Abdominoplasty and lower body lift surgery improves the quality of life after massive weight loss: a prospective multicenter study

Abstract

he progressive improvement of the management of obese patients through professional dietary follow-up and the advent of bariatric surgery (ie, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy) have resulted in new problems in plastic surgery with patients showing massive weight loss (MWL) in a short period.It is now well established that this resulting massive weight loss helps decrease overall mortality and reverse some related abnormalities. However, such rapid weight loss causes important skin deformities, which can have a strong physical, psychological, and psychosocial impact. These sequelae are also responsible Background: This study was conducted to assess the impact of abdominoplasty and lower body lift surgery following massive weight loss on both the general quality of life and the sexual life of patients. Methods: The authors performed a multicenter prospective study on the quality of life after massive weight loss using three scoring questionnaires: The Short-Form 36 questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire, and the Moorehead-Ardelt Quality of Life Questionnaire. Seventytwo patients who underwent lower body lift and 57 patients who underwent abdominoplasty in three centers with preoperative and postoperative evaluation were included. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.2 ± 13.2 years. All categories of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Status Survey questionnaire were statistically significant at 6 months, and all categories except health change were significantly improved at 12 months postoperatively. Overall, the Moorehead-Ardelt questionnaire showed a higher quality of life in general (1.78 ± 0.92 and 1.64 ± 1.03 at 6 and 12 months, respectively) and in all domains (ie, self-esteem, physical activity, social relationships, work performance, and sexual activity). Interestingly, global sexual activity improved at 6 months but not at 12 months. Some domains of sexual life improved at 6 months (ie, desire, arousal, lubrication, satisfaction), but only desire remained improved at 12 months. Conclusions: Abdominoplasty and lower body lift improve the quality of life of patients after massive weight loss and the sexual quality of life. This should be an additional valid reason for promoting reconstructive surgery for massive weight loss patients.