Post-bariatric Abdominoplasty: Skin Sensation Evaluation

Post-bariatric Abdominoplasty: Skin Sensation Evaluation.

The purpose of this study is to quantify the skin sensation of the anterior abdominal wall of the post-bariatric patients submitted to anchor-line abdominoplasty without flap undermining.

Additional purposes were: quantify topographically the abdominal skin sensation of the Normal weight, Morbid Obese and Former Morbid Obese after bariatric surgery (before and after the abdominoplasty - excess skin surgical removal without flap undermining -> Anchor Line Abdominoplasty).

Abdominoplasty performed in post-bariatric patients presents more post-operative complications than in non post-bariatric patients. Surgical techniques that provokes less complications are required.

Anchor-line abdominoplasty is a technique published in the years 1950 as well the first bariatric proceedings. Abdominoplasty without flap undermining is feasible in pendular abdominal wall of the former morbidly obese women with scarred abdomen.

Classical abdominoplasty (with flap undermining) is known to impair significantly the skin sensation. Post-bariatric abdominoplasty without flap undermining keeps the skin sensation unaltered since the early post-operative period.

Now that the post-bariatric anchor-line abdominoplasty improves the abdominal wall contour by removing the exceeding, pendular and striated skin saving the perforant skin sensory nerves. Could this technique improve the skin sensation of the anterior abdominal wall of the post-bariatric patients?

Inclusion Criteria:

• Former morbidly obese women with Body Mass Index superior of 40kg/m2.
• Post-bariatric surgery: Roux en Y gastric bypass.
• Clinical conditions to perform a plastic surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diabetes.
• Peripheral neuropathy.
• Deny to sign the Informed Consent Term.