Are Patients Satisfied with Results from Residents Performing Aesthetic Surgery?

Abstract

An 8-year survey of patient satisfaction in an academic aesthetic surgery clinic at the University of Toronto was carried out by means of a mailed questionnaire. A total of 265 questionnaires were mailed; 131 completed questionnaires (49.4 percent) were returned. Of these, 93.1 percent would recommend this clinic (88.1 percent in the first year of operation and 95.4 percent in the subsequent 7 years), and 92.9 percent would undergo the same procedure again, if required (88.3 percent in the first year and 95.0 percent in the next 7 years). The highest patient satisfaction (10 of 10) was seen in augmentation mammoplasty (average, 9.1); blepharoplasty (average, 9.0); rhytidectomy (average, 7.8), and rhinoplasty (average, 6.9). The results obtained compared favorably with recently published data of more experienced surgeons.

Aesthetic Surgery Performed by Plastic Surgery Residents

“…13Y15,21,31 In an outcome analysis of a resident clinic during a period of 7 years, Pyle et al 14 reported a minor complication rate of 8%, a revision rate of 14.4%, and no case of major complications. 13 Satisfaction rates and response rates are comparable to the results in the present study. Incidence of complications and revisions.…”

“…14 Furthermore, the margin for error in aesthetic surgery is tremendously narrow, where, as is the case with rhinoplasty, a millimeter may make a difference between an excellent and a poor result. 13,15 Sterodimas et al compared 2 different training systems, one mainly based on residents' assistance in aesthetic surgery and one providing the opportunity for the senior resident to perform aesthetic procedures. 34Y36 The ability to provide aesthetic surgery training in a safe setting that generates safe and reproducible results has been demonstrated.…”

Avaliação tardia em rinoplastia estética em um centro acadêmico de referência

“…By analyzing the data (concerning the level of satisfaction) obtained in this study (73.25%±19.42 for primary rhinoplasty and 72.02%±15.54 for secondary rhinoplasty), it is worth to stress that even in a clinic in which the patients are submitted to rhinoplasty -considered the procedure with the lowest level of patient satisfaction when compared to other types of cosmetic surgery, 8,10 the level of satisfaction is very good. It is worth bearing in mind that the surgeries were performed by third year residents, in other words, trainees.…”

Progressive Surgical Autonomy in a Plastic Surgery Resident Clinic

“…Although studies in multiple other centers have shown the adequacy of resident-delivered care in related venues, further investigations will also be necessary to demonstrate the quality and safety of care delivered through PSRCs. 13,14,31,48–51 Increased definition of the tools used to measure operative autonomy will likely herald greater safe trainee skill progression and increase the ability of plastic surgery educators to communicate expectations.…”