Age Is Just a Number? The Impact of Age on Abdominoplasty Outcomes: A Single Surgeon Experience.

BACKGROUND

Abdominoplasty is among the most popular aesthetic procedures in plastic surgery worldwide. Common indications include prior massive weight loss, surgical or not, with remaining skin excess and post-pregnancy women looking to restore their youthful abdominal contour. Aging of the worldwide population results in a greater number of older patients interested in aesthetic procedures. Identifying the impact of age on abdominoplasty outcomes is crucial in ensuring the safety of care and determining sub-optimal patients that might not benefit from the procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of all abdominoplasty patients operated by the senior author were screened for appropriate patients. Patients were excluded from the study if the mandatory follow-up time was not met or in instances of incomplete medical records. Patients were further stratified into 5 age groups based on age and compared using pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative characteristics. Further regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of complications for each individual age group, in an unadjusted and adjusted model.

RESULTS

Six hundred and seventy-three patients were included in the study. Statistically significant differences were noted between the groups in respect smokers, prior bariatric surgery, and hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia (p values <0.01). Seroma rates, were greatest in the oldest age group (P value = 0.039). Odds ratio of 3.3 was calculated for seroma development in patients aged greater than 60. In a multivariate analysis, the risk diminished and was found to be statistically insignificant.

CONCLUSION

Abdominoplasty is a safe procedure in all age groups. Increased rates of specific complications must be assessed in relation to potential confounders that exist between different age groups.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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