Abstract
BACKGROUND: The circumferential thigh lift (CTL) with vertical scar is a more extensive and effective procedure compared to the traditional lift, but the scar is not aequally concealed. Negative pressure treatment (NPT) is considered to have a beneficial effect on the physiological process of wound healing and early scar formation. A comparison study was therefore carried out in order to evaluate the effect of NPT on scar quality.
METHODS: All postobese patients consecutively treated for thigh laxity in the period January 2012 to April 2013 were recruited in a prospective cohort study. All patients underwent CTL. In group A, NPT was applied on the sutured wound in the immediate postoperative phase for a period of one week. In Group B traditional dressings were used. The quality of scars was evaluated by means of the Stony Brook Scar Evaluation Scale (SBSES) at 7, 15, 30 and 365 days postoperatively.
RESULTS: 91 patients were included in the period defined, of whom 48 in group A and 43 in group B. In group A, the mean SBSES score was 4.4 at 7 days, 4 at 15 days, 4.6 at 30 days and 4.8 at 365 days. In group B the SBSES score was 3.2 at 7 days, 3 at 15 days, 3 at 30 and 365 days. At all postoperative stages the quality of the scar showed to be significantly improved by the use of NPT (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: NPT is a useful adjunct to the postoperative wound healing after circumferential thigh lift, when compared to a hostile cohort of patients whose wounds are not treated with NPT.
KEY WORDS: Thigh lift, Negative Pressure Therapy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 261-265 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Annali Italiani di Chirurgia |
| Volume | 89 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Thigh lift
- Negative Pressure Therapy