Abstract
Abdominoplasty is an extensive surgical operation, often followed by a significant number of local and general complications. Some studies indicate that the risk of severe complications, including mortality, ranges from 1 in 617 to 1 in 2,320 cases. Seroma is one of the serious consequences that follows each type of abdominal contour surgery, from suction-assisted lipoplasty to standard and limited abdominoplasty. A case of a 46-year-old women who underwent standard abdominoplasty and liposuction during the same procedure is presented. In the follow-up examination, a chronic seroma with pseudobursa was observed. The pseudobursa was evacuated multiple times under ultrasound control. During one evacuation, 2,010 ml of seroma was evacuated. Because of the prolonged Seroma formation, the pseudobursa grew, creating a tumor-like effect in the front abdominal wall. In a second operation (miniabdominoplasty), the pseudobursa was completely excised, and the material was sent for analysis. Progressive tension sutures were placed in additional lines to decrease the dead space, and to decrease movement between the abdominal flap and the musculoaponeurotic layer, as suggested by Saltz and Matarasso. Suction drainage with a compressive girdle was maintained for 2 weeks after the second operation. The follow-up assessment, performed 3 months after the second operation, showed no infection, skin necrosis, hernia formation, or new chronic seroma with pseudobursa.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baroudi R: Flankplasty: A specific treatment to improve body contouring. Am Plast Surg 27:404, 1991
Baroudi R, Ferreira CAA: Seroma: How to avoid it and how to treat it. Aesth Surg J 18:439, 1998
Boraudi R, Morares M: A “bicycle-handlebar”type incision for primary and secondary abdominoplasty. Aesth Plast Surg 19:307, 1995
Buzola AR, Psillakis JM: Abdominoplasty: A new concept and classification for treatment. Plast Reconst Surg 82:983, 1988
Colon G, Matarasso A, Vasconez L, Baroudi I: Abdominoplasty. Plast Surg Newslett 4:1, 1995
Dubou R, Ousterhout DK: Placement of the umbilicus in an abdominoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 61:291, 1978
Eaves FF, Nahai F, Bostwick J III: Endoscopic abdominoplasty and endoscopically assisted miniabdominoplasty. Clin Plast Surg 23:599, 1996
Gasparotti M: Superficial liposuction: A new application of the technique for aged and flaccid skin. Aesth Plast Surg 16:141, 1992
Grazer FM, Goldwyn RM: Abdominoplasty assessed by survey, with emphasis on complications. Plast Reconstr Surg 59:513, 1977
Greminger R: The minabdominoplasty, Plast Reconstr Surg 79:356, 1987
Griffith RW: Relative risk: Mortality, probability, and plastic surgery. Br J Plast Surg 41:660, 1989
Huger WE Jr: 1979 The anatomic rationale for abdominal lipectomy. Am Surg 45:612, 1979
Huges CE III: Reduction of lipoplasty risk and mortality: An ASAPS survey. Aesth Surg J 21:120, 2000
Hughes CH, Baroudi R, Lockwood TE, Matarasso A: Abdominoplasty: Panel discussion. Aesth Surg J 22:465, 2002
Lockwood T: High-lateral tension abdominoplasty with superficial fascial system suspension. Plast Reconstr Surg 96:603, 1995
Lucas AA, Hunstad JP, Saltz R, Toledo L: Issues in abdominoplasty: Panel discussion. Aesth Surg J 20:403, 2003
Mataraso A Abdominoplasty. Clin Plast Surg 16:355, 1989
Matarasso A: Liposuction as an adjuvant to full abdominoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 5:829, 1995
Mataraso A: Minimal-access variation in abdominoplasty. Ann Plast Surg 34:255, 1995
Matarasso A: Awareness and avoidance of abdominoplasty complications. Aesth Surg J 17:256, 1997
Pitanguy I: Abdominai lipectomy: An approach to it through an analysis of 300 concecutive cases. Plast Reconstr Surg 40:384, 1967
Pitanguy I: 1975 Abdominal lipectomy. Clin Plast Surg 2:401, 1975
Ramirez OM: Abdominoplasty and abdominal wall rehabilitation: A comprehensive approach. Plast Reconstr Surg 105:425, 2000
Regnault P, Daniel PA: Abdominoplasty by W technique. Plast Reconst Surg 55:265, 1975
Regnault P, Daniel RK: Abdominoplasty. In: Regnault P, Daniel RK (eds), Aesthetic plastic Surgery. Little Brown: Boston, Chapter 25
Seun-Jun O, Thaller SR: Refinements in abdominoplasty. Clin Plast Surg 29:95, 2002
Teimourian B, Rogers WB: A national survey of complications associated with suction lipectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 84:628, 1989
Wilkinson TS: Limited abdominoplasty techniques applied to complete abdominal repair. Plast Reconstr Surg 18:49, 1994
Wilkinson TS, Swartz BE: 1986 Individual modification of body contour surgery: The “limited” abdominoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 77:779, 1986
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roje, Z., Roje, Ž., Karanović, N. et al. Abdominoplasty Complications: A Comprehensive Approach for the Treatment of Chronic Seroma with Pseudobursa. Aesth Plast Surg 30, 611–615 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-004-0142-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-004-0142-1