Abdominoplasty: the use of stapled prolene mesh in severe musculoaponeurotic laxity.

We have evaluated the role of stapled Prolene mesh for reinforcement of the midline abdominal wall plication in patients with advanced musculoaponeurotic laxity. Twenty-one multiparous women underwent a standard abdominoplasty with wide longitudinal rectus sheath plication, followed by stapling of the mesh to the external oblique fascia and anterior rectus sheath. All patients were followed up for at least 6 months and 10 of them for 1 year. None of the patients had a major complication. All patients except one maintained an appreciable improvement in their abdominal contour when evaluated at 6 months. The technical aspects, possible advantages, and complications of using such a procedure in this particular group of patients are described.