Alteração da qualidade de vida e função da parede abdominal após a abdominoplastia

Abstract

CHANGES IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND ABDOMINAL WALL FUNCTION AFTER ABDOMINOPLASTY. Factors such as pregnancy, massive weight loss, and weight changes as a natural consequence of aging are of great relevance today and result in the relaxation of the abdominal muscle complex and the presence of irregularly distributed folds of skin in the abdomen. In this context, abdominoplasty as a body contouring surgery has been seen by patients as a way to obtain satisfaction with one's own body, impacting the individual's emotional and mind. Studies that involve abdominoplasty in the literature are still limited in number and quality of evidence. Thus, it is not possible to state whether the removal of excess abdominal skin impacts on the mobility (range of motion) of the patient or whether the gains from surgery are restricted to the scope of physical appearance that consequently lead to an increase in quality of life. Objectives: The present study intends to describe the alteration in the mobility of the abdominal wall provided by the classic and post-bariatric abdominoplasty, comparing with the alterations of pain and quality of life in the pre and postoperative periods. Methods: The participants of current study were submitted to the quality of life (SF-36), pain scale (VAS) questionnaire, and abdominal wall mobility evaluation using video-analysis with CVMob software. These measurements occurred in the surgical periods: preoperative, 1st month and 3rd postoperative month. Results: The results obtained with the procedure suggests a gradual improvement in the domains of general health, vitality and quality of life and worsening in the domains of functional capacity, physical limitation, pain and social aspects. Postoperative pain did not play a major role in the study population and there was a decline in range of motion with subsequent recovery in the 3rd preoperative month. The domains of functional capacity and emotional aspects were influenced by changes in mobility in the 3rd month of the postoperative period. Conclusions: It is important to increase the number of people evaluated as well as an increase in the postoperative follow-up so that more hypotheses can be formulated or reinforced.