Author(s)
Cameron Todd, MD
Lauren Himes, BS
Jordan Wallin, MD
Candace Waters, MD
Brian Downs, MD
Affiliation(s)
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Wake Forest; Desert Bloom Plastic Surgery, St. George, UT. ;
Abstract:
Introduction: Facial cosmetic surgery is largely performed in the private practice setting, and the demographics of patients undergoing cosmetic surgery in the academic setting have not been well characterized.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients undergoing facial cosmetic surgery in the operating room by fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeons at a single academic institution from 2015 to 2019. Combination cases with functional components covered by insurance were included.
Results: 152 cosmetic surgical procedures were performed on 110 patients by 3 surgeons over the course of the 5-year period. This represented 13% of all operative procedures performed by the group. 76% of patients were female. Of the 152 cosmetic procedures, 33% were combination procedures with other functional procedures covered by insurance. 89% of patients undergoing cosmetic procedures were white, 5% other, 3% Asian, and 1% American Indian or Alaska Native. 1% of patients did not have a gender listed.
Conclusion: Facial cosmetic surgery patients at a single academic institution are composed of disproportionately more white individuals than the surrounding area. Compared to national trends, male and white patients made up a larger portion of patients undergoing surgery.