BACKGROUND: Abdominoplasty aims to reduce saggy skin and excessive skin and adipose tissue, as well as to improve curves, the shape of the waist, and the volume of the abdomen. In order to enhance aesthetic results, additional operative techniques such as liposuction are associated with abdominoplasty. This study aims to demonstrate the surgical technique of lipoabdominoplasty used by the senior author during a period of 5 years, and evaluate the results and complications in patients with indication for classic abdominoplasty. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using medical records from a group of 162 patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty associated with other procedures or not, from May 2006 to May 2011. The age of the patients ranged from 33 to 62 years. RESULTS: In all cases, we achieved significant reduction of skin and adipose tissue, together with a decrease in amount of saggy skin and improvement in body shape. The incidence of postoperative complications such as necrosis, irregularities in the infraumbilical adipose tissue, seromas, hematomas, epidermolysis, and dehiscence in this study was low, similar to the literature findings. CONCLUSIONS: Lipoabdominoplasty is a safe procedure, and has low complication rates when the safety criteria that permit a well-vascularized flap with preservation of the perforant arteries are followed. Association of lipoabdominoplasty with liposuction in the abdominal area and body shaping is considered safe and essential when seeking better body harmonization and aesthetic results, which results in improved patient satisfaction.
Abdomen; Lipectomy; Plastic surgery; Abdominal wall
