Medial advancement of infraumbilical Scarpa's fascia improves waistline definition in "Brazilian" abdominoplasty.

UNLABELLED: Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to rejuvenate truncal aesthetics, in which restoring "normal" waistline definition is one of the most challenging elements. Advancement in surgical techniques is reducing surgical risk and improving aesthetic outcomes. In this study we adopted the "Brazilian" abdominoplasty technique, originally presented by Ramos at the International Society of Plastic Surgeons Meeting in Australia (2008). Waist definition is improved by medially advancing Scarpa's fascia and repairing any divarication of the rectus abdominis muscles before vertically reducing redundant skin. In our study we demonstrated the role of Scarpa's fascia as an important part of the superficial fascial system, which helps define waist contour. The technique we demonstrate shows improved contouring and waist definition with lower complication rates (by minimising dissection and dead spaces). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266 .