous endoscopic plastic surgery using a retractor-mounted endoscopic system.  Perspect Plast Surg . 1993;  7 1-22
• 12 Wilkinson T S. Limited abdominoplasty techniques applied to complete abdominal repair.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1994;  18 49-55
• 13 Core G B, Mizgala C L, Bowen J C. Endoscopic abdominoplasty with repair of diastasis recti and abdominal wall hernia.  Clin Plast Surg . 1995;  22 707-722
• 14 Lockwood T. High-lateral tension abdominoplasty with superficial fascial system suspension.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1995;  96 603-615
• 15 Shestak C. Marriage abdominoplasty expands the mini-abdominoplasty concept.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1998;  103 1020-1031
• 16 Matarasso A. Abdominolipoplasty.  Clin Plast Surg . 1989;  16 289-303
• 17 Toledo L S. Syringe liposculpture: a two year experience.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1991;  15 321-326
• 18 Gilliland M D. Abdominal etching differential liposuction: details abdominal musculature.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1993;  17 287-290
• 19 Lockwood T. Superficial fascia system (SFS) of the trunk and extremities.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1991;  87 1009-1018
• 20 Illouz Y G, DeVillers Y. Body sculpting by lipoplasty.  New York: Churchill-Livingstone; 1989
• 21 Rohrich R J, Smith P D, Marcantonio D R, Kenkel J M. The zones of adherence: role in minimizing contour deformities in liposuction.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 2001;  107 15
• 22 Markman B. Anatomy and physiology of adipose tissue.  Clin Plast Surg . 1989;  16 235-244
• 23 Gilliland M D. Abdominal liposculpture.  Lipoplasty Newslett . 1995;  12 18-20
• 24 Ersek R A. Abdominal etching.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1997;  21 328-331
• 25 Vogt P A. Abdominal lipoplasty technique.  Clin Plast Surg . 1989;  16 279-288
• 26 Mladick R A. The big six: six important tips for a better result in lipoplasty.  Clin Plast Surg . 1989;  16 249-256
• 27 Gasperoni C, Salgarello M. MALL liposuction: the natural evolution of subdermal superficial liposuction.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1994;  18 253-257
• 28 Gasperoni C, Salgarello M, Emiliozzi P, Gargari G. Subdermal liposuction.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1990;  14 137-142
• 29 Gasparotti M. Superficial liposuction: a new application of the technique for aged and flaccid skin.  Aesth Plast Surg . 1992;  16 141-153
• 30 Hunstad J P. The tumescent technique: an evolution.  Lipoplasty Newslett . 1994;  11 29
• 31 Zocchi M. Ultrasound assisted lipoplasty.  Clin Plast Surg . 1996;  23 575-598
• 32 Gasparotti M, Lewis C M, Toledo L. Superficial Liposculpture.  New York: Springer-Verlag; 1992
• 33 Burkhardt B R. Letter to the editor about H. Becker's article on subdermal liposuction to enhance skin retraction: preliminary report.  Ann Plast Surg . 1992;  29 381
• 34 Schrudde J. Liphexheresis for body contouring.  Clin Plast Surg . 1984;  11 445-456
• 35 Schrudde J. Suction curettage for total body contouring.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1982;  69 903-904
• 36 Hunstad J P. Body contouring in the obese patient.  Clin Plast Surg . 1996;  23 647-669
• 37 Becker H. A new suction cannula.  Ann Plast Surg . 1990;  25 154-158
• 38 Becker H. Subdermal liposuction: a technique to enhance skin retraction: a preliminary report.  Ann Plast Surg . 1992;  28 479-484