[Liposuction in the plastic surgery of the abdomen. Focus on technical aspects and indications]

The contribution of liposuction has transformed the plastic surgery of the abdomen, by allowing to broaden the indications and by improving a great deal the quality of the results. The most delicate question in this field and in a large number of the cases comes down to making a choice between an isolated abdominal liposuction and an abdominal liposuction associated to a cutaneous reduction plasty. Our experience during these last years has shown us that very good results in isolated abdominal liposuction could be achieved even in patients whom skin elasticity tests were fairly favourable. These results encourage us to broaden markedly the indications of isolated abdominal liposuction, even in intermediate or borderline cases: it is necessary though, to perfectly inform the patient with whom we have a true confidence agreement, even if it means in some cases a second surgical procedure: either a complementary liposuction or a secondary cutaneous reduction plasty.