An abdominal treatment system, comprising: a surface-wound closure subsystem for providing a closing force to a surface wound, and a reduced-pressure supply subsystem operable to develop reduced pressure for use in the surface-wound closure subsystem, characterised by the surface-wound closure subsystem comprising: a plurality of attachment members (186, 193) for releasably attaching to respective portions of a patient's epidermis proximate the edges of the surface wound, wherein the plurality of attachment members are spaced from each other, and a sealed contracting member coupled to each of the plurality of attachment members (186, 193) and operable to contract when placed under a reduced pressure, wherein the sealed contracting member comprises: a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, inward-facing side, and a peripheral edge; a first sealing member disposed against the first side of the contracting manifold material; a second sealing member disposed against the second, inward-facing side of the contracting manifold material; a peripheral sealing device disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material; and wherein the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the peripheral sealing device are operable to pneumatically seal the contracting manifold material; wherein a closing force is developed between the plurality of attachment members when reduced pressure is supplied by a reduced-pressure supply subsystem to the sealed contracting member. a surface-wound closure subsystem for providing a closing force to a surface wound, and a reduced-pressure supply subsystem operable to develop reduced pressure for use in the surface-wound closure subsystem, characterised by the surface-wound closure subsystem comprising: a plurality of attachment members (186, 193) for releasably attaching to respective portions of a patient's epidermis proximate the edges of the surface wound, wherein the plurality of attachment members are spaced from each other, and a sealed contracting member coupled to each of the plurality of attachment members (186, 193) and operable to contract when placed under a reduced pressure, wherein the sealed contracting member comprises: a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, inward-facing side, and a peripheral edge; a first sealing member disposed against the first side of the contracting manifold material; a second sealing member disposed against the second, inward-facing side of the contracting manifold material; a peripheral sealing device disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material; and wherein the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the peripheral sealing device are operable to pneumatically seal the contracting manifold material; wherein a closing force is developed between the plurality of attachment members when reduced pressure is supplied by a reduced-pressure supply subsystem to the sealed contracting member. a plurality of attachment members (186, 193) for releasably attaching to respective portions of a patient's epidermis proximate the edges of the surface wound, wherein the plurality of attachment members are spaced from each other, and a sealed contracting member coupled to each of the plurality of attachment members (186, 193) and operable to contract when placed under a reduced pressure, wherein the sealed contracting member comprises: a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, inward-facing side, and a peripheral edge; a first sealing member disposed against the first side of the contracting manifold material; a second sealing member disposed against the second, inward-facing side of the contracting manifold material; a peripheral sealing device disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material; and wherein the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the peripheral sealing device are operable to pneumatically seal the contracting manifold material; a contracting manifold material having a first side and a second, inward-facing side, and a peripheral edge; a first sealing member disposed against the first side of the contracting manifold material; a second sealing member disposed against the second, inward-facing side of the contracting manifold material; a peripheral sealing device disposed against the peripheral edge of the contracting manifold material; and wherein the first sealing member, the second sealing member, and the peripheral sealing device are operable to pneumatically seal the contracting manifold material;