Dermalipectomy for body contouring after bariatric surgery in Aegean region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The only proven effective long-term treatment for morbid obesity is bariatric surgery. After surgery, additional problems may arise such as redundant hanging skin and a poor body image. The patient's quality of life and social acceptance may thus still be hindered. Body contouring operations remain the only hope here.

METHODS: Body contouring surgery was performed on 11 patients out of 38 who had had vertical banded gastroplasty. General self-consciousness, social self-consciousness of appearance and sexual and bodily self-consciousness of appearance were measured with a retrospective questionnaire.

RESULTS: Timing of body contouring surgery was determined according to the demand of the patient and stabilization of the patient's weight status. On average the first plastic surgery operation was performed after 17 (12-25) months. Mean age was 37.4 (34-65) and mean excess weight loss was 57.6 (37-129). In the 11 patients who underwent plastic procedures, a total of 23 such operations were performed, and 8 complications were encountered in these 23 operations. General self-consciousness and sexual bodily self-consciousness of appearance showed improvement after bariatric surgery and further improvement after the plastic surgery.

CONCLUSION: For markedly redundant skin after massive weight loss, dermalipectomy is the only treatment. This improves the patient's general, sexual and bodily self-consciousness.