WHEN DOES YOUR LIPOSUCTION PATIENT REQUIRE AN ABDOMINOPLASTY

BACKGROUND. Abdominal surgery has evolved from one operation applied t o all patients requesting contouring, to a group of procedures based o n individual variations in anatomy. Currently, the authors favour four (Types I-IV) different procedures. Liposuction alone (Type I) is perf ormed in the majority of patients; In the remainder (procedures Type I I-IV) liposuction combined with modifications of open, traditional abd ominoplasty are utilized. These additional methods are appropriate in patients that necessitate rectus muscle reinforcement or skin reductio n procedures in order to adequately contour the abdomen. OBJECTIVE. Th is report describes the indications for abdominal contour surgery, bey ond just liposuction. METHODS. A consecutive series of over 300 abdomi nal contour patients were reviewed and analyzed, with recommendations based on individual variations in their soft tissue anatomy. RESULTS. We demonstrate that the majority of patients benefit from a ''closed'' procedure (liposuction or ultrasonic assisted liposuction) but that p atients with muscle flaccidity or laxity in their skin may require an open procedure.CONCLUSION. Abdominal contour surgery should be conside red a group of operations (abdominolipoplasty system of classification and treatment) based on individual varieties in anatomy. (C) 1997 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.