5 Facts You Should Know About Lower Stomach Liposuction

If you are not satisfied with your appearance because of fat deposits around your stomach that are stubborn to diet and exercise, you are not alone.

In today's world, achieving the body you desire is easier than ever, thanks to advancements in medical technology. One such procedure that has gained popularity is stomach liposuction. If you're considering this treatment, you have come to the right place.

Many people have undergone liposuction to deal with pesky lower stomach fat, often called an apron belly. No matter what we do, sometimes stubborn fat remains even after losing weight and gaining muscle.

Whether you want to target the love handles alone or the full belly 360 degrees around, here are five things you should know about abdominal liposuction treatments.

1. What Is Lower Stomach Liposuction?

Lower stomach liposuction, or abdominal liposuction, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to remove excess fat from the body. This technique is an effective way to contour your abdominal area, giving you a sleek and toned appearance.

When done by a skilled plastic surgeon, belly lipo can target specific areas where fat tends to form, sculpting a smooth and toned look. It is essential to consult with a qualified medical professional to assess your fitness for this procedure and discuss your goals.

2. What Can't Lower Stomach Liposuction Do?

• Help With Weight Loss: Liposuction on the stomach can remove fat, yet it should not be confused with a weight-loss treatment. It only removes pockets of fat in particular areas, not the overall body.

• Fix Loose Skin: Liposuction cannot fix a bulging stomach due to weak abdominal muscles, and it will not improve loose skin. Older patients and those with skin laxity concerns may want to pair fat removal with an added skin-tightening treatment.

• Alter Natural Fat Distribution: Stomach lipo can help refine and remove small pockets of fat but will not reverse the aging process, which affects the distribution of fat in your body. The older you are, the more likely fat within the middle part of your body will begin to build up. For women, childbirth can also form a roll of belly fat resistant to a healthy lifestyle.

• Target Visceral Fat: The fat often most resistant to diet and exercise is subcutaneous fat, which lies just beneath the skin and can be pinched. That is the fat that stomach liposuction can target. Visceral fat, by contrast, is found deep within the belly and cannot be removed with liposuction.

3. How Is Lower Stomach Liposuction Performed?

Lower stomach liposuction is regularly done with the tumescent method. Tumescent liposuction involves injecting a saline solution into the fat layer under the skin.

First, the skin is numbed, and small incisions are made on lower abdomen areas. Then, the solution is applied to the stomach through these incisions, causing fat cells to swell and become more easy to extract. Blood vessels also temporarily shrink, reducing blood loss and bruising. The fat is then suctioned out with a thin tube called a cannula.

Can Just the Lower Stomach Be Targeted?

As renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. Aaron Rollins details above, stomach liposuction does not address the upper or lower part of the abdomen alone. Doing just the lower or upper belly alone will result in a ridge or a step-off.

Proper abdominal fat removal should target the entire front of the stomach as a single cosmetic unit.

How Long Does a Procedure Take, and What Anesthesia Is Used?

The average liposuction procedure takes about 90 to 120 minutes to complete. While some practices still use general anesthesia, newer methods like AirSculpt allow patients to stay fully awake during their fat removal treatment.

After the procedure, you may experience some swelling and bruising, but this will subside over time.

Downtime should last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks. The full lipo recovery timeline can span from two to six months.

4. How Long Do Results Last?

Once we hit a certain age, the body stops producing new fat cells. Therefore, because the treatment removes fat cells directly, liposuction results are considered permanent in treated areas. That said, if a patient gains weight, the remaining cells can still expand, and untreated areas can enlarge, highlighting the importance of maintaining a stable weight with a proper diet and a balanced mix of exercise. 

On the other hand, nonsurgical treatments do not remove fat cells but rather shrink them, meaning they can grow back quickly if you gain weight.

5. Is Lower Stomach Liposuction Best?

Although it used to be the gold standard, traditional and laser-assisted liposuction is now considered outdated. Newer, modern fat removal approaches offer better results with fewer downsides.

One of these prominent procedures is Stomach AirSculpt®, a minimally invasive liposuction process that doesn't use a scalpel, needle, stitches, or general anesthesia. 

The procedure sculpts the stomach with unmatched finesse to deliver dramatic results. The nature of AirSculpt® technology allows for some of the most precise outcomes on the market.

Lower Stomach liposuction with AirSculpt® is done in the following steps:

1. The surgeon uses an AirPen to numb the lower stomach. This needleless device uses pressurized air to administer a topical anesthetic.

2. A biopsy punch is applied to the treated area, seamlessly creating a two-millimeter opening that heals naturally.

3. The fat is prepared for extraction with a tumescent solution.

4. The AirSculpt® cannula is then used to extract the excess fat and smooth body contour irregularities in the area while simultaneously tightening the skin.

5. The cannula is removed, and the two-millimeter openings are naturally left to heal with no stitches needed, leaving an unnoticeable scar only the size of a freckle.

With AirSculpt, downtime is just 24 to 48 hours, with most returning to work the following day. All procedures are done under local anesthesia, and complimentary compression garments are provided to all patients.

If you want to look and feel your best in the Scottsdale area, head to AirSculpt®'s Phoenix office for your first consultation, or find the body sculpting center nearest you to get started today.