Postural Changes after Abdominoplasty in Morbid Obese Patients

Background In the multidisciplinary treatment of obesity, the role of a plastic surgeon is to remove the excess of skin after weight loss to obtain cosmetic, functional, and psychological benefits. Obesity modifies body geometry, increases the mass of different segments, and imposes functional limitations in life activities that may predispose the obese to injury. The authors evaluated the postural conditions of obese patients, before and 12 months after surgery. Methods The study included 15 obese patients of both genders affected by class II obesity. Postural function was evaluated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Patients underwent conventional abdominoplasty surgical procedure. In all patients, plantar pressure distribution and balance (stabilometric test) were evaluated before and 3 months after surgery. Results The static pedobarographic revealed a significant reduction in forefoot peak pressure; total plantar force; rearfoot plantar force percentage; midfoot plantar force percentage; and forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot plantar contact areas percentage 3 months after surgery; the dynamic's one showed a reduction in the first metatarsal peak pressure and plantar contact. The stabilometric values showed a reduction in the range of center of foot pressure (CP) displacement along y axis, the average displacement of the CP speed from the mean (RMS y velocity), and CP mean peak in the condition of vision. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the beneficial effect of dermolipectomies and the consequential weight loss on postural stability of obese men. Such findings may support the hypothesis that dermolipectomy may improve postural stability with and without vision. The data demonstrate that the benefits are related to the magnitude of the resected tissue.