title: Correlation between complication rate and patient satisfaction in abdominoplasty.
abstract: Abdominoplasty has become one of the most frequently performed procedures for improving body contour. Numerous reports exist focusing on postoperative complications with even more studies suggesting technical modifications to decrease their occurrence. However, the impact of complications on patient satisfaction has not been sufficiently addressed to date. A retrospective analysis was performed investigating the occurrence of complications following abdominoplasty and their effect on patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction was assessed by means of the client satisfaction questionnaire-8. From June 1994 to April 2004 a total of 139 patients underwent an abdominoplasty. Minor and major complications were encountered in 40 (28.8%) and 16 (11.5%) patients, respectively. The median client satisfaction questionnaire-8 score among those patients with and without complications was 29. Thus, it seems that postoperative complications after abdominoplasty do not negatively affect patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. arash.momeni@googlemail.com
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Momeni
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heier
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Torio-Padron
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bannasch
authors.forename: Björn G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Stark
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult