Six-pack Abdominal 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
Indianapolis, Indiana