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Female plastic surgery patients had either no gender preference, preferred woman surgeon
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A significant percentage of female patients had no preference as to the gender of their potential plastic surgeon, but patients with a preference mostly requested a female surgeon, according to study results published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
The prospective study included 200 patients who called a single private practice of two surgeons, one male and one female, for a plastic surgery consultation. The surgeons had obtained board certification the same year and were closely matched in training, experience and reputation. All patients were female with a mean age of 39 years (range, 17-80 years).
The patients were asked if they preferred a male or female surgeon or if they would like to request a surgeon by name. Ninety-two patients (46%) had no preference regarding the gender of the surgeon, while 52 (26%) requested a female surgeon and two (1%) requested a male surgeon (P < .001).
Of the 52 patients (27%) who requested a specific surgeon, 29 (14.5%) requested the male surgeon by name and 25 (12.5%) requested the female surgeon by name.
The anatomic areas of interest for the patients specifically requesting a female surgeon were breast (n = 32), body (n = 7), face (n = 7) and genital surgery (n = 10). The two patients who specifically requested a male surgeon both had an interest in breast surgery.
Of the patients who expressed no gender preference, the areas of interest were breast (n = 58), body (n = 28), face (n = 13) and genital surgery (n = 6).
“Within the field of plastic surgery, women comprise only 14% of plastic surgeons, but they make up 37% of current trainees,” the researchers wrote. “The results of this study indicate that female patients seeking gender concordance in their surgeons will welcome the increasing number of women entering plastic surgery.” – by Talitha Bennett
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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