What Happens to Weight following Abdominoplasty: An Analysis of 188 Consecutive Cases.

Abstract

Background: Abdominoplasty may be considered a procedure performed after a patient has already lost weight, but many surgeons have clinically observed that patients continue to lose weight in the postoperative period. This study sought to quantify continued weight loss after abdominoplasty procedures.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on all abdominoplasty cases performed by the senior author between 2018 and 2022. Patient demographics, surgical information, and postoperative weights were all obtained. Independent samples t tests were used for comparisons between groups.

Results: The study included 188 patients with an average age of 42.5 years and average follow-up of 26.5 months. Their average preoperative weight was 167.8 lbs, and the average body mass index was 27.7 kg/m2. The average weight loss (with percentage of body weight following surgery) was -5.77 lbs (-3.15%) at 3 months, -5.28 lbs (-2.77%) at 6 months, -4.02 lbs (-2.17%) at 12 months, -4.18 lbs (-2.23%) at 2 years, -4.16 lbs (-2.20%) at 3 years, and -9.8 lbs (-5.29%) at 5 years. No patient who lost weight required revision surgery for additional skin removal.

Conclusions: Patients undergoing abdominoplasty experienced maintenance of surgical weight reduction and continued weight loss up to 5 years postoperatively. Those with a higher body mass index had significantly greater weight loss that increased at later time intervals.

Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, IV.