RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe a new technique to achieve a fit-look in lipoabdominoplasty patients through liposculpture and rectus abdominis fat transfer (RAFT). METHODS: Patients with a body mass index under 26 and of both genders scheduled for abdominoplasty or body lift were selected for this procedure. Fat was transferred directly to the rectus abdominis muscle after flap elevation during lipoabdominoplasty. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were operated on with this technique. No complications attributable to the fat grafting were noticed. All patients had a high satisfaction level with the procedure. Demonstrative cases are shown. DISCUSSION: The RAFT technique is a useful and effective technique to improve results in standard lipoabdominoplasty. Its main limitation is the adequate selection of the patient. The RAFT technique can be incorporated easily to common day practice. 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 , Tecido Adiposo/transplante , Contorno Corporal/métodos , Lipectomia/métodos , Satisfação do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Reto do Abdome/cirurgia , Adulto , Imagem Corporal , Índice de Massa Corporal , Chile , Estudos de Coortes , Estética , Feminino , Sobrevivência de Enxerto , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Medição de Risco , Resultado do Tratamento , Cicatrização/fisiologiaRESUMO
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.