Musculoaponeurotic plication in abdominoplasty: how durable are its effects?

Abdominal myofascial plication has become an integral part of aesthetic abdominoplasty in an effort to narrow the waistline. Out of concern for the durability of this procedure, we performed a study using standard radiographs and clinical photographs to determine if there was long-term separation of the plication. Nine patients were entered into the study. In one patient immediate total separation of the plication occurred, and in another no separation occurred at all. The remaining patients' plication separated over only a 1-3-cm distance in the central part of the abdomen (original maximum width of plication was 12-16 cm). Aesthetic appearance was not compromised by this minor degree of separation. We conclude that the effects of musculoaponeurotic plication are durable.