The authors found that muscle flap surgery provides single-intervention therapy for successful resolution of lymphoceles, with a low complication rate and fairly rapid recovery in a high-risk patient population. Flaps also salvage cases that have failed conservative therapy and provide hardy coverage for a wound bed that is often infected.

Male gender, hypothyroidism, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be risk factors for wound dehiscence following body contour operations for massive weight loss. Asthma may be a marker of poor general health status, and asthmatic patients are at increased risk for requiring blood transfusions. Having three or more procedures is associated with an increased risk of blood transfusion and increased length of stay.