title: Prospective study on complications following a lower body lift after massive weight loss.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lower body lift procedures are in high demand following the increase of massive weight loss patients. As surgical complication rates in this patient group are generally high, patients need to be prepared for risk factors and complications in lower body lift surgery. The aim of this study was to identify the complications and possible risk factors of a lower body lift as concrete data for this procedure are limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study on 50 consecutive patients who underwent a lower body lift procedure was performed. Measures included co-morbidities and complications. Risk factors assessed included patient age, gender, highest lifetime body mass index (BMI) (BMI max), current BMI, excess weight loss (EWL), type of weight loss and nicotine consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 50 patients (44 females, six males) with a mean age of 41±10.8 years and a mean EWL of 86.4±15.6%. Mean BMI max was 49.5±10.5 kg m(-2), current BMI was 27.8±4.0 kg m(-2). A total of 35 (70%) patients developed at least one complication. Five patients (10%) suffered a major complication that necessitated surgical revision. Wound dehiscence occurred in 30 patients (60%), followed by seroma in 17 patients (34%). A surgical complication was directly related to BMI max (p=0.02) and age of the patient at the time of surgery (p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall complication rate following a lower body lift was 70%, which is comparable with that known for high-risk patient groups. The most important risk factors are BMI max and age of the patient (Clinical trial registration number (ISRCTN): NCT01551862).
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. hugo@kitzinger.de
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Kitzinger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cakl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wenger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacker
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Aszmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karle
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002081:Buttocks / Q000601:surgery; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015431:Weight Loss