Abdominoplasty procedures are often unsatisfactory in correcting body defor
mities remaining after massive weight loss. Lateral flanks, hip rolls and b
uttock ptosis need also to be addressed surgically To achieve a more notice
able improvement in body contour, a circumferential torsoplasty procedure w
as performed in 30 patients during the years 1993-1997. Twenty of them had
had a gastroplasty procedure before with a mean weight loss of 49.5 kg. Mea
n operative time was 210 min (range 150-420 min). The total resection weigh
t ranged from 2 to 8.96 kg (mean 4.3 kg). Mean operative blood loss was 635
ml (range 300-1900 min). The mean hospital stay was 12 days. Minor complic
ations occurred in four patients and major complications in one. Both patie
nts and surgeons considered the outcome very satisfactory. (C) 1999 The Bri
tish Association of Plastic Surgeons.