Abdominal etching refers to the extreme removal of fat, such that the underlying muscle anatomy becomes visible. An artistic eye and sculpting abilities will limit the quality of results attained.  Muscles that are etched include the rectus muscles, external oblique muscles, and the serratus muscle.

You are a good candidate for abdominal etching if you want to have a "super hero" looking abdomen. Patients are assessed for amount of excess fat and degree of skin redundancy. Fat removal is performed with VASER technology which is the most intricate part of this surgery and requires detailed sculpting. Patients with minimal to moderate skin redundancy will require supplemental Renuvion skin tightening procedure. Patients with moderate to severe skin redundancy may require a synchronous mini tummy tuck and/or reverse tummy tuck procedure.

There are numerous items that you need to plan for when considering abdominal etching surgery. First, you need to start building your abdominal muscles: these include the rectus, the serratus, and external oblique muscles. This can be done with performing crunches, sit ups, and abdominal rotational resistance exercises. Remember that you are desiring a six pack, so the stronger you abdominal muscles the more they will shine following comprehensive removal of fat.

Immediately following your abdominal etching surgery you will realize a "six" pack if you are a man or "four" pack if you are a woman. You will observe this spectacular transformation as early as one day following your surgery when you are unveiled at our center to have your first lymphatic message. Starting at one week and until 1 month following surgery you may notice some loss of definition especially as you start to take your compression garment off. However, at 2 to 3 months following surgery, you will appreciate your etched out abdomen in its full glory !

Your abdominal etching surgery will be performed at out surgical facility.

Abdominal etching patients have range of recovery spanning from 1 week to 3 weeks depending on the extent of fat removed and degree of skin redundancy. For patients requiring minimal to moderate fat removal and who have excellent skin texture, 1 week of recovery if typical. If patients have moderate to severe fat or if they require skin tightening with a mini excision, then a 2 to 3 week recovery may be required. Patient recovery periods discussed above include date of return to work and full physical activity.