The 4 Principles of Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction

Abdominal wall defects are some of the most common and challenging problems encountered by plastic surgeons. A high proportion of patients with abdominal wall defects have significant comorbidities and/or contamination, putting them at high risk for complications. In addition to advanced surgical skills and precise anatomical knowledge, the plastic surgeon needs strict discipline and medical acumen, to optimize patients before and after surgery. In this paper, we discuss the goals of abdominal wall reconstruction, and the 4 steps to successful surgery: preoperative patient selection/optimization, durable and dynamic reconstruction of the musculofascial layer, careful attention to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, and meticulous postoperative management.