Abdominoplastia vertical para tratamento do excesso de pele abdominal após perdas ponderais maci as Vertical abdominoplasty for treatment of excess abdominal skin after massive weight loss

INTRODU O: As cirurgias bariátricas s o cada vez mais frequentes no tratamento dos pacientes portadores de obesidade mórbida. A grande perda ponderal decorrente desses procedimentos causa excesso de pele e de tecido subcutaneo em todo o corpo, especialmente na regi o abdominal. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar a técnica de abdominoplastia vertical como alternativa para a ressec o do excesso de pele nesses pacientes. MéTODO: Foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, os prontuários de 40 pacientes submetidos ao procedimento entre 2004 e 2009. O grau de satisfa o dos pacientes foi avaliado através de escala subjetiva, com notas variando de 0 a 10. RESULTADOS: Vinte e cinco por cento dos pacientes apresentaram pequenas complica es, sendo 3 seromas, 3 pequenas deiscências e 5 cicatrizes hipertróficas, todas tratadas ambulatorialmente. Dois ter os dos pacientes relataram alto grau de satisfa o, considerando seus resultados bons (notas 7 ou 8) ou ótimos (notas 9 ou 10). CONCLUS ES: A técnica de abdominoplastia vertical aparece como uma nova op o para o tratamento do excesso de pele abdominal em pacientes ex-obesos. BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgeries are becoming increasingly common in the treatment of morbidly obese patients. The enormous weight loss resulting from these procedures causes excessive skin and subcutaneous tissue throughout the body, especially in the abdominal region. The objective of this study was to present the technique of vertical abdominoplasty as an alternative for resection of excess skin in ex-obese patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 40 patients who underwent vertical abdominoplasty between 2004 and 2009. The degree of patient satisfaction was assessed through a subjective scale, with scores ranging from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Twenty-five percent of the patients had minor complications (3 seromas, 3 minor dehiscences, and 5 hypertrophic scars), which were all treated on an outpatient basis. Sixty-seven percent of the patients reported high satisfaction and considered their results as good (grades 7 or 8) or excellent (grades 9 or 10). CONCLUSIONS: The vertical abdominoplasty technique appears to be a new option for the treatment of excess abdominal skin in ex-obese patients.