Flowchart in Post-Bariatric Surgery: A Research for the Appropriate Type and Timing of Plasties Reshaping the Body.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic disease with significant health implications. Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity-related conditions. However, the timing of post-bariatric body contouring surgery remains uncertain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 1336 patients who underwent bariatric surgery. We analyzed weight trends and variations after different types of bariatric procedures. The Pittsburgh Index was used to evaluate body contouring outcomes. RESULTS: The majority of patients were women, and sleeve gastrectomy was the most common procedure. Weight loss varied depending on the surgery type, with different outcomes for male and female patients. The Pittsburgh Index remained stable in most cases. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the timing of body contouring surgery should be tailored to the type of bariatric procedure performed. Abdominoplasty is recommended as a last procedure for sleeve gastrectomy patients, while gastric bypass patients are suitable candidates for early abdominoplasty. Biliopancreatic diversion patients should stabilize their weight before abdominoplasty. The Pittsburgh Index is a valuable tool for assessing the timing of post-bariatric plastic surgery. Further research is needed to optimize surgical planning and outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V 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 .