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A Systematic Review of Aesthetic Surgery Training Within Plastic Surgery Training Programs in the USA: An In-Depth Analysis and Practical Reference

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Abstract

Background

The importance of aesthetic surgery exposure for plastic and reconstructive trainees has been recently validated by the expansion of case requirements for aesthetic procedures from 50 to 150, as well as resident-driven desire for increased cosmetic exposure throughout training. We aim to systematically review the literature at a national level to report on overall trends in aesthetic surgery training within PRS residencies.

Methods

A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus identified all English articles published in the USA between 2000 and 2020, using a combination of “aesthetic surgery”, “cosmetic surgery”, “plastic surgery”, “residency and internship”, “education”, and “training.”

Results

Our initial search resulted in 415 articles. After review of inclusion and exclusion criteria, in addition to cross-referencing, 41 studies remained, including 15 studies discussing resident and/or program director surveys, eight studies discussing teaching methods, sixteen studies discussing dedicated resident clinics, four studies discussing cosmetic/aesthetic fellowships, three studies discussing cosmetic practice patterns, and eleven studies discussing patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Current literature demonstrates that there are gaps in aesthetic surgery training for PRS residents in the USA, including facial and neck surgeries and non-surgical interventions. Resident clinics have clear benefits for resident education, without sacrificing patient outcomes. Residency programs should consider the development of a resident cosmetic clinic and/or dedicated cosmetic center to increase surgical exposure and increase trainee comfort in providing this subset of procedures. Published literature is limited in consistency of methods of evaluation, and further in-depth analysis of case volume and diversity at training programs within the USA and internationally is indicated.

Level of Evidence III

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Protocol/Availability of Data

Study protocol and data extracted from included studies are available upon request.

Abbreviations

ACGME:

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

PRS:

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

PRISMA:

Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

MGH:

Massachusetts General Hospital

PSITE:

Plastic Surgery In-Service Training Exam

M&M:

Morbidity and Mortality

ASAPS:

American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

AACS:

American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

AOA:

Alpha Omega Alpha

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, South Pavilion, 14th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Martin P. Morris, Yoshiko Toyoda, Adrienne N. Christopher, Robyn B. Broach & Ivona Percec

  2. Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Adrienne N. Christopher

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  1. Martin P. Morris
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  2. Yoshiko Toyoda
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Correspondence to Ivona Percec.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

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Morris, M.P., Toyoda, Y., Christopher, A.N. et al. A Systematic Review of Aesthetic Surgery Training Within Plastic Surgery Training Programs in the USA: An In-Depth Analysis and Practical Reference. Aesth Plast Surg 46, 513–523 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-021-02557-0

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