Two consecutive abdominoplasties to solve a problem of striae.

Two consecutive abdominoplasties can be performed on a patient after a 2-year interval between the first and second procedure by using the same technique. This procedure has been used for specific cases of flaccid abdominal wall skin and excess striae located throughout the abdominal region, mostly above the umbilical line. Applying the conventional low horizontal incision, the amount of striae to be resected with the excess skin is not sufficient to dislocate the highest striae to a lower position. The poor result obtained in the first abdominoplasty motivates the author to perform a second one after 18 months. The second caudal dislocation of the cutaneous flap, using the same surgical technique, improves the final result by removing almost all residual striae between the navel and the horizontal scar line. A minimum amount of striae remains located a few centimeters above the final horizontal scar. No vertical compensating suture was needed and no abnormal elevation of the scar was observed.