BACKGROUND: Collapsed skin folds after bariatric weight loss are often managed by plastic procedures, but changes in dermal composition and architecture have rarely been documented. Given the potential consequences on surgical outcome, a prospective histochemical study was designed. The hypothesis was that a deranged dermal fiber pattern would accompany major changes in adipose tissue. METHODS: Female surgical candidates undergoing postbariatric abdominoplasty (n=40) and never obese women submitted to control procedures (n=40) were submitted to double abdominal biopsy, respectively in the epigastrium and hypogastrium. Histomorphometric assessment of collagen and elastic fibers was executed by the Image Analyzer System (Kontron Electronic 300, Zeiss, Germany). RESULTS: Depletion of collagen, but not of elastic fibers, in cases with massive weight loss was confirmed. Changes were somewhat more severe in epigastrium (P=0.001) than hypogastrium (P=0.007). Correlation with age did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients displayed lax, soft skin lacking sufficient collagen fiber network. (2) Elastic fiber content was not damaged, and was even moderately increased in epigastrium; (3) Preoperative obesity negatively correlated with hypogastric collagen concentration; (4) Future studies should pinpoint the roles of obesity, and especially of massive weight loss, on dermal architecture and response to surgery.
BACKGROUND: Collapsed skin folds after bariatric weight loss are often managed by plastic procedures, but changes in dermal composition and architecture have rarely been documented. Given the potential consequences on surgical outcome, a prospective histochemical study was designed. The hypothesis was that a deranged dermal fiber pattern would accompany major changes in adipose tissue. METHODS: Female surgical candidates undergoing postbariatric abdominoplasty (n=40) and never obesewomen submitted to control procedures (n=40) were submitted to double abdominal biopsy, respectively in the epigastrium and hypogastrium. Histomorphometric assessment of collagen and elastic fibers was executed by the Image Analyzer System (Kontron Electronic 300, Zeiss, Germany). RESULTS: Depletion of collagen, but not of elastic fibers, in cases with massive weight loss was confirmed. Changes were somewhat more severe in epigastrium (P=0.001) than hypogastrium (P=0.007). Correlation with age did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Patients displayed lax, soft skin lacking sufficient collagen fiber network. (2) Elastic fiber content was not damaged, and was even moderately increased in epigastrium; (3) Preoperative obesity negatively correlated with hypogastric collagen concentration; (4) Future studies should pinpoint the roles of obesity, and especially of massive weight loss, on dermal architecture and response to surgery.
Authors: Robson K Ishida; Joel Faintuch; Ana M R Paula; Christiane A Risttori; Sabrina N Silva; Elaine S Gomes; Rejane Mattar; Rogerio Kuga; Adriana S Ribeiro; Paulo Sakai; Hermes V Barbeiro; Denise F Barbeiro; Francisco G Soriano; Ivan Cecconello Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2007-06 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Chrishan S Samuel; Chongxin Zhao; Ross A D Bathgate; Xiao-Jun DU; Roger J Summers; Edward P Amento; Lesley L Walker; Mary McBurnie; Ling Zhao; Geoffrey W Tregear Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 5.691
Authors: R E Watson; E J Parry; J D Humphries; C J Jones; D W Polson; C M Kielty; C E Griffiths Journal: Br J Dermatol Date: 1998-06 Impact factor: 9.302
Authors: Adrian Dragu; Stefan Schnürer; Frank Unglaub; Maya B Wolf; Justus P Beier; Ulrich Kneser; Raymund E Horch Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Daniela Francescato Veiga; Rodolpho A Bussolaro; Elsa Y Kobayashi; Valquíria P Medeiros; João R M Martins; Elvio B Garcia; Neil F Novo; Helena B Nader; Lydia M Ferreira Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Nina Engerer; Konstantin Frank; Denis Ehrl; Sebastian Cotofana; Nicholas Moellhoff; Michael Alfertshofer; Riccardo E Giunta; Jeremy B Green; Paul Z Lorenc; Grace K Chaney Journal: Aesthetic Plast Surg Date: 2022-06-14 Impact factor: 2.708