Studies to be reported at Plastic Surgery 2008, an upcoming conference held by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in Chicago will show how important it is to ask all massive weight-loss patients "� before surgery "� about their nutritional status, lifestyle, participation in exercise programs and medical health.

The research to be presented examines demographic factors that could affect complication rates, specifically those who have not yet attained their goal body mass index (BMI) as well as individuals who have lost weight through diet and exercise and those who are male.

As a result of the rapid increase in obesity rates in the United States Physicians are seeing more patients who want body contouring following massive weight loss. "Because of this, the need to examine various demographics for differences in how these patients tolerate surgery is ever important to guarantee appropriate patient selection, safety and optimal results," said J. Peter Rubin, M.D., co-author of the studies and chair of the ASPS Post-Bariatric Task Force.

One study examined men and women to determine whether gender impacted complication rates following body contouring. It found that men were at an increased risk for bleeding after surgery (hematoma) 12.5 percent and fluid collection (seroma) 25 percent, as opposed to 4.1 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively, of all patients. "We don't know why men have slightly higher complication rates, so more research is necessary," said Rubin. "However, this information is important to keep in mind when examining prospective patients."

In other research, analysis discovered that being obese did increase surgery complication rates for single body contouring procedures. Rubin said, "plastic surgeons should counsel their patients to delay body contouring surgery until they reach ther goal BMI." Although body contouring produces excellent results, he said, "if waiting a little long means ensuring safe surgery, it's worth it."

A final study was to determine if there were complication differences in patients who lost weight through gastric bypass surgery as opposed to those who only lost weight through diet and exercise. The study found the differences in overall complication rates in the two groups were not statistically significant. The findings surprised Rubin. "Most plastic surgeons, including myself," he said, "would assume since nutritional status might be better in diet and exercise patients, they would have fewer complications than those who lost weight through gastric bypass. It shows how important it is to ask all massive weight loss patients, pre-operatively, about their nutritional status, lifestyle, participation in exercise programs and medical health."

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that, in 2007, almost 67,000 body contouring procedures after massive weight loss were performed.