title: Improvement in stress urinary incontinence after abdominoplasty.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominoplasty is indicated in cosmetic surgery to improve body contour. Results from several studies suggest that abdominoplasty also could be therapeutic for certain individuals with urinary incontinence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors sought to determine the potential therapeutic effect of abdominoplasty on urinary incontinence in a large population to confirm the findings of smaller studies and to identify common characteristics of patients who experience the greatest improvement in these symptoms postoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a retrospective chart review, the authors identified 250 patients who underwent cosmetic abdominoplasty. These patients were invited to participate in a survey to ascertain changes in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) symptoms after abdominoplasty. Patients were subgrouped according to postoperative changes in their urinary incontinence symptoms, and the subgroups were evaluated for common within-group characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 250 patients who underwent abdominoplasty during the period of interest, 100 (40%) completed the survey, half of whom (n=50) reported incontinence preoperatively. After abdominoplasty, 30 (60%) of these 50 patients noted improvement in their symptoms, and the other 20 (40%) reported no improvement. Lack of previous cesarean section was a predictor of improvement in SUI symptoms after abdominoplasty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominoplasty to improve body contour also may alleviate symptoms of SUI, especially among patients who have not undergone previous cesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  4.
authors: Ms Carruthers is a medical student at The University of Toledo College of Medicine in Toledo, OhioDr Kocak is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Dublin, OhioDr Hulsen is a clinical house staff member in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OhioDr McMahan is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Katherine H
authors: KH
authors: Carruthers
authors: Ms Carruthers is a medical student at The University of Toledo College of Medicine in Toledo, OhioDr Kocak is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Dublin, OhioDr Hulsen is a clinical house staff member in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OhioDr McMahan is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Ergun
authors: E
authors: Kocak
authors: Ms Carruthers is a medical student at The University of Toledo College of Medicine in Toledo, OhioDr Kocak is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Dublin, OhioDr Hulsen is a clinical house staff member in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OhioDr McMahan is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Columbus, Ohio.
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Hulsen
authors: Ms Carruthers is a medical student at The University of Toledo College of Medicine in Toledo, OhioDr Kocak is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Dublin, OhioDr Hulsen is a clinical house staff member in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OhioDr McMahan is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Columbus, Ohio jmcmahan@columbus.rr.com.
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: McMahan
mesh_terms: D061645:Abdominoplasty; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014563:Urodynamics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: abdominoplasty; cesarean section; dermatolipectomy; multiple births; rectus plication; stress urinary incontinence; urge incontinence