Excess skin after massive weight loss is especially discomforting on the abdomen due to physical and psychosocial symptoms, and many patients with excess skin have a lowered Quality of Life (QoL). Abdominoplasty may improve symptoms as well as QoL and is offered to post-bariatric patients in Sweden with a post--operative body mass index (BMI) 50% never reach a BMI 30 is the increased risk of complications reported in several studies. Contradictorily, many studies have not found BMI > 30 to be an independent risk factor. Thus, the aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate a modified abdominoplasty technique on patients with a residual BMI 30-40, regarding complications and patient satisfaction. To contextualize, this was compared to a group of post-bariatric patients with a BMI < 30 that underwent standard abdominoplasties. A total of 110 patients underwent either a standard abdominoplasty (BMI < 30 group) or a modified abdominoplasty (BMI 30-40 group). Pre-, peri-, and post-operative data were analyzed. The complication rates were similar, apart from that the patients with BMI 30-40 had significantly more bleedings requiring re-interventions. There were no other significant differences in the complication panorama. The results from the questionnaires implied significant improvements in QoL and perception of excess skin, particularly in the BMI 30-40 group. In conclusion, this modified technique for abdominoplasty may be an acceptable compromise to a standard abdominoplasty for post-bariatric patients with residual obesity. Clinical trials registry: https://www.researchweb.org/is/sverige/project/203961.
Ockell et al. (Mon,) studied this question.