Is Ab Etching Worth It? Plastic Surgeons Weigh In

An increasingly popular option for men looking for ways to achieve a toned and sculpted body, ab etching is gaining steam. But not all experts endorse this solution for their patients, citing the major impact even minor weight changes can have on the results.

Featured Experts

• Amy Sprole, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, KS
• Raman C. Mahabir, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Tucson, AZ
• Norman Rowe, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York
• Ava Shamban, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills
• Charles Galanis, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills

What Is Ab Etching?

“This is a procedure wherein liposuction is selectively performed in areas of the abdomen to simulate the lines that are ‘etched‘ into the abdominal wall when a patient is very lean and has well-defined, strong abdominal muscles,” explains Wichita, KS plastic surgeon Amy Sprole, MD.

Also called ‘liposculpture,’ ab etching involves both removing and shaping fat to create the illusion of a six-pack. We know that traditional liposuction in the abdominals is an immensely popular option for treatment, and it can reveal your natural abdominal muscles, says Tucson, AZ plastic surgeon Raman C. Mahabir, MD. “Whether you have a six-pack, a four-pack or an eight-pack is dependent on genetics,” he says. “So this technique sculpts some of that abdominal fat to create that look.”

Who Should Actually Get Ab Etching?

While undergoing a six-pack via liposculpture might sound like an easy way to a dream body, it’s not necessarily for everyone. In fact, good candidates are men who already have very active lifestyles.

“I think liposculpturing and liposuction in general appeal to any man who wants to get the body and the look of their dreams,” says New York plastic surgeon Norman Rowe, MD. “A great candidate is someone who works out and is at their goal weight, but just cannot create that six-pack at the gym alone.”

So, if you’re a gym rat that just can’t shed those last ounces, ab etching can be a functional way to achieve the look you’re going for. But consistency is key.

Some experts, like Dr. Sprole, note that investment isn’t worth the reward for patients over time, given how weight fluctuations can impact results. “This is not a procedure that I offer,” she says. “Weight fluctuations over time can certainly change the appearance of the etched lines.”

Even small amounts of weight gained or lost can cause changes to the look of the abdominals. Weight gain may completely cover the sculpting, and weight loss may create a double-ab effect. With liposculpting of the abs, you could lose weight, says Dr. Mahabir, and then you would see those sculpted abs lying on top of your natural abs.

Alternatives to Ab Etching

The good news is, liposculpture isn’t the only option for refining your abdomen. Muscle toning treatments, like Emsculpt and CoolTone, offer a targeted approach to areas that are resistant to exercise.

“I think muscle toning treatments are an essential part of a comprehensive regenerative approach to facial and body rejuvenation,” says Beverly Hills dermatologist Ava Shamban, MD.

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Charles Galanis, MD notes that these treatments are most beneficial to those already engaging in regular physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. “While the devices can supplement physical activity, there is no treatment or device that supersedes all of the benefits of real muscle-building activities,” he says. “That said, the benefits to muscle toning treatments are real and the undertaking is viable for the patient population, and they can be done on their own or to support and perhaps even improve a surgical outcome like a mommy makeover, high def liposuction or a tissue tightening procedure.”