Highlighting A Research Journal Conducted By
Charles Galanis, MD Ivan S. Sanchez, BS Jason Roostaeian, MD and Christopher Crisera, MD
A 2013 survey published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal titled “Factors Influencing Patient Interest in Plastic Surgery and the Process of Selecting a Surgeon” revealed that out of 100 respondents none were concerned about how others viewed them about undergoing plastic surgery. Plastic surgery is now widely available to most people, not just the ones with well to do lifestyles and disposable income. There is no stigma towards plastic surgery, lots of people seek plastic surgeons for better health, lifestyle and appearance.
The age of the individual, marital status, and other factors determine the type of procedure. For instance, older people are more likely to have facial procedures performed, such as:
- Face Lift
- Eyelid Surgery
While younger patients are more commonly requesting body procedures such as:
- Breast augmentation
- Liposuction
What Do Patients Fear Most?
According to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal’s research article, while almost 8 in 10 of the respondents will consider a cosmetic procedure, committing to the procedure is a different matter altogether. There are some mental and practical barriers that prevent them from going through with a procedure. They were also asked to voice their opinion and choice for a more in depth and detailed procedure with more permanent results over a shorter and more cost-effective procedure with results that are temporary. You can get access to the full questionnaire report in Appendix 1 via the website.
According to the study, it’s the fear that the results may not be what they expected. This was the case of 51% of the respondents. The second reason was the cost involved for 40% of respondents. A quarter of them are apprehensive about the recovery process, and 14% of them are scared of the surgery itself.
How Do Patients Select A Surgeon?
Once a patient makes a decision to go through with a plastic surgery procedure, the next step is deciding on a surgeon. There are several factors that influence their decision in selecting the cosmetic surgeon.
For one, they tend to trust a surgeon by reputation, credibility, and track record. They will also want to be assured that the surgeon has a Board-Certification. For anonymity’s sake, patients prefer that the procedure be performed in a private setting, rather than in a university or community hospital.
Surprisingly, advertisements fail to influence the patient’s decision as many would think. Patients rely on personal research as well as referrals from friends and acquaintances in selecting a plastic surgeon.
Dr. Kian Samimi of RevivaMed has all the credential that address the fears expressed by the respondents in the survey. For one, Dr. Samimi is a Board-Certified surgeon. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Prior to opening his own practice, he was the chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Arizona.
