Body Contouring of the Suprapubic Region

Extract

Finesse in body sculpting is achieved not only by addressing the patient's primary area of concern but also by making proper adjustments to the surrounding anatomical regions. When abdominal lipoplasty is being performed, the lower supracostal area should be treated in a similar fashion. In abdominoplasty or abdominal lipoplasty, failure to address the mons pubis area may leave the patient with an undesirable contour. Both male and female patients can suffer from excess adipose tissue in the suprapubic area. Patients occasionally present with a prominent suprapubic area as their main concern. Often, however, it is unsuspected and hiding beneath the abdominal wall excess.

In 1939, Thorek¹ suggested using lipectomy in the mons pubis region. Horton et al² too considered suprapubic lipectomy to be an important part of abdominal reconstruction. Other authors have incorporated the concept of attention to the mons pubis into their surgical planning.^3–7

In my practice, I carefully evaluate the suprapubic region in each patient. When a patient is lying on the operating table, excess fat in the suprapubic region may not be evident; therefore, the examination is performed with the patient in a standing position. The focus of the examination is on observation of the relaxed and contracted muscle in an erect and diver's position. Suprapubic excess can be found even in patients with a normal height-to-weight ratio.