How to Reduce Complications After Plastic Surgery

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Most complications after cosmetic surgery are not random events. They cluster around recognisable risk factors, of which the patient can influence and several of which are by the and . This guide sets out the that materially affect — what they are, what raises and lowers the risk of each, and the specific actions that reduce them.

The is not zero complications. Every has . The is rate, recognition, and management. The same applies to patients: full of risk is not possible, but the risk of an procedure is substantially by what around the operation.

The complications worth understanding

The main categories are:

Patient-side factors that materially reduce risk

The single available to most . Nicotine constricts blood vessels, tissue by 30 to 40%. The downstream effects are substantially higher rates of wound dehiscence, skin necrosis, infection, and impaired scar quality.

Centre for Surgery cessation of smoking, vaping, and for at least six weeks before and six weeks after. This is not negotiable, and we will test where . Patients who continue to smoke during the window are until they have genuine . See and .

BMI is an independent risk factor for surgical infection, venous thromboembolism, wound healing complications, and anaesthetic . The aesthetic surgery dataset (127,961 patients, Gupta et al., 2016, Aesthetic Journal) found that overweight (BMI 25-29.9) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) are both independent risk after controlling for other . For most body the appropriate is BMI 30, with for cases. See .

common medications and supplements bleeding risk and should be paused on advice before surgery: aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, fish oil, E, ginkgo, ginseng, garlic supplements, St John’s wort. (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel) bridging managed by the doctor.

information about or supplements at consultation is not in your interest. The surgeon needs the full to plan safely, and most issues are with appropriate planning when .

Diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and other chronic should be well before elective . Tell your GP that surgery is upcoming, ask whether any need adjusting, and ensure blood tests are recent. Uncontrolled diabetes in particular materially infection and wound risk.

intake wound healing. on highly diets, those who have lost weight rapidly in the preceding months, and those with eating disorders are at higher risk of poor healing. The target is around 1.2 to 1.6g of per kg of bodyweight per day in the pre- and post-operative period. See .

increases bleeding risk, interferes with metabolism, dehydrates tissues, and impairs healing. Abstinence for two weeks before and two weeks after is the appropriate baseline; longer for major body . See .

A dedicated adult to accompany you home and stay for 24 hours is a clinical requirement. Time off work, childcare arrangements, and a home environment all materially affect how well you recover. Patients who try to power through with support consistently have more and worse satisfaction. See .

Surgeon and facility factors that reduce risk

Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register for Plastic Surgery, FRCS (Plast) or equivalent, with full of BAAPS or BAPRAS. High annual case volume for the specific you are considering. These are not vanity — they directly with complication rates. See .

Care Quality Commission registration, with a current rating of Good or Outstanding, that the has met defined operational and safety . CQC-regulated facilities have full for sterilisation, infection control, equipment, staffing, and emergency . Treatment rooms above shops, hotel suites used by visiting surgeons, and non-regulated premises do not.

For any procedure beyond minor work under local anaesthetic, a anaesthetist should be present throughout, with full monitoring ECG, pulse oximetry, blood pressure, and . The should not be anaesthesia themselves while operating. See .

Operating time over 6 hours is with materially higher rates — VTE risk doubles, infection risk rises, and anaesthetic complications accumulate. The clinical decision to combine should be made on risk grounds, not on marketing or . Patients booked for multiple major simultaneously should ask why, and what the staged would look like.

Specific procedure-related risk reduction

After abdominoplasty: binder worn 24 hours a day for 6 weeks; gentle from day 1 (with posture); careful drain management; protein intake; smoking cessation absolutely.

After breast augmentation: bra continuously for 6 weeks; sleeping on the back propped at 30 degrees; no chest exercise for 6 weeks; monitor for early signs of capsular (firmness, distortion) at follow-up. See .

After BBL: no sitting on the buttocks for 2 weeks; BBL cushion that transfers weight to the thighs for several weeks beyond that; no for at least 2 weeks; for fat embolism symptoms.

After facelift: sleeping propped at 30 for 2 weeks; head as instructed; no under any circumstances; minimal facial expression for the first week; ice packs for the first 48 hours.

After rhinoplasty: head elevated for sleep; no glasses on the nose for 6 weeks; nasal saline as instructed; no nose blowing for 2 weeks; sun on the nasal skin.

After liposuction: compression for 6 weeks; gentle walking from day 2; manual lymphatic massage from week 2 if recommended; adequate hydration; weight .

Sun protection — the long-tail factor

UV exposure on immature scars produces that does not fade. For 12 months after any procedure with scars, direct sun on the scar should be avoided, with SPF 50 used reliably. This through autumn and winter too — UV exposure is but not absent.

The longer-term also matters. UV exposure is the dominant modifiable contributor to facial skin ageing, and the of facial is directly affected by sun habits in the years following . See .

Attending follow-ups

Centre for Surgery’s follow-up schedule is day 1, week 1, week 3, week 6, three months, six months, and twelve months for most procedures. These are not optional. Their is to catch early — when they are easy to manage — rather than late, when they are not.

Patients who skip follow-ups disproportionately present months later with problems that could have been addressed at the . Conversely, patients with concerns between should not wait — our 24/7 nurse-led aftercare line covers the first six weeks, and can a review at any point thereafter.

Warning signs that warrant immediate contact

Calling early is always preferable to waiting. The 24/7 line is for exactly this .

Booking a consultation

To book a consultation, call or use the . We are based at . The risks of your planned procedure, and the strategies for minimising them, will be discussed in detail at .

Centre for Surgery · · GMC specialist-registered · · · ·

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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private Champagne On Ice – Deep Cleansing (https://www.sculptedbykamila.com) London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and surgery through GMC-registered specialist surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures and , , for men, and body such as and . Patient safety, surgical excellence and results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for is a CQC-regulated on London’s iconic , offering plastic and cosmetic led by .

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