title: Quality of life and body image after circumferential body lifting of the lower trunk: a prospective clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plastic surgery after massive weight loss remains a fast growing subspecialty. However, very few studies exist that investigate the quality of life and psychological outcome after body lift surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients (25 females and 2 males) who had undergone bariatric surgery were scheduled for circumferential body lifting of the lower trunk. The patients, aged 21-58 years (mean = 39.9, SD = 10.9), underwent surgery in our department of plastic and reconstructive surgery between 2008 and 2010. All participants took part in two psychological examinations on a voluntary basis and completed the prospective pre-post study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-weight loss surgery improves the quality of life and body image.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is therefore an important part in the interdisciplinary treatment of the massive weight loss patient.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery, Sisters of Mercy Hospital Linz, Seilerstaette 4, 4010, Linz, Austria. koller_matthias@hotmail.com
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Koller
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Schubhart
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Hintringer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss