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Introduction: The number of men undergoing cosmetic surgery is increasing in North America. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of postoperative complications in male patients after cosmetic surgical procedures and to identify the procedures associated with a high risk of complications.
Methods: All cosmetic procedures between May 2008 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed using the CosmetAssure database (183,914 cosmetic surgical procedures). Comorbidities and postoperative complications in men and women were recorded and compared.
Results: Overall 8357 (6.5%) male and 120650 (93.5%) female patients underwent cosmetic surgical procedures. Gender specific procedures (such as breast augmentation, vaginal rejuvenation for women , correction of gynecomastia for men) were excluded. Mean ages in men and women were 41.1±16.1 and 40.9±13.6 years, respectively. Male patients had higher mean BMI (27.3±4.7 vs 24.1±4.5, p<0.001), higher incidence of DM (2.6% vs 1.8%, p<0.001) and fewer smokers (7.6% vs 8.3%, p<0.021) compared to women. Overall postoperative complication rates were not statistically significant between male and female patients (2.3 % and 2.2%, p=0.544). Men demonstrated higher complication rates in abdominoplasty (5.8% vs 3.6%, p=0.002, facelift (3.6 vs 1.6, p=0.001), blepharoplasty (1.7% vs 1.1%, p=0.05) and brachioplasty (8.8% vs 3.0%, p=0.049). Among men who underwent single surgery only, abdominoplasty (5.4% vs 3.0%, p=0.013), facelift (3.1 vs 1.3, p=0.001) and buttock lift (7.1% vs 3.2%, p=0.017 ) were associated with higher postoperative complication rates. The most common postoperative complications in both groups were hematoma, infection and wound healing problems.
Conclusions: Although overall postoperative complication rates after cosmetic procedures in men and women are similar, male patients demonstrated a statistically higher incidence of complications after abdominoplasty, buttock lift, blepharoplasty and facelift.