Revision Rates in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery with and without Resident Involvement

Changes in surgical education have caused concern over residents' preparedness for independent practice. As the field of otolaryngology requires such a wide breadth of expertise, ill preparation becomes especially costly. This study explores how the presence and participation of a postgraduate year 3 (PGY3) otolaryngology resident in surgery impacts revision rates and operating time as gauges for the resident competency and indirect training costs.

A retrospective chart analysis of patients who underwent cosmetic plastic surgery at sites for PGY3 otolaryngology residents' facial plastic surgery rotations was conducted. Residents performed one side of bilateral procedures (eg, blepharoplasties) and approximately 50% of midline procedures (eg, rhinoplasties). Chi-squared testing and odds/risk ratios were done to assess the effect of resident involvement on revision rates. Operating time was compared using t tests.

When a resident was involved in cosmetic surgery, the revision rate was 22.2% compared with 3.6% without. The likelihood of a future revision surgery was 7.57 times higher when a resident participated in the original operation. Resident involvement was not a statistically significant predictor of exceeding the allotted operating time.

The revision rate of cosmetic surgery was much higher when a resident was involved. Otolaryngology residents would benefit from increased facial plastic and reconstructive surgery training. As a response to this analytical study, this clinical rotation was moved to be offered at a later stage of postgraduate surgical training to allow residents to gain more experience and be better set up for success in the rotation.