Background: Extended abdominoplasty in the patient with massive weight loss has traditionally been performed as an inpatient procedure. To date, there has been no report on the safety of outpatient extended abdominoplasty in the patient with massive weight loss.
Objective: The authors sought to evaluate the safety of outpatient abdominoplasty in this growing population of patients.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all the senior author's (C.M.B.) patients with massive weight loss who underwent extended abdominoplasty from November 2004 to August 2006. Each case was evaluated for demographic information, patient weight (pre-gastric bypass, pre-contour), body mass index (pre-gastric bypass, pre-contour), weight of specimen, anesthesia type, estimated blood loss, operating room time, length of stay, and drain management. The complications were compared with historical control subjects.
Results: A total of 19 patients, 16 female and 3 male, underwent extended abdominoplasty after massive weight loss. The average weight loss was 142 pounds. The average pre-gastric bypass body mass index was 52 kg/m(2). The average pre-contour body mass index was 29 kg/m(2). The average operative findings were as follows: estimated blood loss, 130 mL; specimen weight, 3288 g; and operative time, 132 minutes. There was no perioperative blood transfusion. All patients (100%) were discharged the same day. Overall complications in 5 patients (26%) included stitch abscess (5%), partial umbilical necrosis (5%), superficial wound dehiscence (10%), and seroma and bleeding (5%) in the same patient.
Conclusions: With appropriate patient selection and operative techniques, outpatient extended abdominoplasty can be performed safely in the patient with massive weight loss.