Extended abdominoplasty: applications and a new classification system for abdominoplasty.

BACKGROUND

Aesthetic deformities of the abdomen requiring skin resection are usually treated with procedures limited to the abdomen and in some cases with circumferential abdominoplasty. There are some patients who require an intermediate procedure between abdominoplasty and circumferential abdominoplasty; these patients have been neglected in the plastic surgery literature.

METHODS

The medical records of 268 patients who underwent aesthetic procedures of the abdomen between January 2008 and July 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had abdominal laxity extending into the flanks and who underwent extended abdominoplasty with liposuction of the back were evaluated. The surgical technique is described and its applications are reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients underwent extended abdominoplasty. All patients were extremely satisfied with the results. Only minor complications occurred. Two patients had marginal skin necrosis and one patient had a wound site infection but all of them had satisfactory resolution of their complications.

CONCLUSION

Extended abdominoplasty is a safe procedure with highly satisfactory results that should become common practice in plastic surgery. There is a group of patients who are best served by this procedure and a new classification system of the abdominal contour deformities that includes these patients is needed and is proposed by the authors.