Thighplasty after bariatric surgery: evaluation of lymphatic drainage in lower extremities

Abstract

Background: Bariatric surgery for morbid obesity achieves an accentuated weight loss, with skin and soft tissue redundancy in some corporal segments, including the thighs. The thigh lift is a plastic surgery that improves this redundant tissue in the medial thigh area, but this surgical procedure may have complications, such as inferior migration of the scar, delayed wound healing, vulvar distortion, and lymphatic system alterations.

Methods: To evaluate the effect of the thighplasty on the lymphatic system, 14 patients were prospectively included in this study. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed before thighplasty, and this result was compared to the new examination performed 6 months after thighplasty. The exclusion standards include patients with clinical alterations and abnormal lymphoscintigraphy in previous surgery.

Results: The statistical analysis was performed on 26 inferior members, according to exclusion standards. All the members had normal lymphoscintigraphy in the preoperative period. After thighplasty, eight members (30.8%) demonstrated abnormal lymphoscintigraphy (p = 0.008) resulting in significant functional and anatomic alterations in the lymphatic system.

Conclusion: The thigh lift changes lymphatic drainage in lower extremities according to lymphoscintigraphy analyses.