Comparative Analysis of Aesthetic and Safety Outcomes: Abdominoplasty Alone Versus Mommy Makeover

Abstract

Introduction Aesthetic surgery, including abdominoplasty(AP), is increasingly sought after for enhancing physical appearance and restoring body confidence post-pregnancy or significant weight loss. AP focuses on improving the abdominal area by removing excess skin and fat and tightening the abdominal muscles. The Mommy Makeover(MM), combining AP with breast reshaping and liposuction, addresses broader body reshaping needs. Given the popularity of both procedures,this study explores the efficacy and safety of AP both as a standalone procedure and as part of the MM. Aim of the study To evaluate and compare the aesthetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and safety of AP as an individual procedure versus as a component of the MM. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of 92 female patients who underwent AP alone or as part of MM in 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (GA) (n=39) received only AP, and Group B (GB) (n=53) underwent MM. Both groups had diastasis recti abdominis correction. Pre- and post-operative satisfaction was measured using the 'BODY-Q' questionnaire, which included “Satisfaction with Abdomen Surgery” before (SABS) and after (SAAS), and “Appraisal of Body Contouring Scars” for AP (AAP). Statistical analysis used Mann-Whitney U and unpaired t-tests with a significance level set at 0.05. Results No significant differences were observed between the groups for both age and BMI (p<0,05). When comparing SABS, there was no significant difference in both G1 (Mdn=0) and G2 (Mdn=0).Regarding SAAS, a statistically significant difference was observed, with more patients in G1 (Mdn=93) being satisfied with their abdomen than in G2 (Mdn=74)(U=736, p=0.0478). Appraisal AAP revealed significantly more visible scars in G2 (Mdn=59) compared to G1 (Mdn=100) (U=678.5, p<0.0001). Additionally, more patients experienced complications in G2 (55.56%) compared to G1 (33.33%) (χ²=4.499,p=0.0339). The duration required to return to maximum physical exertion did not differ significantly between groups, with the majority in G1 (47.37%) requiring 3-4 months and in G2 (41.38%) 4-6 months, showing no statistical difference between groups. Conclusions AP alone yielded higher patient satisfaction and lesser visible scarring compared to when performed as part of a MM. Despite similar recovery times, the MM procedure was associated with a higher rate of complications, suggesting that AP alone might be the safer and more aesthetically pleasing option for patients primarily concerned with abdominal aesthetics.