Names of the Abdominal Subregions
Abdominal liposuction is the most popular and most frequently performed type of liposuction. However, the abdomen itself can be further divided into several subregions.
1.Supracostal abdominal fat pads. 2.Epigastric fat pads. 3.Lower abdominal fat pads. 4.Inguinal fat pads.
First, the lower abdomen. In this area the fat is arranged in two layers. Within the fat tissue there is a structure called the superficial fascial system, and the part of it in the lower abdomen has its own name: Scarpa's fascia. This membranous tissue divides the fat into a superficial layer and a deep layer.
In adulthood the deep fat layer thickens, and this is what makes the lower belly protrude. So in lower abdominal liposuction, the deep fat must be removed thoroughly to make it less likely that fat will build up there again later. Fortunately, even a loose, wrinkled lower belly tends to contract well after surgery, so this area generally responds well to liposuction.
Second, the upper abdomen. The upper abdomen has a single layer of fat, and around the waist, fibrous tissue is tightly adhered to the skin, which can make the upper abdomen difficult to access.
Because there is also a lot of fibrous tissue, bleeding can occur, and since the skin contracts less after surgery, the area may still look bulging. If the fat is not removed sufficiently, a revision may be needed.
Third, the flanks. The bulging part of the flank is sometimes called the "love handle." The flank consists of fat tissue lying over the external oblique muscle and is usually a single layer. However, the area behind the flank, namely the hip, and the part of the back near the spine, sometimes called the "lumbar back," are divided into two layers. Excess calories are converted into fat and stored in the deep layer there; this fat does not come off easily with exercise and increases with age, which is why it is called "middle-age spread." Thorough, meticulous suction is needed here, and post-operative results are generally favorable.
Fourth, the fat layer over the ribs. When you lie down, fat accumulated here moves up over the ribs and sits in the chest area, but when you stand, gravity pulls it downward so that it sags and folds, ending up on the abdomen rather than the chest. Therefore, if liposuction of this rib and chest area is neglected, the results of abdominal liposuction will also be less satisfactory. The deep part of this area contains a lot of fibrous tissue, and muscles wrap around and lie over the ribs, so there is a risk of mistaking them for fat tissue and causing muscle damage and bleeding.
Fifth, the areas above and below the waist, and the back. This is where the bra line runs; when you stand, the fat accumulated here sags down toward the waistline, and in severe cases it can create folds at the waist. So it is only by including this area in abdominal liposuction that a fuller waistline, that is, an S-line, can be created.
For abdominal liposuction, Venus Clinic mainly recommends and performs thoraco-abdominal liposuction. The reason is that by including the fourth area, the chest region above the ribs, and the fifth area, the back along the bra line, we can also remove the chest-region fat that has sagged down onto the abdomen from under the breasts and from the back of the chest, allowing for a more thorough abdominal liposuction. It becomes an "S-line" abdominal procedure.
Thus it can offer a good solution for people who find diet or exercise difficult because of severe obesity, people suffering from the yo-yo effect who need large-volume liposuction, and people who want an S-line with a slimmer waist through body contouring.
The photos below are before-and-after photos of thoraco-abdominal liposuction for a married woman in her 30s who had visceral obesity because she often enjoyed drinking with her husband.
In fact, when there is abdominal bulging, men often have severe visceral obesity, so their liposuction results are less satisfactory, whereas women often have a thickened deep layer within the subcutaneous fat, so they can see good results from liposuction.
In the liposuction case below, although the patient is a woman, she had a lot of visceral fat, so some abdominal bulging remained even after surgery. She will need to diet and cut down on drinking going forward.
< Venus Clinic thoraco-abdominal liposuction before-and-after photos >
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