Dr. Mentz originated and developed this specialized technique in 1993 and has led the nation in performing these cases receiving national and international recognition for his efforts. He has made 7 regional, national and international presentations and publication reviewing these new techniques.
Abdominal etching, more commonly referred to as the rippled or washboard look, is a liposuction procedure designed to give patients a new abdomen and waist contour. Men find this procedure especially helpful in defining the subtle abdominal muscles producing the six-pack muscle ripples so popular today.
The procedure involves liposculpture which creates subtle ripples in the abdominal area allowing the underlying abdominal muscles to show greater detail. Fat is selectively removed through a small hollow tube inserted through one or more tiny incisions.
For most men the midline linea alba is etched along with the outline of the rectus muscle after generalized thinning is completed. For body builders, the transverse inscriptions or horizontal lines are etched in. This is called Full Abdominal Etching. Modified Abdominal Etching leaves out the transverse inscriptions or horizontal grooves and is a better strategy for non body builders.
Most incisions are hidden in the natural body creases of the body leaving very small scars. For those patients who exercise on a regular basis or with excellent skin tone, a better defined washboard stomach can be obtained in just hours.
This procedure is not a substitute for weight loss and the best candidates are of relatively normal weight with isolated pockets of fat. Surgery usually takes one to two hours under general anesthesia and return to work is in about 3-5 days. Pain is moderate to minimal and you can work out in just 5-7 days.
Abdominal Etching Surgery FAQ
Are the incisions visible?
Most incisions are hidden in the natural body creases of the body leaving very small scars.
Dr. Henry Mentz
Dr. Mentz has dedicated the last 20 years of his career in medicine to the art and science of aesthetic plastic surgery. More about Dr. Mentz
Dr. Henry Mentz, MD, FACS, FICS ™ All Rights Reserved 2001-2010 - Dr. Mentz is a board certified cosmetic surgeon & licensed physician in the USA, Texas and his practice has clinics in the Houston region. Mentz is dedicated to excellence in plastic surgery including breast enlargement, liposuction, and facelifts along with other rejuvenation procedures. Plastic surgery before and after photos, learning more about a board certified plastic surgeon, and understanding cosmetic procedures including: body lift, laser skin resurfacing, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, abdominal etching ™ , restylane ™, botox ™ , breast augmentation, & breast implants are discussed in this website. Content which is not pre-copyrighted or owned by any 3rd party belongs to Dr. Mentz. All marks, content, intellectual property, common law copyrights, & trademarks are reserved and protected by federal, state, and international laws including Laws & Treaties, GATT and WIPO. Abdominal Etching ™ or Ab Etching ™ are registered service or trademarks for Mentz. Express permission shall be requested from Dr. Mentz before using any content, writings, trademarks, service marks, designations, logos, marks, plastic surgery research , or cosmetic surgeon's before and after images from this site. Personal and non-commercial Review and Use by patients is permitted. (All) Viewers of this site agree to these simple terms and should read and adhere to all other disclaimers and terms.
