[Who Pays? Postoperative Complications and Treatment Costs Following Aesthetic Surgery in Germany and Abroad].

In Germany, more than 460,000 aesthetic surgical procedures are performed each year. Driven by lower costs, aesthetic surgeries abroad are also gaining popularity. However, there is a lack of official data on acute complications, their management, and the resulting healthcare costs.We conducted a retrospective study including all patients who required inpatient treatment for acute postoperative complications following aesthetic surgery in Germany or abroad (January 2018 to March 2024). We analysed patient characteristics, the type of aesthetic procedure, the country in which the aesthetic surgery was performed, complications, revision procedures, treatment costs, and the presence of follow-up cost insurance.Fifty patients were included in the study. The aesthetic procedures were primarily performed in Germany (44%), Turkey (32%), and the Czech Republic (16%). The most common complications were infections (54%) and wound dehiscence (34%). Re-operation was performed in 94% of patients and 8% of patients required intensive care treatment due to life-threatening complications. The average cost of inpatient treatment was EUR 6,192. Only 28% of patients had a follow-up cost insurance.Aesthetic surgery can lead to serious postoperative complications that frequently necessitate re-operation and result in high treatment costs. Comprehensive patient education, including the recommendation of follow-up cost insurance and medical care, should be provided to enhance patient safety and reduce the cost burden on both patients and the healthcare system.