Valerie M Monpellier1, Evangelia E Antoniou1, Sandra Mulkens1, Ignace M C Janssen1, Anita T M Jansen1, Aebele B Mink van der Molen1. 1. From the Nederlandse Obesitas Kliniek; the Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, the Department of Epidemiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University; the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Medical Center, Utrecht; Nederlandse Obesitas Kliniek West, Haaglanden Medical Centre; and the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery, Sint Antonius Hospital.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Body contouring surgery improves quality of life, weight loss, and body image after bariatric surgery. It is unclear why only a minority of the post-bariatric surgery population undergoes body contouring surgery. This study assesses overhanging skin, body satisfaction, and qualification for reimbursement of body contouring surgery in a Dutch post-bariatric surgery population. METHODS: Post-bariatric patients were selected from a prospective database. Electronic questionnaires evaluated demographics, desire for body contouring surgery, excess skin, and satisfaction with their body. RESULTS: A total of 590 patients were included: 368 patients (62.4 percent) desired body contouring surgery, 157 (26.6 percent) did not and 65 (11.0 percent) had undergone body contouring surgery. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the percentage of patients who met the qualifications for reimbursement. Patients who desired body contouring surgery had more body parts affected by overhanging skin and more often rated the overhanging skin with a Pittsburgh Rating Scale grade 3 compared with patients without a desire to undergo body contouring surgery. The plastic surgeon was never consulted by 39.1 percent of the "desire" population; 44.1 percent of these patients met the weight criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Post-bariatric patients who desired body contouring surgery had more excess skin than patients without a desire and were less satisfied with their body. Almost half of these patients never consulted a plastic surgeon, partly because of incorrect assumptions regarding reimbursement. Plastic surgeons (together with bariatric teams) should better inform these patients about body contouring surgery possibilities.
BACKGROUND: Body contouring surgery improves quality of life, weight loss, and body image after bariatric surgery. It is unclear why only a minority of the post-bariatric surgery population undergoes body contouring surgery. This study assesses overhanging skin, body satisfaction, and qualification for reimbursement of body contouring surgery in a Dutch post-bariatric surgery population. METHODS: Post-bariatric patients were selected from a prospective database. Electronic questionnaires evaluated demographics, desire for body contouring surgery, excess skin, and satisfaction with their body. RESULTS: A total of 590 patients were included: 368 patients (62.4 percent) desired body contouring surgery, 157 (26.6 percent) did not and 65 (11.0 percent) had undergone body contouring surgery. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding the percentage of patients who met the qualifications for reimbursement. Patients who desired body contouring surgery had more body parts affected by overhanging skin and more often rated the overhanging skin with a Pittsburgh Rating Scale grade 3 compared with patients without a desire to undergo body contouring surgery. The plastic surgeon was never consulted by 39.1 percent of the "desire" population; 44.1 percent of these patients met the weight criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Post-bariatric patients who desired body contouring surgery had more excess skin than patients without a desire and were less satisfied with their body. Almost half of these patients never consulted a plastic surgeon, partly because of incorrect assumptions regarding reimbursement. Plastic surgeons (together with bariatric teams) should better inform these patients about body contouring surgery possibilities.
Authors: S Christopher Derderian; Lindel C Dewberry; Luke Patten; Thomas J Sitzman; Alexander M Kaizer; Todd M Jenkins; Marc P Michalsky; Changchun Xie; James E Mitchell; Thomas Inge Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2020-04-24 Impact factor: 4.734
Authors: Claire E E de Vries; Lisa van den Berg; Valerie M Monpellier; Maarten M Hoogbergen; Aebele B Mink van der Molen; Steve M M de Castro; Berend van der Lei Journal: Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open Date: 2020-06-24
Authors: S Christopher Derderian; Luke Patten; Alexander M Kaizer; Thomas H Inge; Todd M Jenkins; Marc P Michalsky; Changchun Xie; Lindel C Dewberry; Thomas J Sitzman Journal: Surg Obes Relat Dis Date: 2019-09-18 Impact factor: 4.734