Introduction

Abdominal marking or lip marking is a procedure that uses surgery and is part of liposculpture. It is used to define the muscles of the abdomen. In the case of having a slight excess of fat in the abdomen, this can be a good technique. It is an operation with anesthesia and has a recovery of approximately one month. The aim is to obtain a toned appearance in the abdominal part.

What is abdominal marking?

It is a surgical technique that is usually part of liposculpture. It consists of a series of special sequences that allow patients who wish to highlight and define the abdominal muscles. The abdomen is the most common area, but these techniques can also be used in other parts of the body. The lipomarketing seeks that the skin adheres to the abdominal wall, which allows visualizing the muscular structure of the area to which the treatment has been applied. The main objective of this surgery is to achieve an athletic and toned appearance, as it highlights the straight and oblique abs.

While it is true that this operation can be performed on both men and women who meet the requirements, the general approach for male and female patients is usually different.

While in men the main idea is to mark the so-called “tablet”, that is the structure of the abdominal muscles, thus achieving a muscular appearance, in women, it is generally tried to avoid excessively muscular aspects, since femininity is lost in the body, and there is a tendency to perform more subtle abdominal markings in which only the midline and lateral lines are marked, without highlighting the structure of the abdominals.

Who is a candidate for surgery?

An abdominal marking, like a tummy tuck, is not a treatment against obesity in and of itself but is a resource for those people who already have a minimally stylized figure but who have an accumulation of fat in a specific area. The lip marking is intended to polish and contour the body, offering a toned and athletic image. For that reason, it is appropriate for those areas where it is particularly difficult to eliminate fat through diet and exercise.

Candidate patients are those with very light excess fat in the abdominal area. The elasticity of the skin is also important since, once the fat is removed, it must adhere to the new body shape. An excessive amount of skin, loose skin, or stretch marks can pose insurmountable obstacles.

Likewise, abdominal marking surgery is a procedure not suitable for :

Pregnant or lactating women.
People with autoimmune, metabolic, systemic, respiratory, or cardiovascular diseases or conditions

How to choose my surgeon?

The choice of the surgeon is very important to face the entire procedure with confidence and tranquility, and this search should be done without haste since the important thing is to achieve a successful intervention and optimal results.

It is a good idea to search for website specialists, this guarantees that the professional has the Title of Specialist in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery in Spain.

This network is a good platform where you can search for professionals from various specialties, and that of experts in abdominal fat removal procedures is no exception, since you can often also find patient opinions and graphic documents showing the results, both can be excellent references of the professional quality of the surgeon.

As we have said before, it is advisable not to be in a hurry in the search for a specialist, so it may be advisable to contact several surgeons, attend a good number of consultations, obtain different points of view, learn about the different solutions and possibilities, and also find the specialist who will enable you to face the procedure safely and with confidence.

How is the first consultation?

The first consultation has an exploratory nature for the surgeon, as it examines the patient’s health, the tone, and quality of the skin in the area to be treated, and also the amount and extent of the accumulation of adipose tissue. It is also important to specify possible contraindications or habits that may be a problem, such as the use of any medication or if you are a regular smoker.

With all the information in hand, the specialist will analyze and explain the possible options for each case and the possible complications as a result of the procedure.

The surgeon will also inform in this first consultation about the type of anesthesia that will be used, which in most cases will be local and can be sedation in specific cases, about the need to enter the clinic for one night, and about the total price of the procedure. It is important to emphasize this issue since it is convenient to be clear about the total amount and what that price includes.

How to prepare for the abdominal marking procedure?

It is important to follow the recommendations of the specialist in the hours before the intervention, generally, these include the use of a germicidal soap throughout the body to prevent infections, not taking medications with salicylates, not smoking, following a specific diet that helps to do not retain fluids as the body processes them and hydrate the skin.

Before the operation, a visit with the anesthetist and a preoperative evaluation should have been carried out.

In the case of women, it is not ruled out having to stop taking oral contraceptives about a month before the intervention. Patients who are slightly overweight for the operation may need to lose it to enhance the results of the abdominal marking procedure.

How is abdominal marking done?

As indicated, it is important to determine the location of abdominal fat. If it is superficial and just under the skin, it can be removed with surgical procedures, if it is deep and within the abdominal cavity, it can only be reduced through diet and exercise.

Abdominal marking can be performed like conventional liposuction, although it has the disadvantage of the possible rupture of blood vessels when inserting the cannula that sucks the fat.

Likewise, other less invasive methods allow performing lip marking with generally better results, such as laser or ultrasound treatments, which are more effective in small areas and at the same time allow a faster and less painful recovery.

Lipomarking with ultrasound

The ultrasound treatments use a type of soft power that only affects adipose tissue, which eliminates the human body, but does not affect other tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, or muscles. This allows the skin to stick to the muscle and achieve great definition since the skin retracts better and does not cause sagging. Normally a saline solution is introduced in the area to be treated, subsequently, the ultrasound is activated, which separates the fatty tissues to facilitate their extraction. Even that fat can be repositioned in other areas of the body where volume is required.

Initially, a small incision is made to introduce the serum under anesthesia. Subsequently, the cannula that produces the ultrasound is introduced to emulsify the fat and facilitate the extraction and readaptation of the skin to the new contour of the body, later the surgeon introduces a cannula that allows it to break and absorb the fat. Subsequently, the incisions are closed, for which a suture point is usually required.

Advantages of abdominal marking

The fat in the treated area will be eliminated or greatly reduced, promoting a more toned appearance of the lines and abdominal muscles, which will acquire a firmer and more contoured appearance.

At the psychological level of the patient, self-esteem will increase considerably, since the appearance of his abdominal area will improve ostensibly and will eliminate possible complexes that he could have by not being able to get rid of fat concentrations in the abdominal area through diet or exercise.

How is the recovery of the abdominal marking?

The use of an abdominal pressotherapy girdle is recommended for about a month, which allows the skin to adapt to the new body contour and control the swelling of the abdomen.

The surgeon may prescribe anti-inflammatories and antibiotics to treat inflammation and prevent possible infections in the intervened areas. The stitches produced by the incisions will be removed one week after the intervention. Bruising may appear as a result of the procedure but will disappear in up to two weeks.

The return to sports activity and exercise will be progressive, starting with light exercises, such as walks, and increasing the intensity until high-intensity activities can be carried out with total normality one month after the intervention.

Results of abdominal marking

The results will begin to be felt in the final postoperative phase, between 20 and 30 days after the intervention, in which a well-defined body contour will begin to be appreciated and mark the muscular contours of the abdominal area.

The results of abdominal marking are long-lasting, even permanent if healthy lifestyle habits are maintained and there is some stability in the patient’s weight.

Complications or possible side effects

The risks of an abdominal marking are similar to those that we find in liposuction; possible infections, which are treated beforehand with antibiotics, or swelling of the affected area, also treated in advance by the specialist.

Among the side effects of lipomarketing are the appearance of bruises, hemorrhages, seromas, a tingling sensation in the affected area, and poor healing or necrosis.

Frequent Questions

What are the risks of abdominal marking and how is it done? Ideally, you can visit a doctor to examine yourself and thus indicate the most appropriate treatment for what you mean, but the risks of marked liposuction are the same as those of conventional liposuction, but it is really important to examine yourself to see If you are a candidate for this type of intervention, it cannot be done to everyone in cases of hernia, eventrations, etc.
Is there a way to get a six-pack? Abdominal marking surgery if done by an experienced professional gives excellent results, but always in patients who have the indication, you should also know that although the result of the surgery is excellent, prolonging these will depend on the patient himself since he must perform a good diet accompanied by exercise to prolong the result over time.
Can the laser be used to make the abdominal marking? The first thing you should do is lead appropriate lifestyle habits, that is, a correct diet and physical activity. Once you have been with these habits for a while and do not achieve the desired results, then you can do a liposculpture or a tummy tuck depending on the problems you have. It is best to consult a specialist in medicine and cosmetic surgery.
Is VASER Hi-Def Lipo effective for abdominal marking? Vaser® is the best treatment today. As long as it is done with expert hands and with a good selection of the patient.
How long does abdominal marking surgery take? Abdominal marking consists of reducing superficial fat with the idea of enhancing the underlying muscles. It does not consist of introducing any material, but on the contrary, making as a bas-relief. Each case must be assessed personally.