The "Scarless Ab-Lift": A Novel Method for the Treatment of Skin Laxity with Rectus Muscle Diastasis.

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy and vaginal delivery result in irreversible damage to the abdominal wall and skin. In the article, we present a new method for treating major skin laxity, rectus muscle diastasis, and umbilical hernia.

METHODS

A 38-year-old woman with rectus muscle diastasis, umbilical hernia, and major skin laxity was treated with the scarless ab-lift procedure. The extent of diastasis before the surgery, on day 5 after surgery, and 3 months after surgery were measured. Skin laxity was evaluated 5 days and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

The rectus muscle diastasis was restored on day 5 after surgery and remained unchanged 3 months later. Only minor supraumbilical folding was visible on day 5, and this disappeared after 3 months. The patient had only mild postoperative pain on day 5, and peroral non-steroid anti-inflammatory analgesics provided sufficient relief. Three months after surgery, she was without pain. No sensory defects were noted on the mobilized skin, and no seroma developed.

CONCLUSION

The scarless ab-lift is a minimally invasive method that completely restores the abdominal wall and skin integrity in patients with rectus muscle diastasis and skin laxity after pregnancy.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .