Patterns in Academic Cosmetic Surgery Practice

Abstract

Purpose Although growth in cosmetic surgery remains constant in the private setting, academic cosmetic surgery practices are often underdeveloped. Our study aims to determine which patient populations access academic cosmetic surgery services. Methods The 2018 Health Care Utilization Project Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample database was used for data analysis. Encounters for the following American Society of Plastic Surgery top 5 procedures for 2020 were selected: blepharoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and rhytidectomy. Patient encounter data were collected because it relates to median income, geographic location, and primary payer status. Results The 2018 Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample data set contained 44,078 encounters at academic surgical centers for the procedures listed previously. Low-income patients account for 13.7% of academic cosmetic surgery encounters compared with 37.9% for high-income patients. Breast augmentation rates are higher among low-income patients (20.5% vs 17.2%, P < 0.001), and high-income patients undergo rhytidectomy more frequently (5.7% vs 3.0%, P < 0.001). In the academic setting, patients from large metropolitan areas encompass the majority of cosmetic encounters (71.0%), and these patients are more likely to proceed with rhinoplasty, rhytidectomy, and liposuction procedures (P < 0.001). Patients from smaller metropolitan areas undergo blepharoplasty more frequently compared with those from larger metropolitan areas (56.4% vs 41.8%, P < 0.001). Self-pay and privately insured patients comprise the majority of academic cosmetic surgery encounters (40.8% and 29.9%, respectively). Eighty-eight percent of Medicare patients within this cohort underwent blepharoplasty, whereas self-pay patients accessed breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhytidectomy more often than other insured patients. Conclusions Income status, patient location, and primary payer status play an important role in academic cosmetic surgery access rates and procedure preferences. Academic cosmetic practices can use these insights to tailor their services to the populations they serve.

Recent Status of Procedures in a Single Nationwide Cosmetic Surgery Group

“…The analysis of our data reflects the prevalence of cosmetic surgery in Japan and its status of procedures. Compared with other countries, 10 the proportion of surgical procedures for the face, including the eyes and nose, were apparently higher in our group. Moreover, the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a Japanese academic society, has reported that 87.7% of cosmetic surgery was related to the face in the Japanese multicenter study that did not include our group data.…”

Using Microeconomic Spending Traits to Inform Trends in Utilization of Cosmetic Procedures by Race and Ethnicity

“…5 In their analysis of patient utilization patterns in academic cosmetic surgery practices using the 2018 Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample database, Moore et al noted that breast augmentation rates were higher among low-income patients compared with their high-income counterparts. 10 Thus, it appears that income levels do not always correlate with cosmetic procedure utilization. However, we believe our interpretation of financial stability/prowess as inflexible/flexible consumer spending provides greater real-world value because it hones in on the aspect of personal finances that deals with actual spending on goods and services, which include cosmetic surgery utilization.…”