Abdominal Etching

Abdominal etching or ab etching is a surgical procedure that accentuates underlying abdominal muscles for the washboard abs look by tightening abs through selective fat removal around existing ab muscles. Abdominal etching goes beyond conventional liposuction fat removal and gives you a flatter, tighter stomach area, with stronger muscle definition. It is different from an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, in that with an abdominoplasty, the abdomen muscles can be tightened or removed, whereas abdominal etching only removes excess fat and skin from in front of the muscle wall.

The best candidates for abdominal etching have naturally athletic-looking underlying muscles that can be accentuated by this procedure. People who are better liposuction candidates tend to have very localized, exercise-resistant fat deposits, and can attain additional improvements through abdominal etching. Patients who undergo an abdominoplasty to reduce loosened and excessive muscles may achieve a more athletic-looking appearance with abdominal etching also. The strength of the results depends on the patient’s own anatomy more than anything else. A proper diet and exercise are absolutely essential to maintain the benefits.

This technique can also be performed at the same time as liposuction. Abdominal etching can be performed at the same time as other procedures as well, depending on the combination of treatments you have worked out in consultation with your plastic surgeon.

Abdominal etching is typically done in the doctor's office or in an outpatient surgery center. It takes about one hour. The procedure is often performed under local "twilight" anesthesia, while you are sleepy, sedated, and awake; or can be performed under general anesthesia, while you are asleep. Discuss anesthesia options with your doctor and the anesthesiologist.

The surgeon will make several mall incisions of one two millimeters in the belly button or in natural creases of the abdomen so that the incisions are not highly visible. The surgeon then uses a hollow tube-like instrument to remove excess fat and skin. This procedure is delicate and includes sculpting grooves in the fat layers to emphasize a muscular appearance. A different instrument may be used to perform liposuction than to perform the muscle-definition sculpting.

Typically, patients return home within a few hours of surgery. Results can vary and are highly contingent upon the patient’s individual anatomy.

Most patients return home within hours after surgery. Results can vary among patients due to personal anatomy factors such as the unchangeable appearance of the underlying muscles.