ABSTRACT
Background: The increasing number of patients who undergo bariatric surgery implies on a greater demand of reparative procedures for improvement of body contour. Methods: We describe a variation technique medial "T" thighplasty with addition of a triangular skin flap from the upper base, breaking the horizontal incision that runs the inguinal crease. This flap is positioned at the point of greatest traction craniocaudal corresponding to the vaginal opening and the tendon of the adductor muscle. The technique was employed in 18 patients. Results: The mean age of patients was 47 years, 22% had comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus and varicose disease). All had undergone bariatric surgery at a mean period of postoperative 63 months, mean BMI before bariatric surgery 48 and before thighplasty of 29 kg/m2. Seven (39%) patients underwent another procedure at the same intervention. The incidence of delayed healing was 25%, dehiscence of 8% and 11% of hypertrophic scars. None of them has traction side of the vulva or migration flow scars along the mean follow up of 10 months. Conclusions: The use of the triangular flap for medial thighplasty after major weight loss was shown to be a viable technical change that minimized the pull side of the vulva and the inferior migration of scars.
Keywords: Thigh/surgery. Weight loss. Bariatric surgery. Surgery, plastic/methods.