How Are Abdominal Implants Done?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am inquiring about abdominal implants to create a 6 or 8 pack look to the abdomen. I think they called are ‘blocks’ and up to 8 implants would be needed. Can you tell me anything about this procedure?

A: In the fast track way to six-pack abs, abdominal implants are different than abdominal etching by linear liposuction. While linear liposuction looks to make the six-pack look by accentuating the muscular inscriptions through fat reduction under the skin along their lines, implants do exactly the opposite. They are placed between the inscriptions under the fascia like a muscle implant to accentuate the bulging between the inscriptions. Thus they are like ‘blocks’ so to speak. Other body implants, like buttock or pectoral implants, are carved down to make the soft supple implant shapes that go between the inscriptions under the abdominal fascia. There are not true abdominal implants, just other body implants that are modified. But shaping the implants is not real the hardest part, it is the placement of them that is the challenge. If one was having an open tummy tuck, then their placement would be easy and this is why it is frequently recommended to do them at that time. But the vast majority of patients that want six-pack abs don’t need a tummy tuck. Thus they must be placed through a belly button incision and with this limited access it can be a 2 to 3 hour surgery to do so.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana