Aesthetic Surgery Training and Practice in India: A Survey

Introduction  Aesthetic surgery is a rapidly evolving subspecialty in high demand worldwide. To be considered a fully trained plastic surgeon, all the requirements of the curriculum must be met through to successful completion, including aesthetic surgery. At present, a disparity exists between the demand and provision of aesthetic surgery training in India. This survey evaluation highlights the responses, concerns, and possible solutions regarding training and practice of cosmetic surgery in India. Methods  A meticulously crafted survey comprising of 19 questions discussing the background, training, and practice of cosmetic plastic surgery, was sent across to all accessible plastic surgeons trained or training in India. A total of 506 responses were received. The responses were analyzed and have been presented in this study. Results  The survey was completed with all participants answering all the questions. Pertinent questions regarding practice setup, percentage of aesthetic work in practice, exposure of trainees to aesthetic procedures, and merits of an aesthetic fellowship revealed a lot about aesthetic training in India. The participants also expressed their level of satisfaction with their principal plastic surgery training. Summarizing these findings, suggestions for improvements in training were made. Conclusion  Plastic surgery residency programs need to ensure that residents receive comprehensive exposure to both surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures to ensure maintenance of service standards and optimum patient care. The information collected can help us formulate strategies to improvise the current cosmetic surgery training across India. Steps taken toward the same are also highlighted in the study.