Abdominoplasty in obese and in morbidly obese patients

This study aims to determine if morbid obesity increases morbidity in abdominoplasty. Upon examining 200 patients, 100 morbidly obese and 100 overweight and obese, it was found that there is no difference in the complication rate between the two categories. It was also found that, when compared to global rates of complication, there is no difference in the rate of complication of dermolipectomy as a whole in non-obese patients. However, comorbid diseases are more correlated to complication. This article concludes with a remark that although morbid obesity should not preclude abdominoplasty, patients benefit from the operation even when it is performed as a functional operation and not as a cosmetic procedure. (C) 2009 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.