What is the risk rate of wounds opening after a lower body lift?

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding wound openings after a lower body lift. This is a great and very important topic to address.

Most patients seeking a lower body lift have a history of significant weight loss, often after being morbidly obese. Many of these individuals also have a history of medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or malnutrition, which can continue to affect healing even after weight loss. According to plastic surgery literature, patients who have lost 100 pounds or more—especially through bariatric procedures like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, vertical gastric sleeve, or duodenal switch—have about a 20% chance of wound complications. This statistic includes patients who are no longer diabetic or hypertensive after their weight loss.

To minimize the risk of wound openings, there are several critical steps to take:

Increase Protein Intake: You are absolutely correct that increasing protein intake before and after surgery is crucial. Aim for 100 grams of protein daily for at least 2 to 3 weeks after your lower body lift. Protein promotes better tissue repair and healing. Protein shakes and drinks are often helpful to meet this goal.

Minimize Activity: Overexertion, such as getting up and down too frequently or engaging in strenuous activities, can strain the incisions and increase the risk of wound openings. Plan to rest as much as possible during your recovery and avoid movements that could put pressure on your surgical areas.

Wear Compression Garments: Proper support with an abdominal binder or medical-grade compression garments is essential. These garments help reduce tension on the incisions and provide structural support to the healing tissues.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Many surgeons include hyperbaric oxygen therapy as part of the recovery process. This treatment increases oxygen supply to the tissues, enhancing healing and reducing the risk of wound breakdown.

Choose an Experienced Surgeon: A significant factor in avoiding wound complications is selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in lower body lifts. Make sure they have performed at least 200 body lifts and ask to see before-and-after photos to verify their expertise. An experienced surgeon is more likely to optimize incision placement and tension, reducing the risk of wound openings.

If you are concerned about missing work, you could consider staging the procedure into two surgeries. For example, start with a tummy tuck and then proceed with a posterior buttock lift 4 to 6 months later. This approach may help reduce recovery demands while still achieving your desired results.

Good luck, and I hope this helps answer your question regarding wound risks after a lower body lift.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

In our experience with lower body lifts, the rate of having an open wound post-operatively is extremely low, and amazingly, hardly ever occurs. I say "amazingly" because with a very long incision going all the way around the body, one would think that at least some wound healing issues would be the rule, not the exception.   However, that hat not been our experience.  In fact, we've never had to take any patients back to the operating room for "wound openings," also called "wound dehiscence."Occasionally, a patient may have a spitting suture with a tiny open wound (a few millimeters) around it, but this is easily taken care of in the office by just removing the dissolvable suture.Perhaps you are seeing a skewed representation of body lift complications online.  This is often the case, as patients tend to post photos when they have issues, but the vast majority of patients who have no issues tend to not post any photos...Best of luck to you! 

Complications in plastic surgical procedure like the body lift are preventable. Dehiscence is more likely to happen if the patient still has a high BMI, has diabetes, is malnourished or is a smoker. Therefore selecting the right patient is very important to avoid dehiscence. There are also technical aspect to be aware of. Excessive tension has to be avoided. The repair has to be done in layers making the tension be absorbed by the superficial fascia system. Hematoma and seroma collections can be part of the reason for dehiscence. Therefore all bleeding should be meticulously contrôled prior to the closure. Infection should be avoided by a careful technique and preoperative antibiotics, as wound infection could lead to dehiscence. I think you cannot trust a percentage for deciding your odds of developing a wound dehiscence because you have to be evaluated for specific risks that apply to you. You need to be seen and examined before your risk can be determined. If you are an acceptable risk for the procedure an you have an excellent and experienced plastic surgeon, you should have a very low risk of wound separation. 

The risk of wound opening after a lower body lift, like any surgical procedure, can vary depending on several factors, including the patient's overall health, the surgeon's skill, and the specific technique used. It's essential to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring procedures to discuss your individual case and potential risks.That said, wound opening, also known as wound dehiscence, is a known complication of lower body lift surgery, as with any surgery that involves incisions. The risk factors that can increase the likelihood of wound opening after a lower body lift may include:1.) Smoking: Smoking can impair blood flow and reduce the body's ability to heal, increasing the risk of wound complications.2.) Obesity: Higher body mass index (BMI) can be associated with a higher risk of wound healing problems.3.) Diabetes: Poorly controlled diabetes can impair the body's ability to heal and increase the risk of complications.4.) Infection: Postoperative infections can disrupt the healing process and lead to wound dehiscence.5.) Poor nutrition: Inadequate nutrition can negatively impact wound healing.6.) Tension on incisions: Tension on the surgical incisions, which can result from factors like excessive swelling or movement during the initial recovery period, can increase the risk of wound separation.7.) Suture technique: The surgeon's technique and the type of sutures used can affect wound closure and healing.8.) Patient compliance: Following the surgeon's postoperative instructions, including restrictions on physical activity and proper wound care, is essential to minimize the risk of complications.9.) Previous surgeries: If you've had prior abdominal or lower body surgeries, this may increase the complexity of the procedure and the risk of wound issues.It's important to note that while wound opening is a potential risk, many patients undergo lower body lift surgery without experiencing this complication. Surgeons take steps to minimize the risk, such as ensuring proper wound closure techniques, advising patients on postoperative care, and considering individual patient factors.To get an accurate assessment of your personal risk and to discuss your specific case, it's crucial to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon. They can provide you with a comprehensive evaluation and personalized recommendations based on your medical history and current health status.

You are best to ask your PS his her rates of wound dehiscence. Every surgeon will have different rates of complications and this is dependent on amount of tissue needing to be removed alongside your fitness for surgery / healing. It is rare to have wound dehiscence but every PS will have different rates of complications. 

Thanks for your question. Yes, unfortunately when you have such long incisions and tissues are being lifted and are under tension, wound healing problems are common. However, they tend to be easy to treat with some simple dressing changes. They are a nuisance for sure, but no one would have to know that you are doing that at work. They typically heal up on their own within a couple of weeks. I hope that helps and your surgeon would help you through any troubles that were to develop. Don't let that scare you away from a procedure that would really help you. Best wishes.

Most wound openings that occur with these high tension surgeries are very small relative to the incisional length. When they do occur they are amenable to topical treatments with silver impregnanted antibiotics and other topicals.

Redraping and removing large amounts of skin are the hallmark of a successful lower body lift. Your surgeon is dealing with skin that has lost a great deal of elasticity and therefore must judge, as he operates, the correct amount of tension to achieve the desired new shape and at the same time avoiding residual tissue laxity. Since these are opposite results, it is possible for wounds to open occasionally and then close by themselves. Having a BMI of the proper range, good diabetic control, and an experienced surgeon also helps.