The use of tissue adhesive for skin closure in body contouring surgery

Background: Abdominoplasty and mammoplasty are cosmetic surgeries that demand relatively more time for skin closure. Methods: Skin closure with 4.0 Mononylon (Ethicon, Summerville, NJ, USA) continuous subcuticular suture and with Dermabond (Ethicon, USA) (octylcyanoacrylate) was compared among 37 patients who had undergone body contouring surgery (23 abdominoplasties and 14 mammoplasties). Each side of the scar, randomly selected, was closed either with adhesive or suture. The time required for skin closure and the aesthetic aspect of these scars were compared. Three observers evaluated the scars at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively using a categorical and a modified visual analog scale. Results: The average time for closure using suture was 7 min and 45 s for the abdominoplasty and 4 min and 25 s for the vertical incision of the mammoplasty. This was significantly different statistically, as compared with the 2 min required for polymerization of the skin adhesive. The mammoplasty and abdominoplasty scars showed, no statistical difference at 3, 6, and 12 months according to both scales. Conclusions: The aesthetic aspects of the mammoplasty and abdominoplasty scars were similar on both sides at 3, 6, and 12 months. However, the adhesive allowed a shorter surgical time.