Abstract
Introduction
Obesity is a growing condition leading to a concomitant increase in bariatric procedures.
The anchor-line or fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty improves body contour by excising redundant
skin and subcutaneous tissue. Pregnancy implies abdominal distension, both musculoaponeurotic
and cutaneous. However, the knowledge of its relationship with abdominoplasty remains
scarce, especially regarding the potential negative effects on esthetic outcomes or
abdominoplasty-related increases in gestational complications.
Materials and Methods
We conducted a retrospective study on patients submitted to postbariatric fleur-de-lis
abdominoplasty from 2012 and 2023 who subsequentially got pregnant. We assessed their
medical records, photographic archives, and answers to an online questionnaire.
Results
The study included seven patients, all previously submitted to gastric bypass. Although
one patient suffered a miscarriage, the remaining subjects had successful pregnancies.
Six patients noticed an altered pattern of abdominal growth. Five pregnancies were
full-term, and one was preterm; the delivery route was cesarean section in five patients
and vaginal labor in one subject. Two newborns were small for their gestational age.
The reported esthetic issues included a new onset of striae in five patients, scar
stretching in four, and excessive skin worsening in six subjects. The pre- and postpregnancy
scores decreased from 8.7 to 5.8 points. One patient reported no changes in the esthetic
outcomes.
Conclusion
Although pregnancy had some influence on abdominoplasty esthetic outcomes, the impairment
was not severe. Pregnancy and delivery in patients previously submitted to postbariatric
fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty did not present a higher complication rate.
Keywords abdominoplasty - bariatric surgery - body contouring - obesity - pregnancy - surgery
- plastic
Bibliographical Record
