Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty - a consecutive case series

Sixty-eight consecutive patients who had undergone Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty are described. The mean age was 39 years, (22-62 years) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 29 kg/m(2) (17-47 kg/m(2)). Forty patients had documented weight Loss, mean 39 kg (10-103 kg). The operation duration ranged from 1 h 10 min to 4 h 15 min. The mean mass of tissue resected was 2.4 kg, (0.3-9.1 kg). The overall complication rate was 42/68 (62%) and complications were categorised as early, Late, general and aesthetic. Complications were significantly related to patients with a greater age (p = 0.0091), increasing BMI (p = 0.0039), greater weight (p = 0.0014) and greater mass of tissue resected (p = 0.0002). There was no significant association between smoking and complications. There was no significant association between previous gastric partitioning surgery and complications. Despite the significant complication rate, a single operation achieved a satisfactory outcome in 82% of patients. Our data reinforce findings from previous studies, which have demonstrated that patients should be required to reduce weight prior to body contouring surgery. (C) 2003 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.