Preoperative Risk Factors and Complication Rates of Thighplasty: Analysis of 1,493 Patients

Abstract

Background: Despite a rise in thighplasties, outcomes and risk factors have not been well described.

Objectives: This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of major complications following thighplasty in a large, prospective, multicenter database. It further evaluated the safety of combined procedures.

Methods: Patients undergoing thighplasty between 2008 and 2013 were identified within the CosmetAssure database (Birmingham, AL). The primary outcome was the occurrence of major complication(s) requiring emergency department visit, hospital admission, or reoperation within 30 days postoperatively. Age, gender, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, type of facility, and combination procedures were evaluated as risk factors.

Results: Among the 129,007 patients enrolled in CosmetAssure, 1493 (0.8%) underwent thighplasty. One thousand and eighty-eight (72.9%) thighplasties were combined with other procedures. Ninety-nine (6.6%) developed at least one complication. The most common complications were infection (2.7%), hematoma (2.1%), suspected venous thromboembolism (VTE) (1.1%), fluid overload (0.5%), and confirmed VTE (0.3%). Thighplasties performed in a hospital had higher complications (8.1%) than ambulatory surgical center (6.2%) and office-based surgical suite (3.1%). When thighplasty was performed alone, smoking was an independent risk factor to develop at least one complication (RR = 9.51) and hematoma (RR = 13.48). Compared to thighplasty alone, complication rate did not increase with the addition of concomitant procedures (4.7% vs 7.4%, P = .079).

Conclusion: Infection and hematoma are the most common major complications. In thighplasty alone, smoking is the only independent risk factor for overall complications and hematoma formation. The addition of concomitant cosmetic procedures does not increase complication rates.

Level of evidence: 2 Risk.