Kua māwhe te takapū – Understanding Patient Experiences of Apronectomy Surgery in Te Tairāwhiti

This study explores the experiences of patients who have undergone an apronectomy surgical procedure in Te Tairāwhiti, (East Coast of Aotearoa New Zealand). An apronectomy involves the surgical removal of excess abdominal skin, and access to this procedure through the public health system is limited. Utilising Kaupapa Māori Research methodology, interviews were held with patients who had an apronectomy in Te Tairāwhiti between 2015 and 2023. The research team comprised primarily Māori clinicians and researchers, as well as local iwi – Ngāti Porou – researchers, who undertook qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. Four key themes were identified relating to apronectomy as part of a broader weight loss surgery journey, the challenges of living with a large abdominal apron, the life-changing benefits of surgery, and the complexities of postoperative recovery.