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Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the most frequent abdominal body contouring procedures performed today. It guarantees a safe combination of abdominoplasty and liposuction while minimizing the risk of ischemic flap complications. This is because of the limited undermining performed and the liposuction adjunct, both of which minimize perforator injury. In the last several years, the integration of anatomic definition through the use of liposuction has further refined the procedure, led to improved results, and increased patient satisfaction. The more natural results of the anatomic abdominal definition is a next step in abdominal contour refinement.

Background In the past two decades, lipoabdominoplasty has increased in popularity worldwide, presenting low rates of complications and morbidity when the proper surgical steps are followed. The authors present an update of the lipoabdominoplasty technique with the addition of an abdominal definition and standardized steps for its safe execution, an initial personal experience with the procedure that improves the aesthetic results. Methods Anatomical limits are described for preoperative markings for selective liposuction with abdominal definition. Specific areas of the abdomen are presented to differentiate the areas for an intense or moderate liposuction and the areas for superficial and deep liposuction for anatomical definition. The principles of traditional lipoabdominoplasty are also described and maintained. The initial experiences with 128 patients undergoing the technique are included. Results One hundred twenty-eight patients were operated on by the senior author (O.S.) from 2016 to 2019 using the described technique. One patient presented with a seroma (0.8 percent), and two had a small skin epitheliolysis (1.5 percent). No other major complications were observed. It is the senior author's opinion that the obtained aesthetic results from the lipoabdominoplasty with definition are superior to those of the traditional technique, as it enhances the natural contour of the abdomen. Conclusions Lipoabdominoplasty with anatomical definition has improved the aesthetic results of traditional lipoabdominoplasty without compromising the safety of that technique. More natural results along the abdominal contour that avoid a completely flat abdomen have been observed by most patients. This approach is safe and reproducible, with low complication rates, and it effectively enhances body contour.

Lipoabdominoplasty is one of the most frequent abdominal body contouring procedures performed today. It guarantees a safe combination of abdominoplasty and liposuction while minimizing the risk of ischemic flap complications. This is because of the limited undermining performed and the liposuction adjunct, both of which minimize perforator injury. In the last several years, the integration of anatomic definition through the use of liposuction has further refined the procedure, led to improved results, and increased patient satisfaction. The more natural results of the anatomic abdominal definition is a next step in abdominal contour refinement.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the aesthetic results of lipoabdominoplasty in overweight patients (body mass index, 25 to 29.9) compared with normal weight patients (body mass index, 18.5 to 24.9). METHODS The authors performed a retrospective and comparative analysis of late follow-up results after lipoabdominoplasty performed from 2000 to 2009 in two groups of 30 patients, one with a body mass index of 25 to 29.9 and one with a body mass index of 18 to 24.9. Aesthetic results were evaluated using a scale with five objective parameters, developed in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo. There were seven evaluators: three plastic surgeons, three nondoctors, and the surgeon performing the procedure. RESULTS For all evaluators, the postoperative average grade was significantly higher than before surgery for the entire group of patients (n=60) and in each subgroup. The average grades for the normal weight group were consistently significantly higher than for the overweight group, both preoperatively and postoperatively, for all evaluators. However, the mean difference between the preoperative and postoperative grades, which measures the aesthetic improvement provided by the operation, was higher in the overweight group. Postoperatively, the average grade of the surgeon was significantly higher than for all other evaluator groups. CONCLUSIONS The normal weight group showed superior grades, both before and after lipoabdominoplasty, for all evaluators. However, the gain between preoperative and postoperative grades was higher in the overweight patient group, indicating that lipoabdominoplasty was beneficial even in these cases. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic, III.

INTRODUÇÃO: As deformidades estéticas e funcionais do abdome sempre representaram um grande desafio na Cirurgia Plástica. Em busca de soluções para estes problemas, foi desenvolvida a abdominoplastia, que ao longo dos anos vem apresentando modificações e aperfeiçoamentos, buscando melhores resultados estéticos e funcionais, com menores índices de complicações. A lipoabdominoplastia, desenvolvida em 2000 por Saldanha e publicada em 2001, quando esse termo foi utilizado pela primeira vez na literatura mundial, representa uma opção segura para a associação da lipoaspiração à abdominoplastia. A técnica é baseada na preservação dos vasos perfurantes abdominais, ramos das epigástricas profundas superiores e inferiores. MÉTODO: Foi comparada a incidência de complicações nas abdominoplastias clássicas e a lipoabdominoplastias realizadas no período de janeiro de 1979 a 30 de junho de 2010, na Clínica Saldanha, em Santos - SP. DISCUSSÃO: O descolamento seletivo entre as bordas dos músculos reto abdominais, preconizado pela técnica, promove diminuição da área de descolamento do retalho e preserva os vasos perfurantes da parede abdominal, responsáveis por 80% do suprimento sanguíneo da região e, consequentemente, diminui o sangramento e os riscos de hematoma, de isquemia e necrose do retalho. CONCLUSÃO: Associando a abdominoplastia com a lipoaspiração e preconizando um descolamento seletivo com preservação dos vasos perfurantes, é possível obter melhores resultados estéticos favoráveis, além de menor morbidade pós-operatória e redução da taxa de revisões cirúrgicas. INTRODUCTION: The cosmetic and functional deformities of the abdomen always represented a great challenge for plastic surgery. In search of solutions to these problems, we developed the abdominoplasty, which over the years has had modifications and improvements, looking for better cosmetic and functional results, with lower complication rates. Lipoabdominoplasty was developed in 2000 by Saldanha and published in 2001, when that term was first used in the literature, and represents a safe option for the combination of liposuction and abdominoplasty. The technique is based on the preservation of abdominal perforating vessels, branches of the superior and inferior epigastric deep artery. METHODS: We compared the incidence of complications between the classic abdominoplasty and lipoabdominoplasty carried out from January 1979 to June 30, 2010, at Saldanha's Clinic, in Santos - SP. DISCUSSION: The selective displacement between the edges of the rectus abdominis muscles, as advocated by technique, promotes a decrease in the area of detachment of the flap and preserves the abdominal wall perforator vessels account for 80% of the blood supply to the region and, consequently, reduces bleeding and risk of hematoma, and ischemic necrosis of the flap. CONCLUSION: Associating abdominoplasty with liposuction and advocating a selective detachment with preservation of the perforating vessels, it is possible to achieve better cosmetic results and lower postoperative morbidity and reducing the rate of surgical revisions.

The evolution of techniques in abdominal surgery, with low postoperative morbidity and lower complication rates, has always motivated surgeons to search for innovations in plastic surgery [1–16]. Lipoabdominoplasty was developed and patterned as a safe and functional option with which to perform liposuction and abdominoplasty during the same surgical procedure, promoting the benefits of both techniques. This technique generates a better aesthetic result and can be learned quickly because surgeons are accustomed to performing each procedure (liposuction and abdominoplasty) separately. This technique does not involve simply using liposuction while performing abdominoplasty; it has a much wider concept, respecting the complete abdominal anatomy. Traditional undermining is substituted with cannula undermining. As a consequence, the blood supply coming from the abdominal perforating vessels is not stopped.

Article received: May 29, 2014. Article accepted: July 7, 2014. ABSTRACT Introduction: This study analyzed the association between plastic surgery complications and risk factors in the study population, and presents a safety scale for planning plastic surgery procedures. Methods: A case-control study was performed, including patients who underwent procedures at various plastic surgery centers from 2010–2011 and who had some type of postoperative complication. The control group consisted of patients who underwent similar procedures during the same period without complications. Descriptive analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequency and measures of central tendency (mean and median) and dispersion (standard deviation and minimum and maximum value). Associations were analyzed using the chi-squared test of association and univariate and multiple logistic models. In all analyses, statistical significance was defined as p-values

1 Specialist in Plastic Surgery, Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (BSPS). 2 PhD – President of BSPS 2006-7, Director of DESC, Regent of the Plastic Surgery Service of the Unisanta Division of Plastic Surgery of Unimes. 3 MD – Resident on the Plastic Surgery Service of Unisanta. 4 MD – General Surgery Resident at Santa Casa de Santos. 5 MD – Teaching Preceptor of the Plastic Surgery Service of Unisanta. 6 MD – Resident on the Plastic Surgery Service of Unisanta. ABSTRACT Introduction: The importance of Scarpa’s fascia in reducing both skin suture tension and seroma is a subject of great discussion in lipoabdominoplasty. This study evaluates drain flow in lipoabdominoplasty, with and without preservation of Scarpa’s fascia, on postoperative days 1o, 3o, 5o, and 7o. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, and serial study of 24 patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty; procedures performed by seven different surgeons (residents) were evaluated between August and December 2013. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether Scarpa’s fascia was preserved or removed. Drain flow was evaluated on postoperative days 1o, 3o, 5o, and 7o, and complications were assessed in the two groups. Results: Three patients developed epitheliosis on the umbilical scar, and two were smokers. There was less fluid drainage in Group 1 patients compared to Group 2, and this was less significant on postoperative day 1. One patient in Group 2 developed a seroma (40 ml), which was aspirated with a syringe on postoperative day 10, with no recurrence. Conclusion: Lipoabdominoplasty with Scarpa’s fascia preservation resulted in reduced serosanguinous drainage, both when taken as a whole (182.09ml less for the seven day total), or measured daily.