Clinical efficacy analysis of laser-assisted preoperative design and syringe-guided subcutaneous progressive tension sutures in abdominoplasty

Abstract Abdominoplasty is an effective procedure for correcting postpartum abdominal wall laxity and rectus diastasis. However, conventional techniques often face challenges such as asymmetry in preoperative design and a high incidence of postoperative tension blisters. This study aimed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and surgical efficiency of a modified abdominoplasty technique combining laser-assisted preoperative design with syringe-guided subcutaneous progressive tension sutures (PTS). A single-center historical controlled study was conducted. Fifty-five patients who underwent the modified technique (laser-assisted design + syringe-guided suturing) were assigned to the modified group, while 48 patients who received traditional abdominoplasty (manual drawing + conventional suturing) served as the control group. Baseline characteristics, including age, body mass index (BMI), and rectus diastasis width, were matched between groups. The primary outcomes were operative closure time (efficiency) and abdominal symmetry at 14 days postoperatively (absolute difference in distance from bilateral anterior superior iliac spines to the midline). Secondary outcomes included complication rates (focusing on tension blisters), intraoperative blood loss, and surgeon-rated ease of use (Visual Analog Scale, VAS). No significant differences were observed in baseline characteristics between the two groups ( P > 0.05). The modified group demonstrated significantly shorter incision closure time compared to the control group (47.02 ± 3.80 min vs. 67.92 ± 3.27 min, P < 0.001). Postoperative symmetry was significantly improved in the modified group at 14 days (0.53 ± 0.16 cm vs. 0.89 ± 0.20 cm, P < 0.001), with sustained benefits at 6 months. The overall complication rate was significantly lower in the modified group, primarily due to a marked reduction in tension blisters (3.6% vs. 75%). Additionally, intraoperative blood loss was reduced in the modified group ( P = 0.005). Surgeons rated the modified technique highly for design convenience and suturing ease (VAS scores: 8.75 and 8.24, respectively). Furthermore, drain removal time and total drainage volume were significantly lower in the modified group ( P < 0.05). Laser-assisted preoperative design ensures precise and symmetrical marking, while syringe-guided subcutaneous PTS effectively reduces tension and shortens operative time. Compared to conventional methods, this modified technique significantly decreases the incidence of tension blisters, improves aesthetic symmetry, and offers operational simplicity, demonstrating high clinical value. This method is simple and easy to implement, making it suitable for widespread clinical application.