Umbilical reconstruction for patients with a midline scar

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Background:

• Vertical midline scars and extensive tegumental resections after bariatric surgery often lead to cosmetic concerns and scar complications.
• Traditional umbilical reconstruction methods may not adequately address these specific patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a new surgical technique for neo-umbilicoplasty in patients with challenging abdominal scars post-bariatric surgery.
• To achieve aesthetically pleasing umbilical reconstruction while mitigating scar-related issues.

Main Methods:

• A technique involving two lateral pedicle flaps sutured together to form a cutaneous tube.
• The inverted flap end is anchored to the aponeurotic plane to create a navel cavity.
• Application of the technique in seven cases of umbilical reconstruction.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of a navel cavity with no surrounding scar.
• Effective relief of tension along existing vertical scars.
• Resulting scars showed reduced propensity for hypertrophy and improved cosmetic appearance.

Conclusions:

• The described neo-umbilicoplasty technique offers a viable solution for umbilical reconstruction in patients with post-bariatric surgery scars.
• This flap-based approach yields favorable cosmetic results and improves scar quality.