Improving Safety after Abdominoplasty: A Retrospective Review of 1128 Cases

Background: Over the course of several decades, abdominoplasty has undergone numerous improvements, thereby improving patient safety. The choice of the site of the incision and the extent of the detachment directly influence the occurrence of the main complications. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out involving 1128 patients who underwent abdominoplasty between January of 1990 and June of 2014. The main postoperative complications were analyzed. Results: The hematoma rate was 5.7 percent; in addition, infections (4.5 percent), cutaneous necrosis (2.7 percent), seromas (2.7 percent), disunions (1.3 percent), and deep venous thrombosis (0.2 percent) were observed. Three main risk factors for complications were highlighted: age older than 40 years, obesity, and smoking. The authors noted a significant variation in the rate of complications depending on the technique used, with a substantial rate of necrosis in case of inverted-T abdominoplasty. Liposuction was not a source of complications, regardless of the patient’s background or the type of intervention. Conclusions: Abdominoplasty is currently a reliable technique that allows the abdomen to be repaired and quality of life to be restored. Other means remain to be explored to improve the overall treatment and to move toward a maximal reduction of the risks. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.