Research appears to indicate that men who have what is described as body contouring operations after bariatric surgery can be at greater risk of wound complications than women.

The study by Dr. Tae Chong of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre in Dallas looked at 481 patients who had body contouring procedures. Ten per cent of the sample was men, with the commonest plastic surgery being removal of excess tissue on the chest, back and arms and around the genital area.

However complications were found to be higher in men than in women, with 14.6% of men compared to just 3.5% of women suffering from haematomas. Also more common in men were seroma wounds. This is the collection of wound fluid, and was found to occur in 25% of men and just 13% of women.

Overall, it seems men are nearly four times more likely to develop a wound complication than women.

But the above-mentioned wound problems are not the only issues which appear to affect men more than women, although the differences were not as stark. These include infection as well as more serious complications.

In his report, Dr. Chong said: “Men who are considering body contouring surgery should be advised that they are at an increased risk of postoperative hematoma and seroma formation.”