Liposuction of the abdomen. The basics

As one of the most frequent regions treated by liposuction in both men and women, the abdomen presents unique learning opportunities for the liposuction surgeon. Because of anatomic variation, the upper abdomen is more fibrous than the lower abdomen, requiring a slightly different approach to achieve optimal fat removal. The periumbilical area also provides unique challenges for the operator and care must be taken to avoid leaving a ring of residual fat. Potentially excellent skin retraction in the area, combined with relatively aggressive fat removal can lead to dramatic results including, in some cases, significant contraction of a long-standing panniculus. In this article, the basic techniques and potential pitfalls of abdominal liposuction are presented in detail.