Symptom burden after cosmetic abdominal surgery: A scoping review
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33024/hjk.v20i7.4098
Abdominoplasty; Liposuction; Symptom Burden;
Abstract
Background: Abdominal cosmetic surgery, including abdominoplasty and liposuction, is widely performed to improve body contour and aesthetic appearance. However, these procedures are frequently associated with various postoperative symptom burdens that may affect patients' physical functioning, psychological well-being, and quality of life during recovery.
Purpose: To map the available scientific evidence regarding the characteristics of postoperative symptom burden following abdominal cosmetic surgery.
Method: This study employed a scoping review methodology following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines and was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The research question was developed using the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Springer Nature to identify articles published between 2021 and 2026. A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed descriptively.
Results: The most frequently reported symptom burdens included pain, edema, seroma, hematoma, impaired wound healing, sleep disturbances, discomfort, depression, and reduced quality of life. Factors associated with increased symptom burden included a history of bariatric surgery, higher body mass index, surgical technique, age, and wound healing quality. The most commonly used assessment instruments were the BODY-Q, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management (QUIPS), and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).
Conclusion: Postoperative symptom burden following abdominal cosmetic surgery is a multidimensional condition that significantly influences patient recovery. Effective pain management, prevention of postoperative complications, comprehensive patient education, and the use of standardized symptom assessment instruments are essential to improve the quality of care and optimize clinical outcomes.
Keywords: Abdominoplasty; Liposuction; Symptom Burden.
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