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Pectoral Etching and Liposculpture in Indianapolis by Dr Barry Eppley

Contouring of the chest region by pectoral etching helps provide better definition to the pectoral muscles and the shape of the chest wall. Borrowing the concept from abdominal etching, in which the use of linear liposuction is used to define muscular edges and definitions, a similar technique can be applied to the chest with equally good results.

By selective removal of fat (liposculpture) from the side and lower borders of the pectoralis major muscle, the muscular appearance of the chest wall can be improved. This virilizes the chest contour while creating few visible scars. By sculpting the borders, and leaving fat over the main body of the muscle, the pectoral muscle bulk appears greater. This pectoral etching technique provides better shaping than simple gross fat removal in an even unsculpted manner across the chest wall.

Pectoral etching adds visible and palpable pectoral inscriptions to the chest wall. In a recent study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in December 2007, Dr. Ruiz-Razura and colleagues report treating over 200 patients over the past three years.with only a few minor complications. (small hematoma, irregular contour, too conservative of a result) Their experience has been that the results have been maintained, even in the face of weight gain and skin loosening with age. When pectoral etching is combined with abdominal etching, a more muscular-appearing torso is achieved. The procedure is becoming very popular in non-athletic males whose physique may not get sculpted even with regular strength training.

Dr Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis

Six-pack Surgery

The ultimate abdominal definition is the visible outline of the underlying abdominal muscles. Known as the six-pack look, it is actually caused by the enlargement of the rectus muscles, the lack of fat between the skin and the muscles, and the outward appearance of the inscriptions of the rectus muscle (which actually creates the lines of the six-pack) It usually takes a great amount of exercise and dieting to create this sought after look. For some patients, it is just not possible to thin the fat out that much to reveal the inscriptions. For these patients, a surgical shortcut can give them this look.

Using liposuction techniques, the fat can be precisely removed along vertical and horizontal lines, mimicking the inscriptions. This liposculpture technique requires the use of small cannulaes to suck the fat out along these carefully placed lines. This creates troughs (etchings) underneath the skin so that the underside of the skin sticks directly to the muscle. Hence, the six-pack look is achieved. The key to a natural result with abdominal etching is proper patient selection (the patient should be thin, in athletic condition, and have made a good effort to achieve the look on their own) and careful placement of the etch lines so that they lie along natural lines. (the patient’s skin is marked with them sitting down and slightly bending over)

The one downside to the procedure is what may happen long-term. If the patient gains weight, fat will unnaturally bulge between the etched lines creating an unusual appearance. The procedure is not reversible or easily correctable by fat injections, so the patient must accept long-term responsibility for maintaining their physical condition and now allowing much abdominal weight gain.

Dr Barry Eppley
www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis