Anchor-Line Abdominoplasty with Scarpa Fascia Preservation in Postbariatric Patients: A Comparative Randomized Study

Background The number of bariatric surgeries for the treatment of morbid obesity has increased, and there is growing demand for postbariatric abdominoplasty. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of Scarpa’s fascia preservation on total drainage volume, time to drain removal, and seroma formation in anchor-line abdominoplasty. Methods A total of 42 postbariatric patients were randomly assigned to two groups and underwent anchor-line abdominoplasty. Scarpa’s fascia was not preserved during abdominoplasty in one group ( n = 21) but was preserved in the other group ( n = 21). A suction drain was left in place until the drainage volume was less than 30 ml/24 h. Seroma formation was assessed by abdominal ultrasound on the twentieth postoperative day; only fluid collections greater than 30 ml were considered seromas. Results The time to drain removal was shorter, and the total drainage volume was lower in the fascial preservation group than in the fascial dissection group. However, no difference in the seroma formation rate was observed between the groups. Conclusion Scarpa’s fascia preservation decreased the drainage volume and the time to drain removal but not the rate of seroma formation. Level of Evidence II 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 .