Complications of 278 consecutive abdominoplasties

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Summary

The case notes of 278 consecutive patients who underwent abdominoplasty, during a five-year period, in one institution under the care of four surgeons were reviewed. Patient details, early and late complications and revision procedures were noted. Seventy-five percent of patients had a ‘full’ abdominoplasty with undermining to costal cartilage and repositioning of the umbilicus and 23% had ‘mini abdominoplasties’, 2% were revision operations. Eighteen percent of patients suffered from early complications the most common of which were seroma (5%), haematoma (3%), infection (3%), skin or fat necrosis (2.5%) and delayed healing (2%). Twenty-five percent of patients had late complications which were often relatively minor. These included ‘dog ears’ (12%), localised fatty excess (10%) and unsatisfactory scars (8%). Twenty-four percent of patients underwent revision surgery. Most commonly further liposuction (12%), dog ear revision (10%) and scar revision (5%). Analysis failed to reveal significant risk factors. Despite an apparently high complication and revision rate the subjective impression is of a satisfied patient cohort.

Section snippets

Methods

Using a proforma, data were collected retrospectively from the case notes of all patients undergoing abdominoplasty in the Wellington hospital over the five-year period of 1997–2001. Data were collected on patient demographics and co-morbidity, operative technique, complications and revision surgery.

General

Over the period studied, 278 patients underwent abdominoplasty. Two hundred and seventy-five (99%) were women. Median age was 46 years with a range of 19–72. Consultants were the principle surgeons in all cases.

Technical

Full abdominoplasties involved epigastric undermining and umbilicus repositioning, mini abdominoplasties involved neither. There were 206 full abdominoplasties (75%), 65 mini abdominoplasties (23%), six revision operations (2%) and one (0.3%) which involved vertical scar tightening (Fig.

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The surviving authors would like to dedicate this paper to the memory of their deceased colleague Mr Brian Coghlan. He personified those assets of ability and affability most essential to surgical practice. His premature loss was a great loss to his family but also to our profession.

1

14 Queen Anne Street, London W1G 9LG, UK.

2

14A Upper Wimpole Street, London W1G 6LR, UK.

3

55 Harley Street, London W1G 6LR, UK.

Deceased.

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