Do you want to shed unwanted belly fat to improve your self-esteem? Thousands crave the fit, the proportionate form diet and exercise alone doesn’t provide. We may have the solution for you: ab etching.

What Is Ab Etching? 

Liposculpture, referred to as abdominal etching or ab sculpting when performed on the midsection, is considered a low-risk surgery. The procedure, gaining popularity in the 1990s, uses advanced liposuction technology and a highly precise etching technique to develop your abdominal area’s definition you’ve strived to achieve.

The ab etching procedure involves removing fat deposits from between each of the stomach muscles while leaving it on top of them. The patient’s natural abdominal musculature is highlighted and sculpted to look and feel more fit and firm, creating a furrow-like appearance.

A highly skilled surgeon at either VASER liposuction or power-assisted liposuction and has mastered the etching technique and will strategically mold and shape the abdominal wall to create the desired effect. 

How long does the procedure take? 

Generally done as outpatient surgery, abdominal etching surgery typically takes about an hour to complete. Patients see dramatic results immediately after surgery with more definition becoming apparent within 48 hours. 

Prime Candidates for Abdominal Etching

Consider several factors when thinking about abdominal etching. Ideal candidates include individuals in good physical condition satisfied with their weight but can’t get rid of stubborn belly fat by diet and exercise. A few additional criteria include: 

• Healthy overall
• Non-smoker or able to quit for 8+ weeks
• Strong immune system
• No medications that increase risk of bleeding
• No anemia or bleeding disorders
• Physically fit
• Good muscle tone
• Lack of excess skin
• Good skin elasticity
• Positive-minded
• Have realistic expectations

For optimal ab sculpting surgery results, you should be less than 30% above your ideal body weight. An online BMI calculator can help you determine your body mass index.

Age and skin elasticity also can greatly affect the outcome of an abdominal etching procedure. In certain cases, your surgeon may recommend you also get a skin-tightening treatment. This cosmetic combination will provide a firmer and more even, well-defined shape.

What Does Ab Sculpting Surgery Entail?

1) Before your surgery, the doctor will have you stand while marking your body to indicate your abdomen’s areas to sculpt. After the completed outlines, you and the doctor will examine them to ascertain if the markings accurately depict the desired result. If not, adjustments will be made until you’re both satisfied.

2) You’ll then lie down, and a foam dressing matching the drawn outline applied to your body. Afterward, you’ll receive local anesthesia unless you prefer to be put under general anesthesia or given intravenous conscious sedation.

3) The doctor will make several small, inconspicuous incisions called ports on your abdomen, usually around the belly button. Diluted local anesthesia reduces bleeding and trauma and will infuse into your abdomen through the incisions.  

A cannula, a thin, hollow tube used to loosen excess fat, will be inserted through the ports. Once inside, the surgeon carefully manipulates the cannula to dislodge fat deposits. After they’ve been broken loose, a syringe attached to the cannula or a surgical vacuum suctions out the fat.

4) Following surgery, your surgeon will close and dress your incisions. A compression garment will then be placed over the top of the foam dressing that was applied before surgery. This will cover the treatment area and help in the healing of your midsection by controlling swelling and encouraging skin retraction. 

What Are the Advantages of the Vaser System?

VASER liposuction is a minimally invasive body contouring surgery that melts fat using powerful waves of ultrasound energy. This advanced technology allows for more controlled, precise sculpting. It also achieves smoother, more dramatic contours with enhanced skin retraction, according to Solta Medical.

VASER lipo can be performed either from above or beneath the skin’s surface. Both are considered safe and effective. A handheld device that emits ultrasound energy liquefies fat cells when applied above the skin’s surface. 

When treated beneath the skin’s surface, a specially designed, rapidly vibrating cannula is inserted through small incisions. Once inside the belly, the instrument gives off ultrasound energy waves that break up and melt fat deposits in deeper tissues without disturbing delicate areas. 

After being liquified, light suctioning removes the fat cells. Because ultrasound-assisted liposuction is a more gentle procedure than other liposuction forms, the tissues surrounding the treatment area remain intact. This results in less postoperative pain, swelling, bruising, and downtime.

What Are the Risks to Ab Etching?

The minimal risks associated with abdominal etching may include bruising, swelling, soreness, and numbness. The possibility of infection, common with any cosmetic procedure, also exists. Patients have generally prescribed antibiotics as a precautionary measure, taking the prescription for two weeks following their surgery. 

Avoiding general anesthesia minimizes the overall risk of more severe side effects.

When Will Recovery Occur?

1 day of downtime and no stitches needed.

Most people can return to work within a few days. However, it could take up to two weeks or longer if complications occur. 

Significant swelling, as well as bruising and fluid retention, should be expected. The swelling starts to subside within about a week after surgery, and nearly all swelling normally diminishes in six to eight weeks. 

Following your surgery, a patient will need to wear a compression garment at all times for three to six weeks. This will help your skin conform to your new body contours. Full effects of your ab sculpting procedure typically take three to six months. 

Please note: Abdominal etching results are permanent as long as you maintain your weight through diet and exercise. Should you put on extra pounds, the etching will not retain its appearance.

How Much Does It Cost?

The average price in the U.S. is $5,500.

Since abdominal etching remains an elective surgery, health insurance doesn’t cover any of the expenses related to the procedure. The cost out-of-pocket may look a little like the following:

Vaser liposuction pricing ranges from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on your geographic location. The average cost tends around $6,525 to $8,546, which does not include the anesthesia, operating room, and other fees. 

In addition to location, a few other factors influence pricing. These include:

• The amount of fat to remove
• How long it takes to remove the fat
• Your surgeon’s training, skill level, and consistency in delivering the desired result

At Premier Liposuction in Las Vegas, Nevada, you can get full abdomen Vaser liposuction, sculpting, and contouring for $3,000. Receive a $300 discount on any additional area you may want to have enhanced with it.

What Are the Results?

97% “Worth It” rating on RealSelf.

According to RealSelf website, individuals who’ve undergone liposculpture surgery have reported satisfaction with the results, and 97% deemed it “worth it.”

An article featured on Ovid, the leading medical research platform, echoed the sentiment. The article revealed the findings of a study that concluded “abdominal etching is a safe and effective method of creating a defined anterior abdominal wall …” with 98% of patients satisfied with their procedure results.

Call for a Free Consultation

Still unsure about ab etching? Schedule a free consultation with one of our highly-rated liposuction doctors.