title: Abdominoplasty with Scarpa fascia preservation - comparative study in a bariatric population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdominoplasty techniques using a more superficial plane of dissection with Scarpa fascia preservation have been shown to improve recovery and reduce complications in nonbariatric patients. Patients who have experienced massive weight loss frequently need body contour procedures and represent a high-risk group.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of this technique in patients with massive weight loss after bariatric surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Portugal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-center retrospective study of 51 postbariatric patients who had been undergone either a classic full abdominoplasty (group A) or a similar procedure except for the preservation of Scarpa fascia below the umbilicus (group B). General characteristics of both groups were analyzed, and recorded outcomes were total and daily volume of drain output, time until drain removal, time until hospital discharge, and local and systemic complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between groups regarding general characteristics or complications. The Scarpa fascia preservation group had a highly significant reduction of 79% on the total drain output, 7 days until drain removal, and 5 days' hospital stay. Long drainers (7 days or more with drains) were eliminated (reduction from 52% in group A to 3% in group B) and seroma had a 65% reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preserving Scarpa fascia during a full abdominoplasty in postbariatric patients improves recovery by reducing total drain output and hospital stay, allowing earlier drain removal, eliminating long periods with suction drains, and reducing seroma incidence. Clear benefits for the patient were obtained.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Correia-Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valença-Filipe
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rebelo
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR and Science Faculty, Porto University, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal; Plastic Surgery Department, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amarante
authors.affiliation: Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Porto, Portugal; Plastic Surgery Department, São João Hospital, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: amdcferreira@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costa-Ferreira
mesh_terms: D061645:Abdominoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D000073880:Body Contouring / Q000379:methods*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005205:Fascia; D000071938:Fasciotomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014472:Umbilicus; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominoplasty; Bariatric surgery; Scarpa fascia; Weight loss