The use of validated body image indices following panniculectomy

Limited data of body image and quality of life are available after panniculectomy. Although it is generally considered a medically necessary procedure, we believe that the benefits of this procedure are many. The Short Form of The Situational Inventory of Body Image Dysphoria Short Form and the Multidimensional Body Self Relations Appearance Scale Questionnaire (MBSRQ-AS) were used to evaluate 12 patients undergoing panniculectomy over a 2-year period. The questionnaires were completed pre- and postoperatively and scored accordingly. The Appearance Evaluation (AE) and the Body Area Satisfaction Scale subsets of the MBSRQ-AS were tested. Average follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 years. There was a significant decrease in body mass index among the pre- and postoperative groups (53.7 and 38.5, respectively; P = 0.039). Pre- and postoperative MBSRQ-AS AE scores were not statistically significant (3.2 vs. 3.1. respectively; P = 0.86). There was, however, a trend toward improvement of the MBSRQ-AS Body Area Satisfaction Scale scores (2.3 vs. 2.8; P = 0.125) in the postoperative group. Similarly patients who had undergone panniculectomies demonstrated improved Situational Inventory of Body Image Dysphoria Short Form scores (2.5 vs. 1.6, pre- and postoperative, respectively; P = 0.065). The panniculectomy procedure in obese patients not only resulted in a significant reduction in body mass index but also improved their body image assessment scores. Routine use of these outcomes measures may be an important tool in quality assessment in this patient population.