Familial Aggregation of Plastic Surgical Procedures

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Referral Patterns

Background:

• A notable trend of first-degree relatives seeking plastic surgery after a family member's procedure has been observed.
• Potential reasons for this include shared genetic traits, firsthand observation of surgical outcomes, and surgeon-patient relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate family members undergoing procedures by the same surgeon.
• To understand the factors driving these familial surgical referrals.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 17 family members from 10 families who underwent elective procedures.
• Participants had a preceding family member who had undergone a similar or related procedure by the same surgeon.

Main Results:

• Both the outcome of the initial surgery and the surgeon's rapport were highly valued.
• 94% cited the initial surgical result as the primary driver for subsequent procedures.
• 88% were not considering surgery until they witnessed the positive outcome of the index procedure.

Conclusions:

• Exceptional surgical results are crucial for building patient trust and fostering strong family referral networks.
• Positive patient experiences and visible outcomes are key drivers for elective plastic surgery within families.