Liposuction or Abdominal Liposculpture
Liposuction, what it consists of
Liposculpture or liposuction (the two terms are synonymous), is that surgical procedure aimed at reducing and reshaping subcutaneous fat accumulations in various body districts.
Liposuction of the abdomen thus serves to reshape the subcutaneous panniculus adiposus, a concept quite different from the overall weight loss that must be achieved through diet instead.
Liposuction of the abdomen, outlines of surgical anatomy
The abdominal wall is a structure organized into multiple layers .
Fat is mainly found in a superficial layer between the skin and muscles.
The muscle wall is thus directly underlying the adipose layer and in turn affects its shape, especially as the state of contraction or relaxation changes.
These anatomical features imply that when performing abdominal liposculpture, the surgeon must also have a thorough understanding of the anatomy underlying the adipose work surface.
The abdominal wall is a contractile and dynamic structure, so the result of liposculpture should be evaluated long-term not only with the patient lying down but also in orthostatism and during certain movements.
In the postoperative period, it is necessary to wear a sheath that is restraining and appropriately shaped according to the specific need for a certain period.
The level of pain is low or absent, and within a few days common activities can be resumed. To be able to appreciate the result of abdominal liposculpture, weeks or months of settling are required in which tissues Drenate and recompact, leaving the final result to shine through with greater definition.
In our experience, liposuction of the abdomen is rarely placed as an isolated maneuver but we frequently use it as a cosmetic adjunct to the removal of excess skin and repair of the diastasis recti, in the context of the same operative session in the procedure called The Triad ®.
Abdomen liposuction, techniques, classic and latest instrumentation
In abdominal liposuction, through specific cannulas introduced at the subcutaneous level, the surgeon performs the breakdown and aspiration of fatty tissue.
The most commonly used technique is the tumescence technique where a solution is infiltrated into the panniculus adiposus, which promotes its breakdown and aspiration.
In recent years it has become easy to come across advertisements of supposed new liposuction techniques with different more or less catchy names, but in most cases, the tumescence technique is always used in real clinical practice.
Instrumentation used for liposuction of the abdomen can range from traditional suction cannulas to the more modern Vaser, which involves combining the cannula with an ultrasonic handpiece to facilitate tissue breakdown.
Appropriately treated adipose can also be replanted in different regions as needed by treating and replanting it using a procedure called lipofilling.
Most recently, special handpieces called J- Plasma have become available. These devices using radiofrequencies induce in the postoperative period increased tissue recompaction and skin contraction.
