Bowel perforation after liposuction in abdominal contouring surgery: Case report

Liposuction is one of the most performed procedures in aesthetic plastic surgery worldwide, and its spectrum of applications covers almost all body areas. Systemic or visceral complications following liposuction are rare, but unfortunately, they can be very serious.

We discuss the case of a 69 y.o. woman who underwent abdominal contouring surgery consisting in flank pseudohernia correction, liposuction and short scar abdominoplasty, which was complicated by intestinal perforation. Bowel perforation was suspected on the 3rd day following surgery after a CT-scan and was treated with exploration through a median laparotomy, resection of the perforated bowel and subsequent ileo-ileal anastomosis. The 10 cm-long resected segment of the small intestine presented multiple 2 mm-large holes at the microscopic examination.

We assume that patient position on the operating table and abdominal wall laxity during surgery as well as the timing of each specific procedure played an important role in the occurrence of bowel perforation.

To our knowledge, this is the first case report of an accidental visceral perforation during a combined procedure of flank bulging correction and abdominal liposuction. Overall the increased risk of combined procedures in plastic surgery is linked to increased operative time. In the current case timing of surgery sequence more than operative time itself was relevant in increasing anterior abdominal wall pressure and thus setting the patient at a higher risk of bowel perforation.