97dsMatarasso1151

Dermatologic Surgery

1997 Abstract

9712-1151 Matarasso

Matarasso A, Matarasso SL.
When does your liposuction patient require an abdominoplasty? Dermatol Surg. 1997 Dec;23(12):1151-60. PMID: 9426659

Department of Plastic Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York,
NY, USA.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal surgery has evolved from one operation applied to all
patients requesting contouring, to a group of procedures based on individual
variations in anatomy. Currently, the authors favor four (Types I-IV) different
procedures. Liposuction alone (Type I) is performed in the majority of patients.
In the remainder (procedures Type II-IV) liposuction combined with modifications
of open, traditional abdominoplasty are utilized. These additional methods are
appropriate in patients that necessitate rectus muscle reinforcement or skin
reduction procedures in order to adequately contour the abdomen. OBJECTIVE: This
report describes the indications for abdominal contour surgery, beyond just
liposuction. METHODS: A consecutive series of over 300 abdominal contour
patients were reviewed and analyzed, with recommendations based on individual
variations in their soft tissue anatomy. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the
majority of patients benefit from a "closed" procedure (liposuction or
ultrasonic assisted liposuction) but that patients with muscle flaccidity or
laxity in their skin may require an open procedure. CONCLUSION: Abdominal
contour surgery should be considered a group of operations (abdominolipoplasty
system of classification and treatment) based on individual varieties in
anatomy.