[Classification of plastic surgery complications: Proposal for an objective evaluation of publications and...

At the opposite of other surgery, there is no classification of postoperative complications in plastic surgery. We propose a new classification combining complications in six stages to facilitate the objective assessment and comparison of complications of plastic surgery techniques in the context of publications and practice assessment.

We have chosen to present a retrospective study of 16 cases of bodylifts made by the same surgeon and with the same procedure. The follow-up was scheduled with a reassessment at 1 month and 6 months. All postoperative complications have been identified (medical or surgical). Complications were presented in "classical" form, describing the number and nature of each complication. These results were then reorganized by stages according to the resulting consequences on patient management: stage 0: no complication; stage 1: prolonged hospitalization; stage 2: medical or surgical care beyond the period considered normal; stage 3: requiring surgical intervention; stage 4: major morbidity and stage 5: death of a patient.

First, the results are presented in a classical way describing the number and nature of each complication. Over 90% of patients had stage less or equal to 2 at 6 months. Fifty percent of patients (n=8) had a long-term treatment or care (stage 2) after 6 months of evaluation.

The purpose of this classification is to enable an objective evaluation of surgical techniques. It shows the complications in terms of the consequences they generate on the management of the patient and not on the nature of each complication. Therefore, it shows that there is no real complication after bodylift but the immediate postoperative care must be longer.