Body Contouring

TRUNCAL CONTOURING image


image    Outline the blood supply zones of the abdomen.


1.  Zone I is the midabdomen, supplied by deep superior and deep inferior epigastric arcades.


2.  Zone II is the lower abdomen, supplied by the superficial and deep circumflex arteries.


3.  Zone III is the lateral abdomen/flanks, supplied by intercostal, subcostal, and lumbar arteries.


image    What zone is responsible for blood supply to abdominoplasty flap?


Before surgery, the major blood supply is from zone I. After abdominoplasty, zone I is lost. Blood now enters the flap primarily from the lateral aspect via zone III segmental perforators, with some minor collateral flow from zone II.


image    What is the major blood supply to the abdominoplasty flap?


The lateral intercostal arteries.


image    What nerve is responsible for numbness of the anterolateral thigh after abdominoplasty?


The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh. In several studies of complications of abdominoplasty, the most common nerve injury was to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve.


image    Name the nerves that are at increased risk for entrapment or injury during abdominoplasty.


Iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, and intercostal nerves are at an increased risk of injury.


image    What kind of previous abdominal scar can cause postoperative healing problems in an abdominoplasty patient?


A right upper quadrant subcostal scar may disrupt blood supply from the lateral intercostal vessels. Avoid undermining above the scar to avoid wound-healing problems.


image    What is the difference between mini-abdominoplasty versus full abdominoplasty?


Mini-abdominoplasty removes a small amount of lower abdominal skin and fat. The position of umbilicus remains unchanged and the length of the scar is limited. Full abdominoplasty involves removal of excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen, plication of the rectus diastasis from xiphoid to pubis, and transposition of the umbilicus.


image    What is an umbilical float procedure?


Abdominoplasty with umbilical fascial transection with subsequent resuturing of the umbilicus to the abdominal wall fascia. There is no skin scar around the umbilicus. The umbilicus typically ends up slightly lower than the original position. This technique is typically utilized with mini-abdominoplasty.


image    What is the optimal treatment for an obese male with a massive pannus?


The best treatment is simple, transverse, elliptical wedge resection without undermining: panniculectomy.


image    In a postabdominoplasty patient, what area has the most tenuous blood supply?


The suprapubic and lower midline regions are at greatest risk for ischemia and necrosis (Zone 1).


image    Does combining liposuction with abdominoplasty increase the risk of complications?


Yes. There is an increased risk of delayed healing (Zone 1), thrombotic emboli, fat emboli, skin necrosis, and fat necrosis. Increased complication rates are reported in patients with risk factors such as obesity, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. Care should be taken to avoid wide undermining or use discontinuous undermining if necessary.


image    What is the most common complication of combined abdominoplasty and liposuction?


Seroma formation is the most common complication in this situation. The risk is higher in those who smoke and those having diabetes.


image    What are the main determinants that help to select the optimal procedure for body contouring?


The optimal procedure is based on the patient’s skin tone and amount of skin excess, abdominal wall musculature/rectus diastasis, fat distribution, and patient preference.


image    How are seromas managed following abdominoplasty?


Aspiration followed by placement of closed suction drains. If persistent, sclerosing agents may be used. If this fails, the cavity may be marsupialized or excised.


image    Why is smoking a relative contraindication to abdominoplasty?


Smokers are at much higher risk of abdominal flap necrosis and wound-healing problems.


image    What mechanism is most likely to cause wound-healing complications in abdominoplasty patients who are recent smokers?


Increased microvascular vasoconstriction with resultant decreased tissue oxygenation. Smoking also increases carboxyhemoglobin, increases platelet aggregation, increases blood viscosity, decreases collagen deposition, and decreases prostacyclin formation, which all negatively affect wound healing.


image    What is a Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty?


The typical horizontal excision and scar is combined with excision of a vertical ellipse, which results in an inverted T-shaped scar. Wound-healing problems are lessened by performing minimal undermining of the flaps (see Fig. 15-1).


image


Figure 15-1  Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty.


image    What is the truncal procedure of choice for a patient who has lost 150 lb (massive weight loss) and when should the procedure be performed?


Lower body lift or belt lipectomy. This procedure removes the circumferential excess present following massive weight loss combining an abdominoplasty with a lateral thigh lift and buttock lift. The procedure should be delayed until the patient is at least a year out from a bariatric procedure and weight stable for 3 to 6 months.


image    What are the safety considerations in a patient who requests a total body lift following massive weight loss?


Consideration should be given to mechanical or chemical deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis, keeping the patient warm, padding pressure points, and staging procedures.


image    What is the initial step in management of a massive weight-loss patient who has become increasingly disoriented and obtunded 1 day after belt lipectomy?


Thiamine therapy. Many massive weight-loss patients suffer from malnutrition, including thiamine deficiency, or B12, which can lead to Wernicke–Korsakoff encephalopathy. Treatment is intravenous administration of 100 mg/d of thiamine, continuing with 100 mg every 8 hours until resolution of symptoms. Administration of thiamine is low risk and may reverse symptoms.


image    Patients who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery commonly have what underlying deficiencies?


Iron deficiency anemia (most common), vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency, folate, calcium and fat soluble vitamin deficiency (vitamin D is fat soluble).


image    What is the recommended amount of daily protein consumption in patients seeking body contouring?


70 to 100 g per day.


image    What is the most common complication in patients undergoing combined procedures in a single stage?


Wound-healing issues (approximately 15%). Seroma is the next most common complication (approximately 10%). Infection, hematoma, and pulmonary embolism occur at rates of less than 5%.


image    What procedure is associated most frequently with postoperative mortality in an ambulatory surgery center?


Abdominoplasty (secondary to pulmonary embolism).


image    What areas do the lower body lift and belt lipectomy address differentially?


The lower body lift (LBL) allows a lower scar placement and better control over gluteal ptosis and deflation (auto-augmentation) as well as more aggressive treatment of the lateral thigh. The belt lipectomy will address the gluteal and lateral thigh in a less aggressive manner but allows more treatment of the upper area of the low back (higher scar placement). Belt lipectomy also addresses the abdomen by definition, whereas Lockwood variations do not necessitate addressing the abdomen in LBL.


image    What are the most common complications in lower body lift versus belt lipectomy?


Lower body lift: delayed wound healing. Belt lipectomy: seroma (nearly 40%).

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Aug 28, 2016 | Posted by in Reconstructive surgery | Comments Off on Body Contouring

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