Prospective cohort of parameters of glycemic and lipid metabolism after abdominoplasty in normal weight and formerly obese patiens.

Background: Obesity poses a major risk for cardiovascular diseases, while it is almost a consensus that intra-abdominal adiposity has a more deleterious effect for metabolic syndrome. In this sense, it is speculated that lipectomy or liposuction would be metabolically harmful, as it changes the abdominal-superficial adipose tissue ratio. However, the literature has shown conflicting evidence.

Methods: In order to evaluate the possibility of metabolism alteration resulting from body coutouring surgery, a prospective cohort was implemented with 35 patients who underwent abdominoplasty, including some with a history of massive weight loss. Fasting blood glucose, fasting plasma insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol and fractions were requested preoperatively and in the third postoperative month. The groups were also compared with each other.

Results: No statistically significant variation between the exams collected in the preoperative period and those collected after abdominoplasty was found. There was a statistically significant difference in LDL (low-density lipoprotein;  = 0.033) and non-HDL (non-high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol ( = 0.020) between the two control tests of the groups surveyed. There were also differences in comorbidities ( = 0.006) and complications ( <0.001) between the groups.

Conclusions: Abdominoplasty was not able of changing tests that assess glycemic and lipid metabolism three months after the operation. Our attention was drawn to the fact that patients who had massive weight loss had better control of LDL cholesterol ( = 0.033) and non-HDL cholesterol ( = 0.020), despite having higher weight and body mass index ( <0.001).