What Do Patients Look for When Scheduling Their Initial Elective Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Consultation?

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Patient Behavior
• Cosmetic Surgery Decision-Making

Background:

• Patient decisions for plastic surgery consultations are influenced by multiple factors.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the most significant factors patients consider when scheduling their initial plastic surgery consultation.
• To provide insights for physicians on patient preferences in consultation booking.

Main Methods:

• A 23-question online survey was administered via Amazon Mechanical Turk.
• Participants ranked factors (cost, reputation, social media, etc.) using a 1-5 Likert scale.
• Demographic data and prior/planned consultation status were collected.

Main Results:

• Surgeon online reviews (mean 4.15), surgeon presence at follow-ups (mean 4.01), and pre-appointment pricing (mean 4.01) were rated highest.
• Waiting room amenities and social media advertising were least important.
• Younger patients (<45) valued social media presence more than older patients.

Conclusions:

• Online reviews, follow-up care availability, and transparent pricing are paramount for patients booking consultations.
• Physicians can optimize consultation scheduling by focusing on these patient-centric factors.