Fleur de Lis Abdominoplasty after Roux en Y, NC*

This 44-year-old woman lost 170 pounds after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass 2 years prior. She underwent a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty which involves removal of horizontal excess with a horizontal scar spanning the lower abdomen as well as central skin excess in the midline. It does require a vertical scar. In the days before laparoscopic surgery, bariatric procedures often involved a large vertical scar in the middle of the abdomen so using the vertical scar was not so much of an issue. The decision to use a fleur-de-lis is made when so much skin excess in the central abdomen will not be treated by removal of the lower abdominal skin alone. Many patients object to the vertical scar but in many situations it is beneficial to contour the abdomen ideally. Generally patients with weight loss surgery of this magnitude will have favorable scarring as the skin laxity Allows for a tension--free closure with resulting very thin-Minimally noticeable scarring. Typically it takes up to a year for the scars to fade. This patient is at 4 months and still has some redness in the scar which should continue to fade in the next 3-4 months