Quality of Life and Concurrent Procedures in Truncal Body Contouring Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Background Body contouring procedures provide patients with a meaningful improvement in health-related quality of life (QoL). We aim to compare the difference between the QoL in patients undergoing a single post-bariatric abdominal body contouring procedure (BCP) and those undergoing two or more concurrent procedures. Methods and Materials Patients evaluated for post-bariatric BCP were identified and administered the BODYQ(C). Patient demographics, clinical and operative characteristics, surgical outcomes, cost data, and absolute change in QoL scores were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and Mann-Whitney U-test, between patients who underwent single (SP), double (DP), or triple (TP) concurrent procedures. Results A total of 45 patients were included. The median age was 52 years old ([IQR] +/- 13). The majority were female (71.1%) and African-American (55.5%). The most common single procedure was panniculectomy (75%). Surgical site occurrences, readmissions, and the complication composite outcome did not differ between groups (p>0.05). No difference was seen between SP and DP QoL score (p>0.05). The DP had a statistically lower net QoL score compared with TP cohort in four domains. The SP had a statistically lower net QoL score compared with the TP in three domains. Average total cost for patients receiving an SP was $8,048.44, compared with $19,063.94 for DP (p<0.01), and $19,765.02 for TP (p>0.05). Conclusions Body contouring procedures are associated with improvements in QoL irrespective of the number of concurrent procedures. Further improvement in psychological well-being occurs for patients who proceed with double concurrent procedures, albeit with an increase in cost.

Automated summary

This study compared the quality of life in patients undergoing single and multiple concurrent body contouring procedures, showing that patients undergoing double procedures had lower quality of life scores in four domains and higher costs.