Home  |  Consequences and Complications

Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss - Complications

Plastic surgery after massive weight loss in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania combines surgical treatments to remove excess skin and fat. As with any surgical procedure, plastic surgery after weight loss has associated complications and consequences.

Consequences and Complications

There are some complications and consequences that weight loss patients should keep in mind:

• Scarring. With any surgical procedure, there can be scars. These procedures are designed specifically to minimize the visibility of scars with carefully placed incisions. Scarring also occurs underneath the skin and can result in irregularities and firm areas underneath the skin which usually are of no consequence. Scar tissue also forms around the breast implants and can lead to capsular contractures which may cause the implants to become more firm and displaced or misshapen. This occurs in less than 10% of the patients. We follow patients during the healing process to make sure they are scarring appropriately. It will take between six months and a year for the scars to totally mature.
• Infection. Infections can occur any time the skin is cut. Infections with these procedures are uncommon. Patients will receive antibiotics during the procedure and a prescription for antibiotics after the procedure. This will help reduce the risk of infection, but does not completely eliminate it. If infections do occur, you are treated with antibiotics and, in some instances, with surgery.
• Bleeding. Bleeding also occurs with these procedures. The amount of bleeding varies depending upon the procedure that is performed. Generally we do not require the use of blood transfusions or donation of your own blood ahead of time. Bleeding can also occur after the surgery has been completed and may result in a return to the Operating Room to control the bleeding. This is also quite uncommon.
• Pain. As with any surgical procedure, there will be some pain associated with plastic surgery after weight loss. Patients will receive and pain medications in the hospital and will also be given a prescription for pain medications after the procedure.
• Bruising and swelling. There is bruising and swelling associated with these procedures. These conditions should resolve gradually, although, on very rare occasions, bruising may result in permanent discoloration of the overlying skin in small areas. This, however, is quite uncommon.
• Asymmetries. Although we try to achieve perfect symmetry with any surgical procedure, it is not always possible. Major asymmetries are quite rare but can be corrected if the patient wishes.
• Delayed Healing. Many of these procedures are associated with delayed wound healing. This is because of the decreased blood supply to the skin associated with the procedure and with patients who have excess fat. If it occurs, this may require additional dressing changes or an additional surgery to close the wound. Patients who have additional scars in the area to be treated, who smoke or use other tobacco products, or who have diabetes or other diseases have a higher risk of developing areas that do not heal and may result in areas that require additional surgery to correct. Patients who smoke are required to stop smoking three weeks before the operation and to remain tobacco-free for at least three weeks after the operation. Failure to do so will result in problems with wound healing (at the very least).
• Recurrence. If a patient gains weight in the future, the fat will go into the areas that were treated. This may result in a recurrence of some of the deformities which may need to be treated again surgically.
• General surgical complications. Surgery, in general, is associated with certain complications that can occur: problems with anesthesia, blood clots in the legs that can break off and go to the lungs (called pulmonary emboli), allergic reactions to medications, side effects of medications, and fat emboli that can break off and go to the lungs from liposuction. These complications can, in some instances, be life-threatening but are quite rare.