BACKGROUND: Seroma is one of the most common complications in abdominoplasty. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of seroma formation in patients who underwent either abdominoplasty and lipoabdominoplasty. METHODS: The sample consisted of 41 female patients, who were divided into three groups and underwent one of the following procedures: group A (n=21), abdominoplasty and group B (n=20), lipoabdominoplasty. In order to investigate seroma formation, abdominal ultrasound was performed in 5 regions of the abdominal wall [epigastrium (EPI), umbilical (UMB), hypogastrium (HYPO), right iliac fossa (RIF) and left iliac fossa (LIF)], at two postoperative periods: (P1), between postoperative days 11 and 14, and (P2), between postoperative days 18 and 21. RESULTS: The rate of seroma formation at both P1 and P2 was significantly higher in group A than in group B. It was observed that, in group A at P1, the regions RIF and LIF developed larger fluid collections. In group B, there were significantly larger fluid collections in the HYPO region at P1, and in the UMB and HYPO regions at P2. CONCLUSION: Lipoabdominoplasty is effective technique for the prevention of seroma compared with abdominoplasty.
Seroma; Abdomen; Lipectomy; Plastic surgery; Ultrasonography
