Quality of Life and Complications in the Morbidly Obese Patient following Post-Bariatric Body Contouring

Background With a growing obesity epidemic, an increasing number of patients are seeking body contouring procedures (BCP). The aim of this study was to assess the association of morbid obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) with both clinical and health-related quality of life (H-RQOL) outcomes following BCP. Methods Patients evaluated for post-bariatric BCP at a large academic hospital by one surgeon were retrospectively identified. Patients were surveyed using the BODY-Q (c) during initial and postoperative visits. Demographic, clinical, operative characteristics, and surgical outcomes data were extracted. BODY-Q domain scores were compared between morbidly obese (MO) and non-morbidly obese (NMO). The absolute change in HR-QOL scores for MO and NMO was also compared. Results Overall, 59 patients were included (MO 72.9% vs. NMO 27.1%). The median age was 50 years old (Interquartile range [IQR] +/- 17); the majority were non-Hispanic (89.8%), non-diabetic (81.4%), non-smokers (67.8%). Assessment of surgical site occurrences, reoperations, and the complication composite outcome revealed no statistical differences between groups (p >0.05). MO patients showed lower net improvement in three HR-QOL domains: satisfaction with body (median 30 [IQR +/- 53] vs. 65 [IQR +/- 54]; p = 0.036), body image (median 39 [IQR +/- 55] vs. 52 [IQR +/- 44]; p = 0.025), and social function (median 12 [IQR +/- 18] vs. 19 [IQR +/- 35]; p = 0.015). Conclusion Post-bariatric BCP can be safely performed in the MO patient without increased risk of complication. However, the benefit of truncal BCP is less in MO as it pertains to specific QOL domains: satisfaction with body, body image, and social function.

Automated summary

This study found that post-bariatric body contouring procedures can be safely performed in morbidly obese patients without increased risk of complications. However, the benefits of truncal body contouring procedures are less significant in morbidly obese patients, particularly in domains such as satisfaction with body, body image, and social function.