Complications after lower body contouring surgery due to massive weight loss unaffected by weight loss method.

Body contouring surgery following massive weight loss positively affects a patient's quality of life. However, the procedure is prone to complications. Herein, we stratified complications timewise. Furthermore, we examined whether the weight loss method - bariatric surgery or lifestyle changes - affected the frequency or severity of complications. In this single-centre retrospective analysis, we included 158 patients with massive weight loss undergoing body contouring surgery between 2009 and 2015. We recorded 96 complications in 80 patients, with an overall rate of 51%. Most complications (80.2%) were minor (Clavien-Dindo grades 1 and 2) and superficial wound infections. Immediate complications (0-24 hours post-operation) affected 8.3% of patients, with early complications (1-7 post-operative days) affecting 16.7% of them and late complications (8-30 post-operative days) affecting 58.3% of them. We found no statistical difference in complication rates when comparing bariatric and non-bariatric patients. Older age (p = 0.042) at operation is associated with an increased risk for immediate haematoma or bleeding requiring surgery. Among early complications, a high maximum weight (p = 0.035) and a high preoperative weight (p = 0.0053) significantly correlated with a haematoma or bleeding requiring surgery. For late complications, seroma correlated with older age (p = 0.0061). Complications are primarily minor and non-life threatening after body contouring surgery because of frequent massive weight loss. Here, no particular subgroup of massive weight loss patients appeared more prone to complications. Thus, for each patient, the risks associated with body contouring surgery following massive weight loss should be considered individually.