Impact of Body-contouring Surgery Post Bariatric Surgery on Patient Well-being, Quality of Life, and Body Image: Saudi Arabia-based Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Body-contouring surgery is commonly performed to address functional and aesthetic issues that can arise following bariatric surgery. However, there is limited understanding of the psychological impact of this procedure on Saudi Arabian patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. This study aimed to explore the effects of body-contouring surgery on the psychological well-being, quality of life, and body image of individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the psychological impact of body-contouring surgery by measuring levels of depression and generalized anxiety disorder using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, respectively. Results: The study included a total of 227 participants, with 112 (49.3%) undergoing body-contouring surgery. Among the entire sample, 77.5% experienced excess skin folds following bariatric surgery. The prevalence of depression was 6% in the body-contouring group, lower than the 8% observed in the non-body-contouring group (P = 0.073). Notably, anxiety was significantly lower in the body-contouring group, with a prevalence of 4% compared with 6% in the non-body-contouring group (P = 0.006). Additionally, patients who had undergone body-contouring surgery reported higher scores for emotional well-being when compared with those who had not undergone body-contouring (P = 0.011). Conclusions: The study suggests that body-contouring surgery improves the physical appearance of bariatric-surgery patients and reduces anxiety and depression, leading to improved psychological well-being. Further research, including larger and more diverse populations, such as multicenter studies at a regional or international level, is needed to validate these findings.

Use of Tranexamic Acid in Aesthetic Surgery: A Retrospective Comparative Study of Outcomes and Complications.

Background: Bleeding is a potential complication of aesthetic surgery. Surgeons have adhered to the principle of minimizing blood loss. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic medication capable of reducing bleeding. This study aimed to investigate TXA and its effect on complications and overall outcomes in aesthetic surgery patients. Methods: This retrospective chart review of patients undergoing various aesthetic procedures between 2019 and 2022 was conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin levels, blood transfusions, and complications were the primary outcomes. Furthermore, the predictors of giving TXA were studied. Results: In total, 435 patients were included in the study. TXA was administered to 181 patients (41.6%). Significantly higher proportions of patients who received TXA underwent trunk aesthetic surgery (P < 0.001), and those who received TXA underwent combined procedures more frequently than non-users (P < 0.001). The mean operative time and length of hospital stay were significantly longer among patients who did not receive TXA (P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively). Most predictors for using TXA were significantly associated with performing liposuction (OR = 5.5), trunk aesthetic surgery (OR = 4.9), and undergoing combined procedures (OR = 2.7). No significant difference was noted in the rate of complications between the two cohorts. Conclusions: Although our data show improvement in patient outcomes in multiple aspects, the heterogeneity of our cohort makes us unable to draw definite conclusions to recommend the use of TXA in aesthetic surgery. Thus, a randomized controlled trial is necessary to support the findings of this study.

Assessing the Efficacy of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Facelift Outcomes: A Case-Control Study Comparing Outcomes in Patients With and Without Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Background: Wound healing remains among the most concerning complications in aesthetic surgery. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an accepted method of supporting wound healing. Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the role of HBOT in postoperative healing and complication rates following facelift surgery. Methods: This case-control study comprised facelift patients who received HBOT and those who did not between 2019 and 2022. Data were extracted from the patients' medical records, with the primary outcomes being the presence of complications, wound-healing duration, and patient satisfaction. Results: The authors recruited 20 female patients who underwent facelift for this study, with 9 patients in the HBOT group and 11 patients in the control group. The average number of HBOT sessions received was 7.22, and each session lasted an average of 78 ± 5 min. The duration of wound healing in the HBOT group ranged from 7 to 30 days (mean of 13.3 days), whereas the control group ranged from 6 to 90 days (mean of 36.9 days). This indicates a statistically significant shorter time to wound healing in the HBOT group compared to the control group (P < .001). Conclusions: Future prospective randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and blinding are needed to further evaluate the potential benefits of HBOT in the postoperative period. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that HBOT may be a promising adjunctive therapy for patients undergoing facelift surgery.