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Circumferential Contouring of the Lower Trunk: Indications, Operative Techniques, and Outcomes—A Systematic Review

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  • Aesthetic
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An Erratum to this article was published on 20 July 2016

Abstract

Background

Increasing obesity prevalence and development of bariatric surgery have led to the development of skin re-draping techniques. Several contouring techniques have been described for treating the circumferential excess of the lower trunk.

Materials and Methods

We performed a systematic review to summarize surgical indications, operative techniques, peri-operative management (nutritional supplementation, antibiotic prophylaxis, thrombo-prophylaxis), outcomes, complications, patient satisfaction, and impact on quality of life of circumferential contouring of the lower trunk procedures. A systematic review, based on the PRISMA criteria, was conducted using the Pubmed and Cochrane databases.

Results

The review included 42 articles and 1748 operated patients. Two studies only were graded as level of evidence II; the others were graded as levels III to V. The most frequently reported indication was massive weight loss. All the described techniques derived either from belt lipectomy or lower bodylift. Belt lipectomy resulted in a posterior scar situated at the waistline and allowed a better correction of hip back rolls, whereas lower bodylift was more effective on buttock and lateral thigh ptosis. The most reported complication was wound dehiscence. Patient satisfaction and quality of life scores were high in all studies.

Conclusions

This review included a majority of low-level evidence studies that limit extrapolability of the results. Future randomized prospective studies may generate stronger evidence, with a standardization of surgical indications and operative techniques.

Level of Evidence III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Hospital Sud, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France

    Raphael Carloni, Paul Girard, Eric Watier & Nicolas Bertheuil

  2. Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery, Nancy University Hospital, 5400, Nancy, France

    Antoine De Runz

  3. EA 7299, ETHOS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France

    Antoine De Runz

  4. STROMAlab, UMR5273 CNRS/UPS/EFS - INSERM U1031, Rangueil Hospital, Toulouse, France

    Benoit Chaput & Nicolas Bertheuil

  5. Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Rangueil Hospital, Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse, France

    Benoit Chaput

  6. Department of Plastic Surgery and Burn Surgery, Hopital Lapeyronie, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France

    Christian Herlin

  7. INSERM U917, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France

    Nicolas Bertheuil

  8. SITI Laboratory, Etablissement Français du Sang Bretagne, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France

    Nicolas Bertheuil

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  1. Raphael Carloni
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  2. Antoine De Runz
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  3. Benoit Chaput
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  4. Christian Herlin
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  5. Paul Girard
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  6. Eric Watier
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  7. Nicolas Bertheuil
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Correspondence to Nicolas Bertheuil.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00266-016-0677-y.

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Carloni, R., De Runz, A., Chaput, B. et al. Circumferential Contouring of the Lower Trunk: Indications, Operative Techniques, and Outcomes—A Systematic Review. Aesth Plast Surg 40, 652–668 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-016-0660-7

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