ENDOSCOPIC ABDOMINOPLASTY AND ENDOSCOPICALLY ASSISTED MINIABDOMINOPLASTY

Recent developments in abdominal contouring procedures have included t he extensive use of liposuction and the use of modified or limited sca rs, producing in effect a ''downsizing'' of the operative procedures f ur many patients. The use of minimally invasive techniques based on en doscopic technology and instrumentation represents a logical extension of this trend. Endoscopic visualization and dissection facilitate mus culofascial repair through a very small incision and, combined with Li posuction, allows significant improvement in abdominal recontouring in selected patients, Patient selection parameters, instrumentation, ope rative techniques, and complications of this developing procedure are described.