Influence of Tranexamic Acid in Body Contouring Surgery: Significant Changes on Complication Rates after Abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Complications after abdominoplasty remain an unsolved issue in body contouring surgery. The antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) has gained increasing recognition as a valuable pharmacologic agent within plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of intravenously administered TXA on complications and patient safety after abdominoplasty. METHODS: Within this retrospective single-center study, patients who underwent abdominoplasty and received intravenous TXA were selected and compared to randomly selected patients who underwent abdominoplasty without administration of TXA. The patient population was divided into two study groups (TXA vs no TXA). Demographic and surgical data as well as complications were evaluated and compared. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-seven female and 3 male patients with a median age of 38 years and a mean BMI of 25.6 ± 3.3 kg/m2 were included in the study. Except smoking history, demographic data showed no statistically significant differences between both groups. The most common complication was seroma formation (n = 16; 23.9%), and its occurrence was statistically significantly lower in the TXA group (p = 0.023). Furthermore, postoperative seroma aspiration was performed in statistically significant lower numbers in the TXA group (p < 0.05). No thromboembolic events or seizures were observed. DISCUSSION: The outcomes of this study showed that the intravenous administration of TXA leads to a significant reduction of seroma formation and postoperative seroma aspiration after abdominoplasty. Simultaneously, no adverse thromboembolic events were detected. Hence we would recommend administration of TXA in body contouring surgery to decrease the incidence of seroma formation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Quantifying postoperative recovery using wearable activity monitors following abdominal wall surgery: The AbTech trial.

PURPOSE: This work aimed to investigate the validity of wearable activity monitors (WAMs) as an objective tool to measure the return toward normal functional mobility following abdominal wall surgery. This was achieved by quantifying and comparing pre- and postoperative physical activity (PA). METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study was designed. Patients undergoing abdominal wall surgery were assessed for eligibility and consent for study participation was obtained. Participants were asked to wear a WAM (AX3, Axivity) on the wrist of their dominant hand at least 48 hours pre-operatively, for up to 2 weeks postop, and again after 6 months postop for 48 hours. RESULTS: A cohort of 20 patients were recruited in this validation study with a mean age of 47.3 ± 13.0 years. Postoperation, the percentage median PA (±IQR) dropped to 32.6% (20.1), whereas on day 14, PA had reached 64.6% (22.7) of the preoperative value providing construct validity. Activity levels at >6 months postop increased by 16.4% on an average when compared to baseline preoperative PA (p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that WAMs are valid markers of postoperative recovery following abdominal wall surgery. This was achieved by quantifying the reduction in PA postoperation, which has not been previously shown. In addition, this study suggests that abdominal wall surgery may improve the patient's quality of life via increased functional mobility at 6 months postop. In the future, this technology could be used to identify the patient and surgical factors that are predictors of outcome following abdominal wall surgery.

Novel minimally invasive abdominoplasty for selected cases of prune belly syndrome: Step-by-step technique description and clinical indications.

BACKGROUND: Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is characterized by the triad of abdominal flaccidity, bilateral undescended testicles and genitourinary tract anomalies. A variable spectrum of abdominal wall laxity is observed in PBS. We present the first case of a novel technique using a minimally invasive abdominoplasty to specifically address patients with localized abdominal wall weakness in PBS. CASE PRESENTATION: A two-years-old child with PBS presented with recurrent febrile urinary tract infections. Ultrasonography demonstrated a dysplastic right kidney associated with significant ipsilateral ureterohydronephrosis. Voiding urethrocystogram did not show vesicoureteral reflux and DMSA scan depicted a non-functioning right kidney. During laparoscopic right nephroureterectomy and first stage Fowler-Stephens bilateral orchiopexies, a significant right-sided lateral abdominal wall bulging was observed. A minimally invasive laparoscopic abdominoplasty was performed with a one-way running suture using an unabsorbable 2.0 prolene approximating the edges of the musculofascial defect. While undergoing the second-stage Fowler-Stephens orchiopexy, no bulging was observed. CONCLUSION: A minimally invasive abdominoplasty to improve abdominal wall lateral bulging in PBS was feasible and presented good cosmetic result. We anticipate that this technique can be applied for children with PBS with primary lateral abdominal wall bulging, employing one or more suture lines depending on the fascial defect size.

The Preservation of Umbilical Blood Supply in Combined Ventral Hernia Repair and Abdominoplasty: A Narrative Review.

INTRODUCTION: Combined ventral hernia repair and abdominoplasty treat risk factors such as high body mass index and weak abdominal musculature, providing excellent intraoperative exposure and improved patient outcomes. Unfortunately, a combination of traditional procedures is unfeasible as the umbilical blood supply would be compromised, leading to increased umbilical necrosis risk. This narrative review aimed to identify new techniques and solidify evidence in preserving umbilical blood supply and associated level of evidence. METHODS: Two authors conducted a thorough literature search on PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane CENTRAL databases from January 1901 to July 2023, adhering to the methodologies of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Studies were reviewed for their surgical technique and quality of evidence. The primary outcomes of interest consisted of umbilical complications of this combined procedure. RESULTS: Six techniques were identified that included laparoscopic, pre-rectus, unilateral, distal bilateral, proximal bilateral, and inferior midline approaches. All techniques demonstrated as viable options in preserving umbilical blood supply as reported complications were few, minor, and compounded by risk factors. However, all included techniques were limited to low-to-moderate-quality evidence. CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of high-quality evidence, all techniques remain viable options for combined ventral hernia repair and abdominoplasty. Large-scale high-quality RCTs are required to compare the effectiveness of various approaches with additional outcomes of hernia recurrence rates, intraoperative time, and patient- and surgeon-reported satisfaction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Australian women's experiences of post-partum rectus diastasis: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Post-partum rectus diastasis, or the separation of the abdominal muscles after pregnancy, occurs in conjunction with physical symptoms and impaired quality of life. In Australia, health funding for surgery to treat diastasis was ceased in 2016, but reinstated in mid-2022, providing a unique context from which women's experiences of this condition can be analysed. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to examine the experiences of Australian women with post-partum rectus diastasis. DESIGN: This is an interview-style study with qualitative content analysis. METHODS: Women diagnosed with rectus diastasis were recruited to complete a baseline questionnaire (n = 45). Twenty-three responded to invitation for one-on-one interview via Zoom® between November 2021 and May 2022. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using qualitative content analysis to identify key themes. RESULTS: Eighteen women had undergone caesarean section and eight had twins. Thirteen had private health insurance. Women were most often diagnosed by a physiotherapist (n = 10). Key themes identified included changed physical appearance and function; issues with self-esteem and intimacy; barriers to treatment; lack of recognition as a medical condition; and overall frustration. The impact of rectus diastasis extended beyond physical and psychological symptoms to affect women's social functioning, child rearing, and return to work. There was a complex interaction between healthcare providers' knowledge of rectus the removal of funding for surgical treatment, and limitations of conservative therapy, with women's lived experiences and symptoms. The lack of an established medical definition also influenced the experiences of these women and their engagement with treatment. CONCLUSION: This study contextualizes women's experience of post-partum rectus diastasis with respect to the unique landscape of Australia's healthcare economy and provides evidence of women's absorption of health policy surrounding this condition. Our qualitative analysis provides critical knowledge for future quantitative studies, the results of which in combination could advance the definition of rectus diastasis and inform healthcare policy surrounding treatment.

Most Cited Articles in Body Contouring: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Past 45 Years.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to produce a bibliometric review of the 30 most cited articles related to 6 major domains of body contouring-abdominoplasty, thighplasty, brachioplasty, gluteoplasty, body lift, and liposuction-for resident and fellow education. Methods: The authors utilized the Web of Science Citation Index to identify the 30 most cited articles related to surgery for body contouring published from 1975 to 2020. Articles were classified according to their level of evidence, type of study, and country of publication. Results: A total of 336 articles were reviewed to compile our list. The mean number of citations across the articles was 114.7 ± SD 86.1. The highest prevalence of the papers was published between 2000 and 2009 (n = 15, 50%). The country with the highest number of contributions was the United States (n = 22, 73%). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery served as the main journal of publication for these papers (n = 22, 73.3%). The majority of articles were designated for clinical-type studies (n = 26, 86.7%). No basic science or prevalence study design papers were listed. In terms of level of evidence (LoE), most papers were assigned IV (n = 11, 36.7%) and III (n = 7, 23.3%). Conclusions: Our study reveals that the most cited papers in body contouring are of LoE III and IV. Although the LoE of plastic surgery research, in general, has improved, in the past decade, a call for higher quality papers remains. Overall, this analysis provides an easy, electronic starting point for residents and fellows interested in understanding the field's evolution.

Introduction : La présente étude vise à produire une analyse bibliométrique de 30 articles influents liés à six grands domaines du remodelage corporel (l'abdominoplastie, le redrapage des cuisses, la brachioplastie, la glutéoplastie, le redrapage du corps et la liposuccion) pour la formation des résidents et des étudiants en stage de perfectionnement postdoctoral. Méthodologie : Les auteurs ont utilisé l'index de citation de Web of Science pour extraire les 30 articles les plus cités sur les opérations de remodelage corporel publiés entre 1975 et 2020. Ils ont classé les articles d'après la qualité des preuves, le type d'étude et le pays de publication. Résultats : Au total, les auteurs ont analysé 336 articles pour compiler leur liste. Les articles contenaient un nombre moyen de 114,7± ÉT 86,1 citations. La plus forte prévalence d'articles a été publiée entre 2000 et 2009 (n = 15, 50 %). La majorité des articles provenaient des États-Unis d'Amérique (n = 22, 73 %), et c'est la revue Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery© qui en a publié le plus (n = 22, 73,3 %). La plupart des articles prenaient la forme d'études de type clinique (n = 26, 86,7 %). Aucun article de science fondamentale ni étude de prévalence n'a été répertorié. Pour ce qui est de la qualité des preuves, la plupart des articles ont obtenu un classement de IV (n = 11, 36,7 %) et de III (n = 7, 23,3 %). Conclusions : L'étude révèle que la qualité de preuve de la plupart des articles dans ce domaine était de III et IV. Même si la chirurgie plastique se prête moins bien aux études randomisées et contrôlées que la médecine, elle mérite des articles comportant une meilleure qualité de preuves. Grâce à la présente analyse, les résidents et les étudiants en stage de perfectionnement peuvent accéder rapidement et facilement à des concepts influents pour comprendre l'évolution du domaine par voie électronique. Termes MeSH : abdominoplastie, bibliométrie, chirurgie plastique, études transversales, liposuccion, remodelage corporel.

Exploring Complication Rates: A Comparative Study of Breast Reduction and Combined Breast Reduction with Abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Despite a trend towards combining abdominoplasty with breast reduction surgery, so called "mommy makeovers", the safety of this combined approach has been the subject of debate, with previous research yielding conflicting results. We evaluated the risk for complications and revision associated with adding abdominoplasty to bilateral breast reduction surgery. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year single-center retrospective chart review of bilateral breast reduction patients in Nova Scotia. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare the risk for complication and revision in patients with bilateral breast reduction to those with a concomitant abdominoplasty. RESULTS: Of the 1871 patients initially screened, 738 were included. 44 underwent a concomitant abdominoplasty procedure. Compared to the breast reduction alone group, patients with concomitant abdominoplasty were significantly older (47.5±9.9 vs. 42.8±13.2, p=0.004), had a higher BMI (28.1±4.4 vs. 25.8±3.1, p<0.001), and experienced longer operating room times (226±6 vs. 115±3 mins, p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, concomitant abdominoplasty did not increase the risk for breast-related (OR: 0.86 95%CI 0.43-1.7, p=0.668) or total complications (OR: 1.63, 95%CI 0.83-3.19, p=0.154). However, there was a trend towards an increased risk of breast revision (OR: 2.684, 95%CI 0.95-7.6, p=0.062) and a significantly increased risk of total revision (OR: 6.624, 95%CI 2.7-16.1, p<0.001). Moreover, patients with concomitant abdominoplasty experienced more follow-up visits (median: 4 vs. 3 visits, p=0.042). CONCLUSION: In our single-center retrospective analysis, combining abdominoplasty with bilateral breast reduction did not increase the risk for breast, or total complications; however, it did increase the risk for total revisions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Evaluación del efecto de la liposucción con o sin abdominoplastia sobre la resistencia a la insulina en pacientes normoglucémicas con sobrepeso: un estudio prospectivo de cohorte / The effect of liposuction versus liposuction with abdominoplasty on insulin resistance in normoglycemic non-obese females: A prospective cohort study

Introducción: Varios estudios han evaluado el efecto de la liposucción o de la abdominoplastia sobre la salud metabólica, incluyendo la resistencia a la insulina, con resultados mixtos. A varias pacientes con sobrepeso, sin obesidad marcada, se les recomienda el procedimiento de liposucción combinado con abdominoplastia, sin que exista publicada evidencia alguna sobre la efectividad de combinar ambos procedimientos en la salud metabólica. Métodos: El presente estudio prospectivo de cohorte evaluó el cambio en la resistencia a la insulina y otros parámetros metabólicos en dos grupos de mujeres hispanoamericanas normoglucémicas con sobrepeso. Las pacientes del primer grupo fueron sometidas a liposucción únicamente (LIPO), mientras que el segundo grupo fue sometido a liposucción con abdominoplastia (LIPO+ABDO). Resultados: Un total de 31 pacientes fueron evaluadas, incluyendo a 13 con LIPO y 18 con LIPO+ABDO; ambos grupos mostraron HOMA-IR prequirúrgicos similares (p>0,72). En las del grupo LIPO evaluadas 60días después del procedimiento, se observaron HOMA-IR similares a sus niveles prequirúrgicos (2.,98±0,4 vs. 2,70±0,3, p>0,20); las del grupo LIPO+ABDO, sin embargo, mostraron HOMA-IR significativamente reducidos en comparación de sus índices prequirúrgicos (2,37±0,2 vs. 1,73±0,1, p<0,001). También en este grupo, esta reducción se correlacionó positivamente con el valor prequirúrgico de HOMA-IR (p<0,001) y, de manera interesante, se observó una correlación negativa entre la edad de la paciente y el grado de disminución en el HOMA-IR tras la cirugía (Spearman r=−0,56, p<0,05). No se observaron cambios en los otros parámetros bioquímicos evaluados. Conclusiones: Los datos de este estudio sugieren que cuando es combinada con abdominoplastia, la liposucción mejora la resistencia a la insulina en pacientes hispanoamericanas. Se requieren de estudios adicionales para probar dicha posibilidad.(AU)

Introduction: Several studies have evaluated the effect of liposuction or abdominoplasty on metabolic health, including insulin resistance, with mixed results. Many overweight patients, with no marked obesity, are recommended to undergo liposuction combined with abdominoplasty, but no study has evaluated the effectiveness of combining the two procedures on metabolic health. Methods: The present prospective cohort study compares the metabolic parameters of two groups of normoglycemic Hispanic women without obesity. The first group underwent liposuction only (LIPO), while the second group had combined liposuction and abdominoplasty (LIPO+ABDO). Results: A total of 31 patients were evaluated, including 13 in the LIPO group and 18 in the LIPO+ABDO group. The two groups had similar HOMA-IR before surgery (P>.72). When tested 60days after surgery, women in the LIPO group had similar HOMA-IR compared to their preoperative levels (2.98±0.4 vs. 2.70±0.3; P>.20). However, the LIPO+ABDO group showed significantly reduced HOMA-IR values compared to their preoperative levels (2.37±0.2 vs. 1.73±0.1; P<.001). In this group, this decrease also positively correlated with their preoperative HOMA-IR (Spearman r=0.72; P<.001) and, interestingly, we observed a negative correlation between the age of the subjects and the drop in HOMA-IR after surgery (Spearman r=−0.56; P<.05). No changes were observed in the other biochemical parameters that were assessed. Conclusions: These data suggest that, when combined with abdominoplasty, liposuction does improve insulin resistance in healthy Hispanic females. More studies are warranted to address this possibility.(AU)

Perinatal outcomes following abdominoplasty: a retrospective study and review of current literature.

BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty surgery is a common body contouring surgery to remove excess fat and skin and restore weakened or separated abdominal muscles caused by aging, pregnancy, or weight fluctuations. There is limited literature regarding patient and pregnancy outcomes after abdominoplasty. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether there was a correlation between adverse pregnancy outcomes and history of abdominoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Our study used a large federated deidentified national health research network with data sourced from 68 healthcare organizations within the United States (TriNetX; data accessed on August 19, 2022). All patients with a record of pregnancy were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, codes and were grouped into those with a history of abdominoplasty and those without. This study evaluated the perinatal outcomes of fetal growth restriction, abnormal umbilical artery Dopplers, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, preterm premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes mellitus, macrosomia, stillbirth, abnormal placentation, and wound disruption or infection occurring during a patient's pregnancy after abdominoplasty. Propensity matching was performed to account for potential confounders. An alpha level of <.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 44,737 patients meeting our criteria, 304 had a history of abdominoplasty, whereas 44,433 did not (control). Our study found that patients with a history of abdominoplasty had significantly higher gravidity, were largely located in the Southern and Midwest region, and had higher counts of vaginal deliveries and cesarean deliveries than the control cohort (Table 1). After propensity score matching, our study found a lower risk of preeclampsia and preterm premature rupture of membranes in patients with abdominoplasty (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.67; P<.0001) (Table 2). Furthermore, abdominoplasty was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery (odds ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.48-3.13; P=.0002) (Table 2). Lastly, this study did not find significant differences in the other perinatal outcomes (Table 2). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that abdominoplasty may be associated with a relative increase in the rates of preterm delivery and cesarean delivery and that other perinatal outcomes are not increased. This provides evidence that future desire for pregnancy need not be a relative contraindication to abdominoplasty.

Systemic Tranexamic Acid for Reduced Postoperative Blood Loss and Less Bleeding Complications in Fleur-de-lis Abdominoplasty and Apronectomy.

BACKGROUND: Strategies minimizing surgical bleeding, including the antifibrinolytic agent tranexamic acid, play a crucial role in clinical practice to optimize overall surgical outcomes. Despite its proven efficacy in various clinical fields, there is a limited understanding regarding the use of tranexamic acid in plastic and aesthetic procedures. This study is the first investigating the effects of systemically administered tranexamic acid on postoperative blood loss and bleeding complications in fleur-de-lis abdominoplasties and apronectomies. METHODS: Patients who received 1 g tranexamic acid (n = 44) during fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty or apronectomy were retrospectively compared with those who did not (n = 44). In this context, the outcome parameters 24-h and total drain fluid production, drain time, hospital stay, absolute and relative drop in hemoglobin and hematocrit level as well as bleeding complications such as blood transfusion, hematoma puncture and evacuation were evaluated. RESULTS: Tranexamic acid significantly decreased both drainage volume in 24 h (40.5%, p = 0.0046) and total drain fluid production (42.5%, p = 0.0017). Moreover, a shorter drainage time (19.4%, p = 0.0028) and hospital stay (21.4%, p = 0.0009) were observed. The administration of tranexamic acid was also associated with a reduced postoperative decline in hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Notably, no bleeding complications were observed in patients who received tranexamic acid, while 6 events occurred in patients without (p = 0.0262). CONCLUSION: Systemic administration of tranexamic acid effectively reduced postoperative blood loss and bleeding complications in fleur-de-lis abdominoplasties and apronectomies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The financial toxicity of postbariatric body contouring surgery: a survey study of an urban tertiary care center's patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery achieve sustained weight loss but are often left with excess skin folds that cause functional and psychological deficits. To remove excess skin, patients can undergo postbariatric BCS; however, cost and lack of insurance coverage present a significant barrier for many patients. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to characterize the financial impact of treatment on all patients who received bariatric surgery and to compare between those receiving only bariatric surgery and those with postbariatric BCS. SETTING: Email-based survey study at an urban tertiary care center. METHODS: Surveys that included the COST-FACIT were sent to patients with a history of bariatric surgery and/or post-bariatric BCS. RESULTS: One hundred and five respondents completed the survey, of which 19 reported having postbariatric BCS. Patients with postbariatric BCS had slightly higher COST scores than those receiving bariatric surgery only, but this difference was not significant (15.6 versus 17.8, P = .23). Most patients (76%) did not have an awareness of BCS or BCS cost prior to bariatric surgery, and many (68%) had more loose skin than anticipated. CONCLUSIONS: Financial toxicity was similar across all postbariatric surgery patients surveyed regardless of history of BCS. However, survey respondents noted a gap between patient education and expectations around loose skin and body contouring that can be addressed through improved presurgical counseling.

Economic value of diastasis repair with the use of mesh compared to no intervention in Italy.

AIM: Rectus abdominal diastasis (RAD) can cause mainly incontinence and lower-back pain. Despite its high incidence, there is no consensus regarding surgical indication. We aimed at comparing RAD repair (minimally invasive technique with mesh implant) with no treatment (standard of care - SOC) through cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses from both National Healthcare Service (NHS) and societal perspectives in Italy. METHODS: A model was developed including social costs and productivity losses derived by the online administration of a socio-economic questionnaire, including the EuroQol for the assessment of quality of life. Costs for the NHS were based on reimbursement tariffs. RESULTS: Over a lifetime horizon, estimated costs were 64,115€ for SOC and 46,541€ for RAD repair in the societal perspective; QALYs were 19.55 and 25.75 for the two groups, respectively. Considering the NHS perspective, RAD repair showed an additional cost per patient of 5,104€ compared to SOC, leading to an ICUR of 824€. RAD repair may be either cost-saving or cost-effective compared to SOC depending on the perspective considered. Considering a current scenario of 100% SOC, an increased diffusion of RAD repair from 2 to 10% in the next 5 years would lead to an incremental cost of 184,147,624€ for the whole society (87% borne by the NHS) and to incremental 16,155 QALYs. CONCLUSION: In light of the lack of economic evaluations for minimally invasive RAD repair, the present study provides relevant clinical and economic evidence to help improving the decision-making process and allocating scarce resources between competing ends.

Reverse abdominoplasty as a salvage procedure for infected bilateral implant-based breast reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Infection is one of the most feared complications of implant-based breast reconstruction and is difficult to manage in irradiated patients. We present the first case of bilateral breast reconstruction with infected expanders salvaged by performing a reverse abdominoplasty. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 64-year-old woman with a history of locally advanced bilateral breast cancer underwent modified bilateral radical mastectomy and postmastectomy radiotherapy. We performed two-stage breast reconstruction with implants. However, the patient developed a mild infection of the expanders, which was treated with targeted oral antibiotic therapy. The response to treatment was favorable, allowing us to salvage the reconstruction with a reverse abdominoplasty. DISCUSSION: Traditionally, the management of infected breast prostheses has consisted of removal of the infected implant, a complication that forces a delay in the reconstructive process. Successful reports of salvage of infected prostheses have been described in the literature. On the other hand, we were able to salvage the reconstruction by performing a reverse abdominoplasty, which allowed us to resect the irradiated tissue and provide adequate non-irradiated soft tissue coverage for the replaced implants. CONCLUSION: Reverse abdominoplasty offers an acceptable aesthetic result with much less donor site morbidity and represents a valid alternative to other complex reconstruction techniques.

Meleney's gangrene managed with a single extensive debridement and resultant defect closure with abdominoplasty technique - a case report.

Introduction: Meleney's gangrene, or progressive bacterial synergistic gangrene, is a life-threatening subcutaneous tissue infection and skin necrosis of the abdomen that is persistent and quickly progressing and has documented cultural characteristics of a symbiotic organism. The nobility of this case lies in the use of the modern technique, abdominoplasty, used to close the wound post-radical debridement for Meleney's gangrene. This uncommon illness has a high fatality rate and requires immediate diagnosis, aggressive antibiotic treatment, and extensive debridement. Case presentation: We report the case of a 55-year-old female with no known comorbidities, who presented to our center with features of Meleney's gangrene and pleural effusion. Radical debridement was performed and empirical intravenous antibiotics were administered. The wound was closed using the abdominoplasty approach. Clinical discussion: Meleney's gangrene should be identified quickly and treated with wide-spectrum antibiotics and rigorous surgical debridement. It is difficult to diagnose the illness early, and skepticism is strong during this process. An increased risk of death may follow a postponed diagnosis of Meleney's gangrene. A long-term hospital stay can result from extensive debridement. Furthermore, skin transplants may be required to close wounds in certain instances. Conclusion: This case is presented to show how early intervention and radical debridement can improve the outcome in cases of Meleney's gangrene, which is rare and clinically significant. Additionally, this suggests that a cosmetic procedure known as abdominoplasty could be a viable option for wound closure.

An Unexpected Turn: Management of a Life-Threatening Infection Following Liposuction Procedure.

This case report presents a rare case of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) following liposuction and lipofilling surgery in a young woman. Despite prompt diagnosis and aggressive management with multiple debridements, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and supportive care, the patient experienced a protracted course with severe complications, including intra-abdominal collection recurrence, heart failure, and sepsis. The presence of resistant bacteria (extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) further challenged the treatment. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and aggressive management of NF, particularly in patients with risk factors following cosmetic surgery. In addition, it raises awareness of the potential for heart failure as a complication in this context and warrants further investigation.

Abdominoplasty after massive weight loss. Safety preservation fascia technique and clinical outcomes in a large single series-comparative study.

Introduction: Weight loss after bariatric surgery causes very important modifications to the patient's silhouette. Abdominal fat and skin excess reduction are associated with several complications. The most frequent are seroma and hematoma whereas major complications, such as pulmonary embolism, are less frequent. This study aimed to describe our technical procedure for abdominoplasty in patients with massive weight loss after bariatric surgery. Methods: In total, 196 patients were included. All patients who underwent abdominoplasty classic (group A) and abdominoplasty with the preservation and lift of Scarpa fascia (group B) and with umbilical transposition between May 2018 and May 2021 were included. Patients with concomitant correction of ventral hernia were excluded. Demographic and operative data were analyzed according to comorbidities and postoperative complications. Results: There were 160 (81.6%) women. The mean age was 43.6 years; the mean weight was 86.7 kg; and the mean BMI was 28.6 kg/m2. Five patients (2.5%) presented postoperative seroma. Four patients (2%) presented partial dehiscence/skin necrosis one of them requiring a revision. Finally, 26 patients presented a postoperative complication, with an overall incidence of 12.6%. The average postoperative hospital stay was 3.6. The rates of seroma were significantly higher in men, patients with a BMI > 30 kg/m2, and aged >50 years. Conclusion: Preserving Scarpa Fascia during surgical post-bariatric patient procedures reduces the seroma formation and the scar complication and reduces the tension of the inguinal-pubic region with correction of our deformation after weight loss. Improves reducing the drain and reducing seroma incidence suction and hospital stay.

What Role does Marital Status Play in the Outcome of Abdominoplasties? A Single-Surgeon Experience With 712 Cases.

BACKGROUND: Marital status is a commonly reported demographic variable in scientific literature. Numerous reports suggested difference in the medical outcomes of patients when stratified based on marital status. Although many reports suggested that married patient exhibit improved survival when compared to their counterparts, other reports could not replicate similar conclusions. PURPOSE: determine whether marital status plays a role in the postoperative outcomes of elective abdominoplasty patients. METHODS: The medical records of all abdominoplasty patients operated by a single surgeon over the course of 20 years were reviewed. Information regarding the preoperative state of patients, surgical procedure, and postoperative outcomes was evaluated in respect to the patients marital status. RESULTS: Seven-hundred and twelve patients were included in this study, of whom 516 (%) were married. No difference in preoperative characteristics, medical background, surgical procedure or concomitant surgeries was found. Analysis of adverse events did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with marital status. Additionally, when all unwed patients were grouped together, the results did not differ. CONCLUSION: Marital status does not play a critical role in the postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing elective abdominoplasties for cosmetic indications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The effect of liposuction versus liposuction with abdominoplasty on insulin resistance in normoglycemic non-obese Mexican females: A prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have evaluated the effect of liposuction or abdominoplasty on metabolic health, including insulin resistance, with mixed results. Many overweight patients, with no marked obesity, are recommended to undergo liposuction combined with abdominoplasty, but no study has evaluated the effectiveness of combining the two procedures on metabolic health. METHODS: The present prospective cohort study compares the metabolic parameters of 2 groups of normoglycemic Hispanic women without obesity. The first group underwent liposuction only (LIPO), while the second group had combined liposuction and abdominoplasty (LIPO + ABDO). RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were evaluated, including 13 in the LIPO group and 18 in the LIPO + ABDO group. The 2 groups had similar HOMA-IR before surgery (P > 0.72). When tested 60 days after surgery, women in the LIPO group had similar HOMA-IR compared to their preoperative levels (2.98 ± 0.4 vs 2.70 ± 0.3; P > .20). However, the LIPO+ABDO group showed significantly reduced HOMA-IR values compared to their preoperative levels (2.37 ± 0.2 vs 1.73 ± 0.1; P < .001). In this group, this decrease also positively correlated with their preoperative HOMA-IR (Spearman r = 0.72; P < .001) and, interestingly, we observed a negative correlation between the age of the subjects and the drop in HOMA-IR after surgery (Spearman r = -0.56; P < .05). No changes were observed in the other biochemical parameters that were assessed. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that, when combined with abdominoplasty, liposuction does improve insulin resistance in healthy Hispanic females. More studies are warranted to address this possibility.

Extensive Pyoderma gangrenosum following breast reduction and abdominoplasty: a challenging case.

Post-surgical pyoderma gangrenosum (P SP G) is a subtype of pyoderma gangrenosum in which non-infectious, painful, inflammatory ulcerative nodules develop in incision sites. Delayed diagnosis and surgical interventions of P SP G often contribute to worsened morbidity. We present a case of a 55-year-old female diagnosed with severe P SP G after breast augmentation and abdominoplasty.

Patient Characteristics and Spending Among Individuals Undergoing Ambulatory Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty in the US from 2016 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal contouring surgery can provide both functional and cosmetic benefits to patients with abdominal soft tissue laxity. Although these procedures have been studied in the inpatient setting, few studies describe abdominal contouring surgery in the ambulatory setting. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate patterns in patient demographics between functional panniculectomy and cosmetic abdominoplasty using national data from the last four years. METHODS: Using the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample, we analyzed outpatient abdominal contouring procedures between 2016 and 2019. Encounters with a CPT 15830 were included. Procedures with ICD Z41.1 or CPT 15847 modifiers were defined as cases of cosmetic abdominoplasty. RESULTS: A weighted estimate of 95,289 encounters were included, with 66,531 (69.8%) functional panniculectomy and 28,758 (30.2%) cosmetic abdominoplasty procedures. Among patients with a history of bariatric surgery (23.8%; 95% CI, 22.3-25.4%), there was a 28.5% (4,866 in 2016 vs 6,254 in 2019) increase in panniculectomy and abdominoplasty. Compared with individuals who underwent cosmetic abdominoplasty, individuals who underwent functional panniculectomy were more racially diverse, had more comorbidities, and were more likely to be from low-income backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of abdominal contouring surgery in the ambulatory setting have increased in recent years especially among individuals with previous bariatric surgery. There are important demographic and clinical differences between patients who underwent functional panniculectomy and cosmetic abdominoplasty including primary payer, comorbidities, and racial identity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .