Body Contouring in the Postbariatric Surgery Patient

Abstract

Obesity has become a national and worldwide epidemic, with nearly two-thirds of the US population classified as overweight or obese. ¹ Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults: United States, 1999−2002. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Google Scholar The numerous comorbidities associated with obesity include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, and degenerative joint disease. Although dietary and lifestyle modifications have traditionally been the mainstay of treatment for obesity, their lack of success at longterm weight reduction and the paucity of effective pharmacologic agents led to a comprehensive evaluation of surgical management by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference in 1991. ² Hubbard V.S. Hall W.H. Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Obes Surg. 1991; 1 : 257-265 Crossref PubMed Scopus (327) Google Scholar Guidelines established at that time recommend bariatric operation for morbidly obese patients, defined as those with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 or patients with a BMI ≥ 35 who have associated comorbidities.