Pregnancy after transverse plication lipoabdominoplasty, undermining halted at umbilicus, liposuction without restrictions, umbilicoplasty with a skin graft, and low transverse scar localization (TULUA). Literature review and case report.

Abstract

Objective: To report the case of a pregnant woman with a history of transverse plication abdominoplasty (TULUA) and to conduct a review of the available literature on the impact of this intervention on the course of gestation and vice versa.

Methods: Case report of a 23-year-old pregnant woman with a history of TULUA abdominoplasty performed eight months before pregnancy. A literature search was conducted in Medline, Cochrane Library, SciELO, LILACS, BVS and Google Scholar, with no restriction by language or date of publication. Studies of any design were included, including case reports. Book chapters and clinical practice guidelines were excluded.

Results: Overall, 1,158 studies were identified, of which 13 case reports or case series met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, for a total of 111 patients. No reports of TULUA before pregnancy were found. Age at the time of delivery ranged between 19 and 37 years and all births were at term, with newborns of adequate birth weight. Eleven studies described the route of delivery, including 7 cases of cesarean section and 4 vaginal deliveries. Two studies described the development of cervical prolapse, one at 15 weeks of gestation and the second at the time of labor. Three patients experienced impaired abdominal wall nerve block during the cesarean section. Regarding cosmetic results after delivery, there is a paucity of data about potential relapse in the form of skin laxity or diastasis. However, satisfactory cosmetic results were reported in two cases.

Conclusions: There is a paucity of literature on the topic of pregnancy following abdominoplasty, and it is limited to case reports. The literature suggests that abdominoplasty could increase the frequency of cervical prolapse and cesarean section, although the impact on perinatal outcome is not clear. It appears that abdominal wall repair is maintained. Additional studies focusing on perinatal outcomes in women with abdominoplasty and the impact of gestation on the results of the intervention are required.