Ethics and the facial plastic surgeon

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• Facial plastic surgery is increasingly prevalent, driven by desires for self-improvement and perfection.
• Surgeons may face conflicts of interest due to personal gain from performing procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review potential harms of facial plastic surgery beyond standard complications.
• To examine ethical principles and risks of breaching them in facial plastic surgery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on ethical considerations in facial plastic surgery.
• Analysis of surgeon's potential conflicts of interest and patient harm.

Main Results:

• Facial plastic surgery carries risks of harm beyond infection or bleeding.
• Surgeons may breach ethical principles like informed consent, beneficence, and non-maleficence.

Conclusions:

• Careful consideration of ethical principles is crucial for surgeons performing facial plastic surgery.
• Undue diligence risks violating patient welfare and ethical standards in cosmetic procedures.