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Experience of Excess Skin and Desire for Body Contouring Surgery in Post-bariatric Patients

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Abstract

Background

This study was done to analyze the problems of post-bariatric patients with excess skin and to determine their interest in body contouring surgery. The self-administered Sahlgrenska Excess Skin Questionnaire (SESQ) was used together with a study-specific questionnaire.

Methods

The patients who were operated with bariatric surgery at Sahlgrenska University Hospital between 1999 and 2008 were identified and sent the SESQ and a study-specific questionnaire.

Results

The response rate was 65 % (23 % men). The most common problem in both men and women was the feeling of having an unattractive body (91 and 67 %, respectively). The most frequently reported sites of excess skin were the upper arms in women (91 %) and the abdomen in men (78 %). In both women and men, excess skin on the abdomen was reported to cause the most discomfort (median 7 and 3, respectively, on a scale from 0 to 10). Women reported significantly more problems, discomfort, and amount of excess skin (p < 0.05) than men. There was a strong correlation between the amount of excess skin and the degree of discomfort for all body parts. Seventeen percent of the responders had been operated with body contouring surgery of one body part and 5 % of two or more. Fourteen percent desired body contouring surgery of one body part and 61 % of two or more.

Conclusions

Most post-bariatric patients, but women in particular, experience significant problems of excess skin and request body contouring surgery.

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Conflict of Interest

All authors have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden

    T. Staalesen & A. Elander

  2. Department of Physiotherapy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345, Gothenburg, Sweden

    M. Fagevik Olsén

Authors
  1. T. Staalesen
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  2. M. Fagevik Olsén
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  3. A. Elander
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Staalesen.

Appendices

Appendix

Questionnaire on excess skin after weight loss-SESQ

figure afigure afigure afigure a

Questionnaire on plastic surgery due to skin excess after bariatric surgery

figure b

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Staalesen, T., Fagevik Olsén, M. & Elander, A. Experience of Excess Skin and Desire for Body Contouring Surgery in Post-bariatric Patients. OBES SURG 23, 1632–1644 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-013-0978-z

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