How abdominal liposuction is conducted:

During abdominal liposuction, the surgeon typically makes a tiny incision in the navel or just below the bikini line under anesthesia, and inserts a cannula into the fatty area, sucking out unwanted fat while leaving the skin, muscles, nerves, and blood vessels intact.

Among the methods commonly used are the “super-wet” technique (in which a saline solution containing a local anesthetic and adrenaline is first injected into the area), the “tumescent” technique (which uses even larger amounts of liquid solution–and has similar benefits), and Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction (UAL), which uses sound waves to liquefy the fat.

When the procedure is complete, the doctor will suture the area almost invisibly in the navel or on the bikini line. This procedure can take as little as 45 minutes or as long as 4 to 5 hours depending on the size and weight of the patient.

Problems typically corrected with abdominal liposuction:

The accumulation of fat in the abdomen can be the result of poor diet or sedentary lifestyle, but is often simply a fact of heredity.  Thus, fat accumulated in the abdomen is especially resistant to diet and exercise, discouraging many dieters who have lost unwanted pounds but do not see a flatter stomach.  Liposuction can successfully trim excess fat from the midsection for a flatter stomach and produce a more slender, overall proportional shape.

Cost of Abdominal Liposuction
Abdomen, upper and lower$3,000 – $7,500
Abdomen, lower$2,000 – $2,500

Relative popularity:

Liposuction of the abdomen is currently among the most common of all cosmetic procedures performed in the US.