Telemedicine in Plastic Surgery: Satisfaction, Safety, and the Need for Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks

Telemedicine has rapidly evolved in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering new opportunities for patient care, especially in wound management, pediatric consultations, and postoperative follow-ups. Despite its growing use, questions remain regarding user satisfaction and technological limitations. This study aims to systematically evaluate the satisfaction and usability of telemedicine among patients and providers in plastic surgery and to present a single-center experience with telehealth during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases for articles published between January 2017 and April 2025. Inclusion criteria focused on studies addressing satisfaction with telemedicine in plastic surgery. Additionally, a prospective survey was conducted of 63 patients, mean age of 59.6 ± 23.86, at our center using a modified Telehealth Usability Questionnaire between May and August 2020. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and comparative tests.

Twenty-one studies were included, spanning burns, pediatric, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery. Overall, telemedicine demonstrated high patient satisfaction (72%-98%), provider satisfaction (74%-97%), and diagnostic reliability (up to 94.4%). In our local cohort, 77.8% completed their scheduled virtual appointments, and usefulness received the highest satisfaction score (mean 6.68 of 7). No significant differences were observed by age or sex.

Telemedicine is a highly satisfactory and feasible adjunct to traditional plastic surgery care, especially for follow-ups and wound care. Continued technological improvements and standardized protocols are essential for broader adoption.