Anatomic reconstruction for major tissue loss following abdominoplasty: A case report

Abdominoplasty is currently one of the most widely requested cosmetic procedures in the United States. There is limited literature describing the corrective measures following skin loss from a flap necrosis due to an abdominoplasty complication.

A 53-year-old female presented with a large split thickness skin graft due to skin loss as a necrotic complication from an abdominoplasty performed at our center. The patient suffered from emotional stress related to the abdominal deformity, which included a lack of an umbilicus.

Patient recovered well post-operatively. She required two procedures - the initial procedure involved excision of the skin graft and closure with the patient's own full-thickness skin and tissue. The second procedure, which occurred six months later, involved the creation of an umbilical stalk from a small cuff of skin.

Abdominoplasty, although sought for cosmetic purposes, is indeed a major procedure and can result in complications especially from aggressive liposculpture. When complications do occur, revisions are indeed possible with aesthetically pleasing results.