Lipoabdominoplasty: Revisiting the Superior Pull-Down Abdominal Flap and New Approaches

Abstract

Abdominoplasty is a very common procedure, especially for patients with abdominal laxness, striaes, and muscle rectus diastases. With the advent of liposuction 28 years ago, we can improve body contouring by treating lipodystrophies in the epigastric, flank, trochanteric, and buttocks areas. The procedure combining abdominoplasty and liposuction is called lipoabdominoplasty. Many new techniques have been proposed since these procedures were introduced; we now revisit the superior pull-down abdominal flap technique with several new modifications and improvements.

Liposuction came on the scene 28 years ago [1]. Since lipoabdominoplasty was first described by Callia [2] and Pitanguy [3], many refinements to the procedure have been published [4–14]. In 1975, Sinder [15] described the superior epigastric incision approach to estimate a safe inferior abdominal flap excision. Planas [16] published a similar procedure, and Serson Neto [17] and Pontes [18] described the geometrical inferior flap block resection. Stemming from those techniques, we have introduced some important approaches and details to ensure superior flap safety and to improve postoperative results; they are summarized here.

With the patient in a sitting position, we estimate the amount of skin to be resected and outline the extension of the inferior suprapubic incision by the inguinal groove extremities. Epidural anesthesia via catheter is usually used, with bandage compression on the legs to prevent thrombovenous embolism. The first surgical step consists of releasing the superior abdomen wall with an assisted mechanical cannula liposuction procedure, originally described by Saldanha [19] and Avelar [20]. The incision starts in the supraumbilical area and goes to the xiphoid appendix through a narrow tunnel. The patient is placed in a Fowler position, and the superior flap is pulled down to assess whether it will reach the suprapubic line. This maneuver is important to ensure an accurate estimate of the amount of skin needed to be resected without stretching. We then trim the umbilical stack and a block resection of the entire infra-abdominal flap is done. Demarcation of the new umbilicus orifice is done and adhesions stitches, as described by Baroudi [21] and Pollock [22], are placed. Intradermic sutures with long-term absorbable sutures and a compression garment finalize the surgery.

Materials and Methods

This surgery is indicated in patients with abdominal laxness, extensive striaes, rectus muscle diastases, and localized lipodystrophy, a very common pathology after pregnancy and also in postbariatric surgical patients (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

A 42-year-old patient with abdominal laxness, striaes, and rectus muscle diastasis

Preoperative Demarcation

With the patient in a sitting position, we estimate the amount of skin to be resected. We identify the lateral inguinal folds (Fig. 2) and a low abdominal curved line is delineated approximately 8 cm from the labia major vertex. With the patient standing, a line drawn from the superior umbilical is connected to both extremities and the areas to undergo liposuction are outlined (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2.

With the patient in a sitting position, we identify the inguinal groove extremities and the inferior suprapubic incision is outlined

Fig. 3.

With the patient standing, we outline the supraumbilicus incision connecting both extremities and we outline the areas to be loosened and undermined

Anesthesia

An epidural catheter is inserted in the 11–12 spinal space and connected to a continuous infusion pump. A 15-ml solution of 7.5 mg/ml ropivacaine HCl (Naropin) and 30 mg sufentanil citrate is infused into the epidural space and an analgesic solution is prepared for postoperative administration via the infusion pump (100 mg sufentanil citrate and saline solution 0.9%, 100 ml at 5 ml/h) [23]. Elastic bandages are applied to the legs to prevent thrombovenous embolism (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4.

Epidural anesthesia with catheter for continuous analgesic infusion and leg bandages to prevent thrombovenous embolism

Tumescent Infiltration and Assisted Liposuction

All areas to be lipoaspirated and undermined are infiltrated with a saline solution containing epinephrine at 1:500,000 concentration to avoid excessive bleeding. The patient is put in a prone position and the flank and trochanteric areas are manually lipoaspirated with a 3-mm cannula. The patient is then rotated to the supine position and extended liposuction is done to the entire abdomen and epigastric areas. It is important to reach the inframammary region and the xiphoid appendix, extending to the condrocostal border, to fully loosen this area. For this maneuver we use an angular cannula, described by Reggazzo (personal communication), to prevent internal perforations. The only region to be avoided is the lateral superior flank in order to avoid damaging the neurovascular bundles that give arterial, venous, and neural support to the flap (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

Supra-condrocostal area to be loosened by angular cannula and flank lateral area to be preserved

Supraumbilical Incision and Epigastric Tunnel Undermining

A supraumbilical incision is first done and an epigastric tunnel is undermined to the xiphoid appendix (Fig. 6). It is important to preserve the lateral superior flank area and to avoid damage to the neurovascular bundles that support the entire flap. We have already described this [24, 25] and proposed the miniabdominoplasty technique (Fig. 7), stressing the importance of preserving the lateral columns when undermining the long xipho-pubis tunnel and total umbilical stack section.

Fig. 6.

Supraumbilical incision is done first and a tunnel is undermined to the xiphoid process, preserving the lateral neurovascular bundles

Fig. 7.

Lipominiabdominoplasty proposed by the author in 1987, with total amputation of the umbilicus stack and undermining of a long xipho-pubis tunnel, preserving the lateral neurovascular bundles

Pull-Down Flap Approach

The patient is put in the Fowler position and the flap is pulled down to try to reach the inferior suprapubic line delineated previously and to estimate whether the inferior flap resection can be done en bloc without problems (Fig. 8). This maneuver is critical to determine whether the defect can be closed without stretching. The inferior suprapubic line can then be moved up or down depending on the laxness and elasticity of the skin and patient biotype. Normally, it is approximately 7–8 cm from the labia major vertex.

Fig. 8.

The patient is in the Fowler position and the superior flap is pulled down to try to reach the inferior suprapubic outlined incision. This is a safety measure to prevent stretching and undesirable vascular complications

Umbilical Stack Circumcision and Inferior Flap Block Resection

After confirming the safety of the pull-down approach, the patient is again placed in the horizontal position and the umbilical stack is trimmed to an elliptical shape. The suprapubic incision is done superficially to avoid damaging the lymphatic vessels and the cutaneous muscle nerves that give the lateral thighs sensibility. We preserve a border of 4–5 cm of the aponeurosis superficialis-scarpa fascia. Then the entire flap is raised en bloc from the abdomen wall (Fig. 9).

Fig. 9.

The inferior flap is raised en bloc, preserving the umbilicus stack and an inferior border of 4–5 cm of scarpa fascia to protect the lymphatic vessels and the cutaneus muscle nerves

Fat Trimming

The excess fat from the upper flap is trimmed, preserving the scarpa fascia and the superior lateral pedicle of the nerves, veins, and arteries—the branches that supply the entire abdomen flap and which cannot be undermined. The scarpa fascia protects those branches laterally (Fig. 10).

Fig. 10.

The excess abdominal wall fat is trimmed away, preserving the scarpa fascia and the neurovascular bundles

Rectus Muscle Aponeurotic Plication

The rectus muscle diastasis is identified and two lines are drawn from the xiphoid appendix to the suprapubic area. A 3-0 nylon nonabsorbable suture (PDS) is used; sutures start from the epigastric area down to and including the umbilicus stack in a medium-to-firm fixation. We then have a tunnel approximately 6 cm wide and a waist improvement of approximately 8 cm (Fig. 11).

Fig.11.

Plication of the muscle aponeurosis diastases, fixing the umbilicus stack, and preserving the lateral neurovascular bundles

Exteriorization of the Umbilicus Stack

The patient is put in a semi-Fowler position (45°) and the flap is extended to the pubis area. A 2-0 nylon stitch is placed to support the flap, and, using Allis forceps, the umbilicus stack is grasped and projected to the abdomen wall. We identify it with blue methylene, marking 1.5-2 cm above its new position (Fig. 12). This procedure is very important to avoid stretching or vascular damage to the suprapubic area. With a No. 11 blade, we make a cross-shaped incision approximately 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. We trim the surrounding fat and four repairing stitches are placed to fix the umbilicus stack deep into the muscle aponeurotic plane (Fig. 13).

Fig. 12.

With the patient in a semi-Fowler position (45º) we identify the umbilicus stack and bring it upward 2 cm to release the suprapubic stretching

Fig. 13.

A criss-cross incision is done and the umbilicus stack is exteriorized and fixed with four stitches deep into the aponeurotic level

Subcutaneous Adhesion Stitches and Closing Sutures

Approximately 10-12 nonabsorbable 4-0 stitches are placed in the subcutaneous level, fixing the scarpa fascia to the muscle aponeurotic tissue. This procedure was described by Baroudi [21]; a posterior approach was described by Pollok [22] to diminish the “death space” and to avoid flap sliding, preventing hematomas and seromas postoperatively. The inferior scarpa fascia border is sutured together with the subcutaneous flap to protect the lymphatic vessels and musculocutaneous nerves. Even with these stitches, we maintain a suction drain for 12 h. Subcutaneous and intradermic sutures are made with monocryl 4–0, and micropore sterile strips are attached to the new scar (Fig. 14).

Fig. 14.

Several adhesion stitches are made to fix the subcutaneous “dead space,” and the inferior scarpa fascia is sutured into the flap to protect the lymphatic vessels and musculocutaneous nerves

Postoperative Remarks

Support undergarments are placed on the patient to reinforce and maintain pressure on the abdomen wall. The patient is kept in the hospital overnight; the epidural catheter is kept connected to the pump for 24 h. A solution of sufentanil citrate (100 mg) with saline solution 0.9% (100 ml) is continuously infused only to prevent pain; no other analgesic drugs are administered. The patient can and should move her legs beginning immediately after the surgery this is important to prevent venous thromboembolism. Intensive care respiratory procedures are observed and leg massages given. The next day the epidural catheter is removed and the patient may start to walk slowly in a hunched position to avoid stretching the abdomen. The patient can be released if vital signs are normal (Figs. 15, 16, 17).

Fig. 15.

The same patient 3 months after surgery. She had a breast augmentation as well

Fig. 16.

Back view showing the body contour obtained by liposuction and patient in the preoperative and postoperative sitting position

Fig. 17.

A 46-year-old patient 2 years after lipoabdominoplasty combined with a mastopexy

Clinical Dates and Results

In the last 8 years we have performed this technique on 326 patients, all with these related improvements. Table 1 gives our data regarding complications. In two patients suprapubic epidermolyses occurred. Both patients were heavy smokers and although they stopped smoking 15 days before surgery, we observed epidermolyses in the suprapubic area which diminished with administration of buflomedil cloridrate 300 mg twice daily for 7 days starting 2 days before the surgery. In three obese patients seromas appeared 5–6 days after surgery. In those patients we had performed an intensive lipectomy of the flap and although we had used adhesion subcutaneous stitches, seroma resulted. Hypertrophic scars occurred in eight patients, three with white skin and five with black or multiethnic skin. Scar revision and “dog ear” correction was required in 12 patients.

Table 1.

Complications

Complications	No. of patients	%
Suprapubic epidermolyses	2	0.6
Suprapubic necrosis	0	0
Hematomas	0	0
Seromas	3	0.9
Hypertrophic scars	8	2.4
Infections	2	0.6
Dog ear scar revision	12	3.6
Thromboembolisms	0	0

Heller et al. [26] recently published a retrospective cohort study that evaluated four groups of abdominoplasty patients. Group I received only abdominal liposuction; group II received traditional W-pattern incision line abdominoplasty; group III had modified transverse incision abdominoplasty; and group IV underwent a combined procedure of liposuction and short undermined abdominoplasty. Heller et al. concluded that group IV had fewer complications than the other groups. When we compare these data with our group of lipoabdominoplasty patients, we had similar results with a lower percentage of complications.

Conclusion

We revisited the superior pull-down abdominal flap described by Sinder and introduced some new approaches and techniques to make it easier and safer: the sitting position to delineate the inferior curved incision, epidural catheter anesthesia, supra-condrocostal liposuction to loosen the inframammary area, undermining of the epigastric area only enough to bring down the flap, keeping the scarpa fascia on the lateral abdomen wall to protect the neurovascular pedicles and in the inferior abdomen to protect the lymphatic vessels and musculocutaneous nerves, exteriorization and fixing the umbilicus stack 2 cm above its projection, adhesion stitches in the subcutaneous level to prevent seromas, requiring early leg movement and walking—all these improvements have been successfully introduced and routinely applied in our clinic, reducing the surgical time and diminishing tremendously complications such as seromas, vascular flap necrosis, and venous thromboembolism.