Within New Zealand 32% of adults are now classed as obese. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity and is being performed increasingly. The resulting massive weight loss in these patients can lead to both functional problems and profound dissatisfaction with appearance. Correcting skin excess improves these corollaries. The flow-on demand for secondary body contouring procedures constitutes a rapidly growing challenge for Plastic & Reconstructive surgical services.
In this audit we report on the outcomes of this cohort undergoing secondary body-contouring procedures within the Christchurch Plastic Surgery Department over a four-year period. Multi-variate analysis of pre-operative and intra-operative parameters was employed to examine associated risk to post-operative complication.
Twenty-four patients, mean-age and weight-loss of 43.9 years, and 52.4kg respectively underwent body-contouring procedure. Referral to Surgery was less than two-years. Average excess tissue removed 5.4kg. An overall complication rate of 33.3% was observed. Multi-variate analysis identified increasing current BMI and smoking status as having a moderate correlation with complications observed. Increasing current BMI was found to be a statistically significant risk factor for increasing severity of complication. Post-operative Body-Q satisfaction score 91%. These results underscore the importance & effectiveness of the Christchurch Body Contouring service.