ABDOMINOPLASTY FOLLOWING VERTICAL BANDED GASTROPLASTY FOR MORBID-OBESITY

We describe 15 patients who underwent abdominoplasty following vertica l banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity between 1991 and 1994. Vertic al banded gastroplasty was performed (by CMSR) on patients with a Body Mass Index greater than 39. Following this, the patients lost weight rapidly, leading to excess folds of skin and fat on the abdomen, arms and thighs, and were referred for plastic surgery when their weight ha d stabilised, After abdominoplasty, the Body Mass Indices of all the p atients decreased to an acceptable range, Because vertical banded gast roplasty causes little long-term metabolic or nutritional disturbance, the abdominal skin could be undermined up to the costal margin and th e umbilicus re-sited without major necrosis of the abdominal wall or u mbilicus, All patients received prophylactic low dose heparin perioper atively until early ambulation, Prophylactic antibiotics were not used but there were no major wound infections, Patients were reviewed up t o 12 months after abdominoplasty and were satisfied with the results. Abdominoplasty following vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesi ty safely provides acceptable cosmetic results.