Plastic Surgery or Facial Plastic Surgery: Can the Public Tell the Difference?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Public Perception
• Surgical Specialties

Background:

• Social media and online advertising are increasingly utilized by plastic surgeons (PS) for patient education and referrals.
• A knowledge gap exists regarding public understanding of distinct training and accreditation among medical professionals advertising online.
• This study investigates public expectations differentiating plastic surgery and facial plastic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the general public can differentiate between plastic surgeons (PS) and facial plastic surgeons (FPS).
• To assess public expectations regarding the training and accreditation of facial plastic surgeons (FPS).
• To evaluate potential public deception arising from similar terminology in surgical specialties.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to US-residing participants via Amazon MTurk.
• Data collected included demographics and assumptions based on the terms "facial PS" (FPS) and "PS."
• Participant responses were analyzed to gauge expectations and perceptions of provider qualifications.

Main Results:

• Respondents expected "facial PS" (FPS) providers to have completed plastic and reconstructive surgery residency.
• A significant number of respondents (mean = 3.62) reported they would feel misled if an FPS lacked this specific residency training.
• The study highlights a public unawareness of differing training pathways due to similar nomenclature.

Conclusions:

• The lay public demonstrates a lack of awareness regarding distinct training and certification pathways for surgical specialties.
• Similar terminology in plastic surgery and facial plastic surgery contributes to public confusion.
• This research underscores the need for clearer communication regarding surgical specialty training and accreditation.