How do I know I have the type of abdomen fat that can be removed with lipo (or even the noninvasive "lipo"s)?

Question

I am an average weight except I gain anything extra in my stomach. I have read liposuction cannot be used for the internal organ fat (visceral). Is there a way to tell if the fat is visceral or external? thanks

Mathew C. Mosher, MD · Answer

Your question is very common and is best answered during a consultation with a Plastic Surgeon. Everyone has visceral and subcutaneous fat. The proportions and their distribution determine the best strategy for looking your best. Deciding if liposuction or non-invasive fat reduction options are good for you requires a consultation. Best regards,Dr. Mosher

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

A physical exam would be necessary to make this determination.  The good news is that it is rare for a person to have substantial visceral fat and very little subcutaneous fat amenable to liposuction.Find a board certified plastic    
surgeon who performs hundreds of liposuction and liposuction revision   
procedures each year.  Then look at the plastic surgeon's website before
 and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the    
results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Sutton Graham II, MD · Answer

You can usually tell how much subcutaneous fat you might have by 
grasping and rolling skin and fat together with two hands.  You may have
 to slump forward to keep the skin loose enough.  If you are able to 
grab these layers, and especially if you can slide the whole thing up 
and down, you're holding external fat.  The fullness that 
doesn't move, that is deeper than the layers you are holding, is the 
abdominal wall.  (Clench your abs to be sure.)  This group of muscles 
contains the internal or visceral fat.  If most of your fat is external,
 rather than internal, you can have it removed by surgery or nonsurgical
 methods.  Surgery could include liposuction and or abdominoplasty.  
CoolSculpting is our preferred nonsurgical method.You are 
correct that plastic surgery cannot remove visceral fat.  A final 
consideration is abdominal wall looseness.  Some abdomens are relatively
 firm and won't change much with deep muscle tightening, while others 
improve dramatically with suture tightening during abdominolasty.  
"Sucking in your stomach" can give you some idea of the amount of change possible.  After
 you've made your own diagnosis, consult an experienced board certified 
plastic surgeon and seek his or her opinion and recommendations.

Jaime Campos Leon, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.To best help you, a physical examination or picture evaluation is best in order to determine which procedures and technique can be the best ones for your case. Dr. Campos

John D. Smoot, MD · Answer

Your question is good but liposuction will not remove visceral fat.  This requires exercise and diet but remember that liposuction is a contouring procedure and not a weight loss technique.  I would recommend you see a plastic surgeon who can guide you through this process so you can get the best result an correct information.

How do I know I have the type of abdomen fat that can be removed with lipo (or even the noninvasive "lipo"s)?

Answers (10)

Answer: Liposuction

Answer: Liposuction

Answer: Abdominal fat

Answer: Abdominal fat

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

How do I know I have the type of abdomen fat that can be removed with lipo (or even the noninvasive "lipo"s)?

Answers (10)

Answer: Liposuction

Answer: Liposuction

Answer: Abdominal fat

Answer: Abdominal fat

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.