Excess skin after weight loss following bariatric surgery: focus on the abdomen.

[BACKGROUND] The majority of postbariatric patients experience major problems from excess skin, with most desiring abdominoplasty.

[OBJECTIVES] To present visual assessments and objective measurements of excess abdominal skin; analyze relationships between patient-reported outcomes, objective measurements of excess skin, and visual assessments; and discuss criteria for reconstructive abdominal surgery in public healthcare.

[SETTING] An academic hospital in Sweden.

[METHODS] This is a secondary analysis of a prospective, longitudinal study that included 200 obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, with 147 of these patients participating in follow-up 18-months postsurgery. Patients rated their symptoms related to excess skin and quality of life (QoL) according to the Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire and EuroQol-5 D before and after bariatric surgery. Abdominal ptosis was measured at different anatomic locations.

[RESULTS] Waist circumference and ptosis were significantly reduced at all anatomic locations after weight loss, and abdominal ptosis was significantly larger laterally than at the midline (P < .001). The majority of patients had a ptosis ≥3 cm following bariatric surgery and had significantly more symptoms related to excess skin relative to those reported preoperation (P < .05). Additionally, the number of patients experiencing discomfort from excess skin increased along with increased ptosis size, but the correlation between ptosis size and QoL was low. Reconstructive abdominal surgery was requested by 70% of patients, all having significantly larger ptosis and significantly more symptoms than those not desiring surgery.

[CONCLUSION] Criteria for abdominal reconstruction should be based on both patient-reported symptoms and objective measures to ensure more patient-centered care than is possible only using objective measurements.