Evaluating the need for dermatological care in a post-surgical bariatric sample

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery is increasing in tandem with obesity in the United States. Post-bariatric patients can lose up to or more than one-third of their excess weight within the first year. This sudden loss of weight can lead to skin redundancy and increased susceptibility to dermatological issues. There is a paucity of literature addressing the issue of skin redundancy and associated factors following bariatric surgery. Objectives To evaluate the prevalence and severity of dermatological concerns among post-bariatric surgery patients and assess the impact of these issues on patients’ quality of life. Setting Surgical Weight Loss Clinic at an academic medical center in south-central Pennsylvania. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered from September 9 to November 30, 2020 to adult postoperative patients. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires with a retest issued approximately 72 hours later. The survey included questions regarding health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). All analyses were conducted using SAS Version 9.4. Results A total of 575 patients were invited to participate, with 103 participating and 69 completing the retest. The health questionnaire indicated that 69.6% of patients had challenges with skin rashes or irritation due to loose skin; 80.6% were interested in having skin removal surgery; and only 5.8% were referred to a dermatologist for their concerns. Conclusions The presence of skin concerns was associated with impaired HRQOL among post-bariatric patients. This suggests a need to further educate the bariatric interdisciplinary team to evaluate the impact of skin pathology on post-bariatric patients.