Comparative analysis of the evolution and postoperative complications of body contouring plastic surgeries after massive weight loss in young and elderly patientsBACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of procedures are being used to treat elderly ex-obese patients after bariatric therapies. However, reliable data regarding the evolution and complications of this population are scarce in the literature. In this study, we aimed to analyze the evolution and complications of abdominoplasty performed in patients with advanced age after massive weight loss and compare them to the corresponding data from younger patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who experienced massive weight loss and underwent surgery for abdominal contouring between July 2005 and July 2011 in the State Hospital Sapopemba (HESAP). An age of ≥ 60 years was used as a criterion for advanced age, in order to divide patients into groups to analyze the postoperative period and complications of abdominoplasty performed after massive weight loss. RESULTS: We analyzed 264 patients, 19 of whom were 60-75 years of age (Group I) and 245 of whom were 22-59 years of age (Group J). Group I had a major complication rate of 10.5% (P > 0.999) and a minor complication rate of 41.1% (P = 0.280), whereas Group J had a major complication rate of 10.6% (P > 0.999) and a minor complication rate of 30.2% (P = 0.280). CONCLUSIONS: Patients ≥ 60 years of age do not have a higher rate of complications than younger patients after abdominoplasty.
Plastic surgery; Bariatric surgery; Aged; Obesity
