32, female. Best options to reduce fat bulge on rib flare area? (Photos)

If there are true fat pockets and it’s not just from the rib flaring itself, then liposuction is the most effective treatment for stubborn fat pockets. Things like cool sculpting and other minimally invasive techniques are not effective and oftentimes leads to a rebound overgrowth of fat via a process called paroxysmal adipocyte hyperplasia.

Thank you for your inquiry! By your photos, it looks like you would be a great candidate for Liposuction to get rid of stubborn fat or fullness to your upper abdomen. I recommend scheduling a consult appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself so we can create a surgical plan that is best for you and your goals!

Liposuction with Quantum/Morpheus would make a big improvement and is easy to undergo under local with a little iv sedation for complete comfort.

I encourage you to begin by visiting with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for an evaluation. If the contour that concerns you is created by excess subcutaneous fat then liposuction of the area should help to improve the silhouette. I've included a video that I hope you find helpful.

Hello dear. To treat stubborn pockets of fat around the ribs, liposuction is generally the most effective procedure. This surgical technique allows for selective sculpting and reduction of localized fat that doesn't respond to diet or exercise. In your case, since this area has been persistent despite weight changes, traditional liposuction or Vaser can offer long-lasting and natural results, especially for people with fair skin tone like you. You can contact us at 829-554-6062 for a quote.

The fullness, some women have just below the IMF (infra mammary fold). is often poorly understood and can be difficult to explain.
It’s typically not a variation in the thickness of subcutaneous fat.
It stems from certain connective tissue fibers that connect the scanner to the underlying muscle fascia.
We have these in different places of the body and in some areas there’s more connective tissue securing the skin to the underlying muscle structure then others prepare.
There is a row of connective tissue, securing the skin to the torso that goes from the midline back all the way. Most of the time this is seen as the back bra roll on women as they age and loose skin elasticity. That same fold that forms on the back of middle-aged women can also continue and show on the front between the IMF and the bottom of the rib cage.
Because it’s actually a skinfold even if it doesn’t look like a fold it doesn’t respond all that well to Liposuction.
I’m also not a fan of spot treating the torso with liposuction because it develops an unnatural fat distribution that doesn’t look normal.
The best treatment for this happens during a full tummy tuck if the dissection between the muscle fascia and subcutaneous fat is carried high enough to release the connective tissue fibers.
I’m absolutely not saying you need a tummy tuck.
All I’m saying is when a tummy tuck is done and the dissection is continued up to the IMF. this “fullness on the lower chest” is corrected.
There is no simple treatment that’s effective.
It may be tempting to try Liposuction, especially for those who have limited experience with the procedure.
Partially treating the abdomen with liposuction, it will almost always lead to an unnatural appearance.
The fullness in this area simply happens on some anatomic variance or individual people usually women.
It’s poorly understood even by me and difficult to correct with the exception of a well done tummy tuck in my opinion.
I’m sure you’ll find different plastic surgeons with very different explanations and different approaches to correct this including approaches with far more enthusiasm than I am portraying.
My best recommendation based on limited information and without an examination is probably to do nothing.
You definitely should rely on in person consultations, and you should insist that providers who recommend surgery show you lots of before and after pictures of previous patients with the same body characteristics with good outcomes.
I would not schedule surgery for this until you have a provider who can clearly explain what the fullness represents, show you evidence of it being treated successfully on multiple before and after cases.
They can’t show you pictures. Don’t schedule surgery.
I suppose I’m getting a bit conservative with old age.
I’ve seen too many people be left disfigured from poorly done Liposuction to not heed a warning.
As I said, expect plastic surgeons to have different opinions, and most likely be far more enthusiastic about operating on you.
Be careful.
Mats Hagstrom MD