Do progressive tension sutures really decrease complications in abdominoplasty?

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of progressive tension sutures (PTS) in preventing or reducing seroma formation and local wound complications in patients undergoing abdominoplasty. Forty-nine patients who underwent abdominoplasty procedures with the use of PTS were retrospectively compared with a historical control group of 54 patients who underwent standard abdominoplasty. Primary outcomes measured were seroma formation and local wound complications, including hypertrophic scar formation, umbilical distortion, and wound necrosis. Secondary outcomes were all other complications and time to drain removal. Overall complication rates and local wound complication rates were significantly reduced with the addition of PTS to abdominoplasty. Seroma formation and the time to drain removal were reduced in the PTS group, but the findings were not statistically significant.