Patients' satisfaction after abdominal etching

Introduction. - The aim of this study is to analyze the patients' satisfaction after aesthetic abdominal etching or associated with an abdominoplasty. Material et methods. - All records of patients who underwent abdominal etching between 2016 and 2017 were analyzed. Eligible patients were contacted, by telephone and submitted to a questionnaire of satisfaction. The patients were then divided into 3 groups according to the operative indication: aesthetic abdominal etching, abdominal etching for breast lipofilling and abdominal etching associated with an abdominoplasty. Results. - Twenty-two out of 30 patients agreed to answer the questionnaire: 6 in the aesthetic abdominal etching group, 9 in the breast lipofilling group and 7 in the abdominoplasty group. For 41% of patients, the result was entirely in line with their expectations. It was fairly consistent in 50% of cases and non-compliant in 9% of cases. 50% of the patients were completely satisfied with the stability of the result over time and 45% were quite satisfied, an average satisfaction of 95%. Fourteen percent of patients rated their result as excellent, 41% as very good, 32% as good and 14% as average. No patient rated his result as mediocre. For 96% of patients, the choice of intervention was a good or very good decision and 77% would do it again without hesitation. Conclusion. - Abdominal etching provides a high overall patients' satisfaction. It has a positive impact on the patient's life, with a low risk of complications. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.