An alternative outpatient care model: postoperative guest suite-based care

Personal Evolution in Thighplasty Techniques for Patients Following Massive Weight Loss

BACKGROUND

Lockwood described the importance of Colles' fascia anchoring in medial thighplasty to reduce morbidity associated with the procedure. However, this maneuver may still have complications including traumatic dissection, prolonged edema, and potential wound healing ramifications form increased tension. Alternatively, we suggest orienting tension in medial thighplasty for massive weight loss (MWL) patients in the horizontal vector rather than a vertical direction, negating the need for Colles' fascia anchoring.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the morbidities, complications, and outcomes between Colles' fascia suture fixation (CFSF) and horizontal vector fixation (HVF) in medial thighplasties in MWL patients.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted on an Institutional Review Board approved database of MWL patients who had medial thighplasty between October 2004 and March 2014. Patient demographics and surgical outcomes were reviewed between those MWL patients with CFSF and HVF.

RESULTS

Of 65 post-MWL patients, 26 (40.0%) patients were in the CFSF group, and 39 (60.0%) patients were in the HVF group. The 2 groups had statistically equivocal preoperative characteristics and comorbidities. Intraoperatively, the HVF group had increased use of barbed suture (92.3% vs 30.6%, P < 0.0001) and liposuction (71.8% vs 26.9%, P < 0.0001). Postoperatively, the HVF group had decreased incidence of infection (5.1% vs 23.0%, P = 0.051) and lymphocele/seroma (10.3% vs 34.6%, P = 0.0257). No statistical differences were observed for dehiscence, necrosis, or hematoma.

CONCLUSIONS

HVF for medial thighplasty in MWL patients is a safe and effective procedure, with a lower complication profile than CFSF. Furthermore, the incorporation of barbed sutures and/or liposuction may help to achieve optimal results.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

3.

Lessons Learned After 15 Years of Circumferential Bodylift Surgery

Circumferential bodylift is a powerful procedure for achieving dramatic and natural body contouring changes in the massive weight loss patient. The care of these patients has raised our awareness of several important issues including safety, nutritional status, skin quality, recurrent laxity, surgical steps, and postoperative scars. Integration of this knowledge with various technical modifications over the last 15 years has improved our care for this cohort. We have not only seen a rise in the number of surgeries performed, but also the development of principles, techniques, and details that the authors feel necessary to share to achieve improved contour and more predictable outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4: Therapeutic.