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Major complications in thighplasty include infection, hematoma
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Thighplasty procedures have a low number of risk factors and the most common major complications include infection and hematoma, according to study results published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
The prospective cohort study included results from 1,493 patients who underwent thighplasty procedures between May 2008 and May 2013. Concomitant procedures were performed on 1,088 of those patients, while 405 of the patients underwent thighplasty alone. The most common concomitant procedures were liposuction and abdominoplasty.
The majority of the patients were women (94.3%). The mean age was 45.72 ± 11.54 years (range, 20-78 years), with most patients aged between 40 and 60 years. The mean BMI was 27.61 ± 5.34 kg/m2 (range, 18.2-52.1 kg/m2). The researchers saw a decline between 2008 and 2013 of the procedures being performed in hospitals in favor of ambulatory surgery centers.
Ninety-nine patients developed at least one major complication, including: infection (2.7%), hematoma (2.1%), suspected venous thromboembolism (1.1%), fluid overload (0.5%), and confirmed venous thromboembolism (0.3%). More complications occurred in hospitals (8.1%) than in ambulatory surgery centers (6.2%) or office-based surgery suites (3.1%, P = .038).
Hematoma was more common in smokers than non-smokers (3.8% vs. 2%, P = .22). Infection occurred more often among obese patients with BMI 30 kg/m2 than non-obese patients (3.9% vs. 2.3%, P = .1) and more often among patients aged 50 years or older (3.4% vs. 2.2%, P = .19).
The researchers noted that as the patients in the hospital settings were more likely to have a BMI 30 kg/m2, the higher complication rates for hospital procedures compared with ambulatory and office-based settings may be related to the higher medical complexity of the patients.
“Among the factors [studied], smoking appeared to be the only independent risk factor for overall complications and hematoma formation when thighplasty is performed as a sole procedure,” the researchers wrote. “Addition of concomitant cosmetic procedures does not significantly increase complication rates.” – by Talitha Bennett
Disclosure: Afshari reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for the other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.
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