title: Therapeutic abdominoplasty: Report of a case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure which is commonly used for cosmetic purposes. However, there are very few reports in the world literature describing the abdominoplasty procedure for therapeutic purposes rather than for cosmetic reasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 58 year old female presented with an excessive drooping belly and a concomitant minor umbilical stoma hernia, who suffered from chronic back pain, urinary incontinence, nerve atrophy of the low extremes, central-type obesity, gastric disorders, and spinal osteophytes who underwent abdominoplasty and umbilical hernia repair.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On discharge from the hospital after 11 days, the patient mentioned satisfactory elimination of the back pain as well as amelioration of the urinary incontinence. Within 14 months after the operation, the patient noticed extreme improvement of ambulation and postural stability as well as complete disappearance of the neuro-myodystrophy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wide abdominal rectus plication abdominoplasty should be considered to be performed for therapeutic purposes when major health problems occur.
authors: Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion 71110, Greece. Electronic address: petrakis@post.com.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Petrakis
authors: Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion 71110, Greece.
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Xenaki
authors: Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion 71110, Greece.
authors: Alexandros
authors: A
authors: Andreou
authors: Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion 71110, Greece.
authors: Georgιοσ
authors: G
authors: Panagiotakis
authors: Department of General Surgery, University General Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Heraklion 71110, Greece.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Chalkiadakis
keywords: Abdominoplasty; Drooping belly; Health problems; Improvement; Quality of life; Therapeutic purposes; Tummy tuck
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