Had abdominal etching a year ago, it doesn’t look terrible but I think my abs look too fake. Is there a way to fix this?

Question

My abdominal etching looks too fake. I get post lipo massages at least once a week. Can I reverse the abdominal etching? Or how can the lines get smoothed?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding what to do about your abdominal etching.  If you are dissatisfied with your VASER HI-DEF abdominal etching, you should consider a revision. In your case, I suggest this be done by a VASER HI-DEF revision expert. VASER HI-DEF revisions are not an easy procedure to perform. First, there is scar tissue involved.  Second, further sculpting in certain areas may in fact, make it worse, not better. However,  in experienced hands, I would suggest further liposuction to emphasize your abdominal muscles. This means liposuction needs to be performed on your abdomen to reduce the definition of the lines. It is extremely important that they make your wishes know to your chosen plastic surgeon BEFORE the surgery. Miscommunication can lead to poor results. . 
VASER hi DEF abdominal sculpting or etching is a technically difficult procedure.  Your plastic surgeon must know his abdominal wall anatomy. When seeking initial or revision VASER HI-DEF abdominal etching, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing the VASER HI-DEF procedure.  Not all plastic surgeons own a VASER machine and most plastic surgeons do not perform the VASER HI-DEF procedure. Do your research.  Make sure your selected plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 VASER HI-DEF abdominal etching surgeries and have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   If you cannot find an experienced, VASER HI-DEF plastic surgeon in your neighborhood, consider traveling, if you must. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame).

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photo! I do not think your results look fake, I think you PS did a good job! But if you would like to soften up your result through a revision, I suggest you seek a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your options.  Best of luck!Dhaval Patel
Double Board Certified 
Plastic Surgeon
Hoffman Estates
Oakbrook
Orland Park
Chicago

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question, pending a formal evaluation, you may be a good candidate for a Revision Liposuction. You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best. 
The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heats the skin with radiofrequency devices such as Renuvion (J-Plasma), InMode BodyTite, and ThermiRF to heat the undersurface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HI-DEF VASER Liposuction and can only be done by a well-trained body contouring specialist. At the same time, fat should be harvested and purified, with PRP and stem cells added, and then injected into muscles, indentations and cellulite to get body shaping and contouring. For a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), we inject the fat into the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face. Cellulite should also be treated with a combination of Cellfina, subcision, and/or fillers such as Bellafill, Renuva synthetic fat, or Sculptra. If skin is very loose before surgery, then it will need to be removed: tummy tuck/abdominoplasty for lower abdominal skin; breast lift for excess breast skin; and/or a brachioplasty for loose arm skin. Overall, you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

Luis A. Mejia, MD · Answer

hello thank you for your question and provided information as well. based in your question and the picture you showed the abdominal etching  it look good but can take off with a vase liposuction in your belly.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction sculpting can fix the fake abdominal etching which almost always looks weird and not natural.  Make sure you see a lipo doc who has an aesthetic eye for detail.

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

Sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your 6-pack.   It is something that i am seeing more and more as abdominal etching gets more popular.   Just like with anything new that is under demand, there are lots of docs that offer to do it for you, some of which are not Plastic Surgeons.   I have been doing Abdominal Etching for about 18 years now.   I think your six pack or, as many women have 4-pack can easily be enhanced or if you want... Reversed.

Carlos Lopez Collado, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for your question and provided picture. Your procedure results looks good, if you want to improve your look, with vaser hi-def liposuction, this can be done.

Olivier Deigni, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question and your picture.
Depending on your aesthetic goal you can likely undergo further liposuction with some fat grafting to help smooth out the etching. A physical examination would be required to give you a more specific answer.
Good luck!
Olivier A. Deigni, MD, MPH
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

In order to smoothen you out you must consider a VASER abdominal etching reivision. By taking down you fat globally, it will make your contour look more natural. One of the problems with your liposuction is that your semilunaris line was contoured asymmetrically making your left side muscles narrower than than your right side !The definitive correction for liposuction deformities requires the advanced technology of ultrasound assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I encounter suboptimal liposuction outcome referrals weekly. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently corrected liposuction caused deformities. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of severity of contour irregularities by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. Finally, when skin redundancy irregularities are observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or Facetime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.
Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

Diego Franco, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hola dpd2017!
This is a procedure we perform a lot here in Colombia and one of the biggest factors to obtain optimal results is to ensure that the etching is not extremely deep to avoid the "Fake Abs" look.
When we see this the options available are:
1. Liposculpture to bring down the amount of fat that was left behind from the previous etching.
2. Losing weight helps with diminishing the appear of deep etching although this could be difficult for some patients.
In either case make sure you are consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon!

Dr. Diego FrancoColombian Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Had abdominal etching a year ago, it doesn’t look terrible but I think my abs look too fake. Is there a way to fix this?

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