Gahagnon T, Guerreschi P, Pattou F, Martinot-Duquennoy V. [Study of the benefits after body contouring surgery at the university hospital in Lille].
ANN CHIR PLAST ESTH 2011;
56:298-307. [PMID:
21741144 DOI:
10.1016/j.anplas.2011.05.001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cutting the excess of skin body contouring surgery in post-massive weight loss patients seems to only improve functional and aesthetic disorders. But other benefits can be determinated such as psychosocial effects. The first two are usually evaluated. The last two are rarely researched. The goal of this study is to evaluate the benefits of body contouring surgery by comparing patient satisfaction on these different aspects.
METHODS
One hundred thirty-four patients with more that 30 kg's weight loss had body contouring surgery at the university hospital in Lille between June 2004 and June 2008. Seventy-eight patients agreed to respond to a study on quality-of-life improvements after body contouring surgery which evaluated aesthetic, functional, and psychosocial aspects. The data were compared before and after the surgery to assess the benefits of the surgery in these areas.
RESULTS
All the aforementioned aspects were clearly improved with the body contouring surgery. However, the improvement in the physical aspects seems to be somehow disappointing, not living up to the patients expectations. Exactly 52.5 % of the patients wanted morphologic alteration, while the scars were well tolerated in 78.2 % of the cases. On the other hand, psychosocial discomfort was improved in ways not expected by the patients. Two new findings were remarkable: a decrease of 56.7 % in the sense of feeling depressed and an improvement in finding a job after body contouring surgery.
CONCLUSION
The psychosocial improvements represent the true benefits of body contouring surgery.
Collapse