Vrtical body lift: surgical technique and comparison with the inferior body lift technique

Abstract

Background: Patients with massive weight loss have excessive skin laxity along both vertical and transverse axes. Vertical body lift (VBL) is a body-contouring technique addressing both excesses, promoting not only body lifting but also a tightening effect. The aim of this study was to describe the authors' VBL surgical technique and its potential clinical applications. In addition, they present their experience among postbariatric surgery patients to compare surgical aspects and outcomes of VBL and the classic inferior body lift (IBL) technique. Methods: The authors reviewed data on 140 consecutive postbariatric surgery patients who underwent a body lift procedure between January of 2018 and March of 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: the VBL group and the IBL group. Patient demographics, operative details, and postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. Results: Of the 140 patients included in the study, 92 underwent IBL and 48 underwent VBL. There were no statistically significant differences between groups for surgical duration (IBL, 192 minutes; VBL, 193 minutes), hemoglobin decrease (IBL, 2.32 g/dL; VBL, 2.11 g/dL), hospital length of stay (IBL, 5.4 days; VBL, 5.7 days), or complication rate (IBL, 32%; VBL, 31%). Conclusions:The authors' study shows comparable operative details and postsurgical outcomes between the VBL and classic IBL techniques. In their experience, VBL is a reliable and reproducible technique that can improve aesthetic and functional outcomes in a subpopulation of approximately one-third of patients with massive weight loss.

Discussion: Vertical Body Lift: Surgical Technique and Comparison with the Inferior Body Lift Technique

“…Discussion: Vertical Body Lift: Surgical Technique and Comparison with the Inferior Body Lift Technique Al Aly, MD Dallas, TX I n their article entitled "Vertical Body Lift: Surgical Technique and Comparison with the Inferior Body Lift Technique," 1 Musmarra et al compare the use of the vertical body lift (VBL), which they describe as a combination of an anterior vertical resection and a horizontal circumferential abdominal excision, to more traditional inferior body lifts (IBL). They conclude that "VBL is a reliable and reproducible technique with operative and postsurgical outcomes comparable to those seen with the classic IBL technique."…”

Vertical Body Lift: Surgical Technique and Comparison with the Inferior Body Lift Technique

“…We congratulate Dr. Musmarra et al on their original article “Vertical Body Lift: Surgical Technique and Comparison with the Inferior Body Lift Technique,” 1 which addresses the growing number of patients seeking body contouring after bariatric surgery. The described surgical technique and the accompanying videos are valuable for both novice and experienced surgeons.…”