Body Contouring Surgery Improves Weight Loss after Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Our main objective is to evaluate the effect of body contouring surgery (BCS) on the magnitude and durability of weight loss after bariatric surgery.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Scopus search were conducted from the time of their inception to June 2020. We included comparative studies that assessed weight progression, in terms of Body Mass Index change (∆BMI), Total Body Weight Loss (TBWL%), and Excess Weight Loss (%EWL) for the post-bariatric patient population and the effect of BCS on weight progression.

Results: Eleven articles were included. The pooled sample size was 2307, of which 691 were cases who underwent BCS post-bariatric surgery, and 1616 were comparative controls. The mean follow-up time for cases and controls were 61.6 ± 23.8 months and 52.2 ± 23.8 months, respectively. Nine studies reported results of BMI changes, six provided %EWL, and five used %TBWL. Significant improvement in weight loss was observed in the BCS group when measured by either ∆BMI (3 kg/m2 points decrease, p 0.023), %TBWL (6% increase, P < 0.0001), or %EWL (14% increase, P < 0.0001). Sub-group analysis showed that increased follow-up time was associated with higher TBWL% (p 0.02).

Conclusion: The evidence provided in this review strongly supports the added long-term benefits of body contouring surgery for selected patients after massive weight loss following bariatric surgery. Having a multidisciplinary team that involves a bariatric and a plastic surgeon as well as nutritionists and psychologists for the management of patients with obesity going through the bariatric pathway is recommended.

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