RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A new technique in plastic surgery termed percutaneous radiofrequency dermaplasty (PRD) is described. Customized radiofrequency energy is applied via the percutaneous route to produce skin tightening and fascia contraction at body temperature, avoiding thermal injury. We combine PRD with lipoplasty and call this combined procedure dermaplasty-assisted lipoplasty (DAL). The purpose of this study was to review both the safety and efficacy of DAL. METHODS: We developed the required novel device and technique to perform DAL and then performed a clinical trial including Type I and Type II lipodystrophy female patients undergoing a primary liposuction of the circumferential trunk. The trial comprised two phases. In Phase I, 51 patients were included in a prospective, comparative, controlled trial and divided into two groups. In Group 1, 29 patients underwent DAL, and in Group 2, 22 patients underwent a standard suction-assisted lipectomy (SAL) alone. In Phase II, 84 patients underwent DAL, including 9 cases initially scheduled for a mini-abdominoplasty. RESULTS: Phase I: We found better aesthetic results with DAL (93.1%) than with SAL alone (72.7%) [p < .05]. Postoperative correction of flaccid skin was superior with DAL (93.1%) than with SAL alone (36.4%) [p < .01]. Phase II: DAL achieved good-to-excellent aesthetic results in 94% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: DAL was found to be a reliable and safe treatment for fat removal with concomitant skin and fascia tightening but without compromising the viability of the overlying skin. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Assuntos
Abdominoplastia , Contorno Corporal , Lipectomia , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Prospectivos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: During the last few years, the surgical principles of abdominoplasty remained unchanged. Therefore, many observed results have misaligned, high and straight abdominal transverse scars, leading to the final positioning of the umbilical scar to be very close to the transverse scar, which gives the impression of a short abdomen. We propose that the abdominoplasty should change the basic conception of its marking, because we believe that it is important to place the transverse scar lower in the medial and pubic region, and higher in the lateral extremities, thus allowing a rotation of the flap of the anterior flanks back lumbar in the median inferior direction. MATERIALS: We analyzed 136 patients with abdominal deformities and subjected them to lipomid-abdominoplasty making a marking with strong upper concavity and lateral sides of the scar oriented to the lower transverse line of the abdomen, 4 cm equidistant from the root of the thigh. We also associate liposuction as a complementary treatment to body contouring. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to determine the area of the abdominal deformity and its classification, to establish the strategies of treatment, and association of complementary procedures. A lower marking respecting the treatment areas will allow a better esthetic scar and a harmonic body contour as well as an adequate placement of the elements: umbilical scar, pubis and lateral extremities of transverse abdominal scar. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
Assuntos
Abdominoplastia/métodos , Contorno Corporal/métodos , Adulto , Cicatriz , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: There is a select group of women for whom mini-abdominoplasty techniques combined with 3-dimensional liposculpture and fat grafting can effectively correct postpartum deformities. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe a multilayer and 360-degree approach, dynamic definition mini-abdominoplasty (DDM), to create athletic definition and contour and to restore a feminine appearance postpartum. METHODS: A total of 181 consecutive women ages 20 to 56 years underwent DDM between January 2005 and May 2012. Patients who were a minimum of 6 months postpartum and in good health, with a body mass index below 30, were considered for inclusion in the study. Fat grafting was performed in select cases in the buttocks, deltoids, and/or calves. A satisfaction index (SI) was estimated based on patient survey responses. RESULTS: An overall SI of 91.5% was achieved. No major complications were reported. Twenty-nine minor complications included postoperative anemia, seroma, and infection in the surgical wound. In most patients, the postpartum abdomen was restored to an aesthetic and even athletic appearance. Athletic definition to the rectus, arms, trunk, thighs, and buttocks was also achieved. No burns or flap necrosis were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic definition mini-abdominoplasty is safe and reproducible. It serves as a viable alternative to a full abdominoplasty in selected cases and for women who wish to restore an athletic and feminine appearance after childbirth. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.