Outpatient Lipoabdominoplasty: Review of the Literature and Practical Considerations for Safe Practice

Goals/Purpose:

Analyze our experience in outpatient lipoabdominoplasty to determine practical considerations for safe practice

Methods/Technique:

The charts of 67 consecutive lipoabdominoplasty patients performed from February 2007 until November 2011 were reviewed.  The procedures were performed at an AAAHC in office operating suite.  All patients underwent flank/back liposuction in prone position under MAC sedation followed by lipoabdominoplasty in supine position under LMA or endotracheal general anesthesia.  Following the procedure patients were recovered in the office post op area with 1:1 or 1:2 nursing care.  

Results/Complications:

All patients were female in the study group with average age 48 (27-70), average BMI 24.9 (17.7-35.5), average followup of 9 Months (1-54), average lipoaspirate obtained 1714 cc (150-5350), and average weight of resected tissue 1016 grams (128-4838).  The average operative time was 224 minutes (88-435), average time in recovery prior to discharge 122 minutes (33-270).  48 out of the 67 patients elected to have an On Q pump utilized for post operative analgesia. 6 out of the 67 patients were light smokers, 4 out of the 67 patients had controlled diabetes.

            Seroma occured in 20/67 patients; all were successfully managed with in office aspiration.  Delayed wound healing occurred in 7 patients.  One patient developed cellulitis successfully treated with antibiotics.  No patients required admission to the hospital, return to the OR, or developed venous thromboembolism.

Conclusion:              

Lipoabdominoplasty is a safe and effective procedure in appropriately selected patients.  Performing the procedure in an outpatient setting requires attention to multiple factors in the perioperative period to ensure safe patient outcomes.  We have had a low complication rate comparable to published data for lipoabdominoplasty and our patient satisfaction has been high.