Evaluating Diversity Promotion on Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program Websites and Instagram Accounts.

BACKGROUND: Medical students applying to residency, including those from underrepresented groups, strongly value cultural fit and program diversity. Program websites and social media are thus an influential information source for prospective applicants and recruitment tool for residencies. We evaluated whether and how integrated plastic surgery residency program websites and social media display commitments to diversity online. METHODS: We evaluated program websites for 8 predetermined diversity elements, (1) nondiscrimination and (2) diversity statements, (3) community resources, (4) faculty and (5) resident biographies, (6) faculty and (7) resident photographs, and (8) resident resources, and assessed Instagram accounts for diversity-related images, captions, and hashtags. Our analysis used Mann-Whitney U , chi-squared, and t tests; significance level was P < 0.05. RESULTS: We reviewed 82 program websites with a mean of 3.4 ± 1.4 diversity elements. Resident (n = 76, 92.7%) and faculty photographs (n = 65, 79.3%) and resident biographies (n = 43, 52.4%) were the most common. Seventy programs (85.4%) had Instagram accounts, the majority of which (n = 41, 58.6%) shared content related to diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, and/or sexual orientation. Programs located in smaller cities were more likely to have ≥4 website diversity elements ( P = 0.014) and mention diversity on Instagram ( P = 0.0037). Programs with women chairs/chiefs were more likely to mention diversity on Instagram ( P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: In the age of virtual recruitment, program websites and social media should provide sufficient information, described in our diversity element checklist, to help prospective applicants determine fit from a diversity perspective. Residents, who often contribute to program social media, and women chairs/chiefs may be critical to driving diversity promotion.

Prior COVID-19 Infection Predisposes to Worse Outcomes After Autologous Breast Reconstruction: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Major shifts in health care systems worldwide have occurred because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). With nearly half of all Americans now having a history of COVID-19 infection, there is a pressing need to better understand the importance of prior COVID-19 infection as a potential surgical risk factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a history of prior COVID-19 infection on patient outcomes after autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study using the TriNetX research database, which contains deidentified patient records from 58 participating international health care organizations. All patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction between March 1, 2020, and April 9, 2022, were included and were grouped based on history of a prior COVID-19 infection. Demographic, preoperative risk factors, and 90-day postoperative complication data were compared. Data were analyzed by propensity score-matched analysis on TriNetX. Statistical analyses were performed by Fisher exact, χ2, and Mann-Whitney U tests as appropriate. Significance was set at P values of <0.05. RESULTS: Patients with a history of autologous breast reconstruction within our temporal study window (N = 3215) were divided into groups with (n = 281) and without (n = 3603) a prior COVID-19 diagnosis. Nonmatched patients with prior COVID-19 had increased rates of select 90-day postoperative complications, including wound dehiscence, contour deformities, thrombotic events, any surgical site complications, and any complications overall. Use of anticoagulant, antimicrobial, and opioid medications was also found to be higher in those with prior COVID-19.After performing propensity-score matching, each cohort consisted of 281 patients without statistically significant differences between any baseline characteristics. When comparing outcomes between matched cohorts, patients with a history of COVID-19 had increased rates of wound dehiscence (odds ratio [OR], 1.90; P = 0.030), thrombotic events (OR, 2.83; P = 0.0031), and any complications (OR, 1.52; P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that prior COVID-19 infection is a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes after autologous breast reconstruction. Patients with a history of COVID-19 have 183% higher odds of postoperative thromboembolic events, warranting careful patient selection and postoperative management.

Reintroducing Flap Reconstruction: One Institution's Safe Return to Flap Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of nosocomial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection for patients undergoing flap-based reconstructive surgery is crucial to providing care and maintaining operative volume and income to support plastic surgery programs. We conducted this study to (1) determine the postoperative incidence of COVID-19 among patients undergoing flap reconstruction from December 1, 2019 to November 1, 2020 and (2) compare 30-day outcomes between patients who underwent surgery before and during the early pandemic. METHODS: We conducted an 11-month retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent flap reconstruction across our institution. We abstracted patient demographics, intraoperative management, COVID-19 testing history, and 30-day postoperative complications from electronic health records. Nosocomial COVID-19 infection was defined as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) viral ribonucleic acid detection within 30 days of patients' postoperative course or during initial surgical admission. We used chi-squared tests to compare postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent surgery before (prior to March 12, 2021, when our institution admitted its first COVID-19 patient) versus during (on/after March 12, 2021) the pandemic. RESULTS: Among the 220 patients (mean [standard deviation] age = 53.8 [18.1] years; female = 54.8%) who underwent flap reconstruction, none had nosocomial COVID-19 infection. Five (2%) patients eventually tested COVID-19 positive (median time from surgery to diagnosis: 9 months, range: 1.5-11 months) with one developing partial flap loss while infected. Between patients who underwent free flap surgery before and during the pandemic, there were no significant differences in 30-day takebacks (15.6% vs. 16.6%, respectively; p > 0.999), readmissions (9.4% vs. 12.6%, respectively; p = 0.53), and surgical complications (e.g., total flap loss 1.6% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.81). CONCLUSION: Robust precautions can ensure the safety of patients undergoing flap surgeries across an academic medical institution, even during periods of high COVID-19 admission rates. Further studies are needed to generate evidence-based guidelines that optimize infection control and flap survival for patients undergoing reconstruction.

Underreporting of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Trauma: A 20-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite clinical concerns associated with pediatric traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), they remain grossly underreported. This is the first retrospective study to characterize concomitant pediatric TBIs and craniomaxillofacial (CMF) trauma patients, including frequency, presentation, documentation, and outcomes. METHODS: An institutional review board-approved retrospective cohort study was performed to identify all pediatric patients presenting with CMF fractures at a high-volume, tertiary trauma center between the years 1990 and 2010. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic information, presentation, operative management, length of stay, mortality at 2 years, dentition, CMF fracture patterns, and concomitant TBIs. Data were analyzed using two-tailed t tests and chi-square analysis. A value of P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 2966 pediatric CMF trauma patients identified and included for analysis [mean age, 7 ± 4.7 years; predominantly White (59.8%), and predominantly male (64.0%)], 809 had concomitant TBI (frequency, 27.3%). Only 1.6% of the TBI cases were documented in charts. Mortality at 2 years, length of stay in the hospital, and time to follow-up increased significantly from mild to severe TBIs. Concomitant TBIs were more common with skull and upper third fractures than CMF trauma without TBIs (81.8% versus 61.1%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant TBIs were present in a significant number of pediatric CMF trauma cases but were not documented for most cases. CMF surgeons should survey all pediatric CMF trauma patients for TBI and manage with neurology and/or neurosurgery teams. Future prospective studies are necessary to characterize and generate practice-guiding recommendations. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Risk, II.

Predictors and Consequences of Intraoperative Anastomotic Failure in DIEP Flaps.

BACKGROUND: Successful intraoperative microvascular anastomoses are essential for deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap survival. This study identifies factors associated with anastomotic failure during DIEP flap reconstruction and analyzes the impact of these anastomotic failures on postoperative patient outcomes and surgical costs. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of patients undergoing DIEP flap reconstruction at two high-volume tertiary care centers from January 2017 to December 2020. Patient demographics, intraoperative management, anastomotic technique, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Data were analyzed using Student's t-tests, Chi-square analysis, and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 270 patients included in our study (mean age 52, majority Caucasian [74.5%]), intraoperative anastomotic failure occurred in 26 (9.6%) patients. Increased number of circulating nurses increased risk of anastomotic failure (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence Interval [CI] 1.00-1.03, p <0.05). Presence of a junior resident also increased risk of anastomotic failure (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.01-6.34, p <0.05). Increased surgeon years in practice was associated with decreased failures (OR 0.12, CI 0.02-0.60, p <0.05). Intraoperative anastomotic failure increased the odds of postoperative hematoma (OR 8.85, CI 1.35-59.1, p <0.05) and was associated with longer operating room times (bilateral DIEP: 2.25 hours longer, p <0.05), longer hospital stays (2.2 days longer, p <0.05), and higher total operating room cost ($28,529.50 vs. $37,272.80, p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative anastomotic failures during DIEP flap reconstruction are associated with longer, more expensive cases and increased rates of postoperative complications. Presence of increased numbers of circulators and junior residents was associated with increased risk of anastomotic failure. Future research is necessary to develop practice guidelines for optimizing patient and surgical factors for intraoperative anastomotic success.

A 10-Year Review of Surgical Outcomes at the Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Resident Aesthetic Clinic.

Background: In 2014, the Plastic Surgery Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) increased minimum aesthetic surgery requirements. Consequently, the resident aesthetic clinic (RAC) has become an ever more important modality for training plastic surgery residents. Objectives: To analyze demographics and long-term surgical outcomes of aesthetic procedures performed at the Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland (JH/UM) RAC. A secondary objective was to evaluate the JH/UM RAC outcomes against those of peer RACs as well as board-certified plastic surgeons. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent aesthetic procedures at the JH/UM RAC between 2011 and 2020. Clinical characteristics, minor complication rates, major complication rates, and revision rates from the JH/UM RAC were compared against 2 peer RACs. We compared the incidence of major complications between the JH/UM RAC and a cohort of patients from the CosmetAssure (Birmingham, AL) database. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare complication rates between patient populations, with a significance set at 0.05. Results: Four hundred ninety-five procedures were performed on 285 patients. The major complications rate was 1.0% (n = 5). Peer RACs had total major complication rates of 0.2% and 1.7% (P = .07 and P = .47, respectively). CosmetAssure patients matched to JH/UM RAC patients were found to have comparable total major complications rates of 1.8% vs 0.6% (P = .06), respectively. At JH/UM, the minor complication rate was 13.9%, while the revision rate was 5.9%. Conclusions: The JH/UM RAC provides residents the education and training necessary to produce surgical outcomes comparable to peer RACs as well as board-certified plastic surgeons.

Epistaxis After Orthognathic Surgery: Literature Review and Three Case Studies.

Study Design: This is a literature review with 3 case studies. Objective: Intraoperative and postoperative bleeding are the most common complications of orthognathic surgery and have the potential to become life-threatening. The rarity of severe postoperative epistaxis has resulted in limited characterization of these cases in the literature. The purpose of this study is to 1) differentiate various presentations of epistaxis following orthognathic surgery in the literature, 2) identify management approaches, and 3) to synthesize a treatment algorithm to guide future management of postoperative epistaxis. Methods: A literature search of PubMed was conducted and 28 cases from 17 studies were assessed. Results: Bleeding within the first week may indicate isolated epistaxis, often resolved with local tamponade. Half of cases were attributed to pseudoaneurysm rupture (n = 14), with epistaxis onset ranging from postoperative day 6 to week 9. Angiography was used in most cases (n = 17), often as the primary imaging modality (n = 11). Nasal endoscopy is a less invasive and effective alternative to angiography with embolization. Proximal vessel ligation was used in 3 cases but is not preferred because collaterals may reconstitute flow through the defect and cause rebleeding. Repeat maxillary down-fracture with surgical exploration was described in 4 cases. Conclusions: As outlined in our management algorithm, nasal packing and tamponade should be followed by either local electrocautery or vascular imaging. Angiography with embolization is the preferred approach to diagnosis and management, whereas surgical intervention is reserved for cases of embolization failure or unavailability.

The Impact of Virtual Surgical Planning on Orthognathic Surgery: Contributions From Two Specialties.

BACKGROUND: Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has gained popularity for preoperative orthognathic surgery planning and is increasingly being employed by surgeons trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) or oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS). This review assesses the introduction of VSP as a new technology and its impact on orthognathic surgery research and practices based upon surgeon training. METHODS: Two PubMed literature reviews were conducted. The first classified publications on VSP for orthognathic surgery by training (OMS- or PRS-trained surgeons) and compared focuses, timing, and journals of publications from each group of surgeons. The second evaluated how orthognathic surgery publication volumes changed with VSP introduction. English articles published from inception until January 2020 (first review) and November 2020 (second review) were included. RESULTS: The first literature review retrieved 419 unique publications, with 188 studies selected for inclusion: 162 were published by OMS-trained principal investigators (OMS-authored) and 26 by PRS-trained principal investigators (PRS-authored). Plastic and reconstructive surgery-authored publications regarding VSP use in orthognathic surgery increased after the first publication in 2000, but at a significantly slower rate (0.2 new publications/year) than OMS-authored publications ( P < 0.01). Aesthetics was discussed in significantly more PRS-authored publications (76.9% compared to 28.4% of OMS-authored publications). The second review revealed that over 80.6% of orthognathic surgery literature was published after 2008, the year VSP was first integrated into orthognathic surgery workflow. CONCLUSIONS: Following the introduction of VSP, orthognathic surgery research output has differed between PRS and OMS based on publication speed, volume, and research focuses.Further research is necessary to evaluate how VSP has impacted PRS and OMS clinical practice.

A Systematic Review on the Implementation and Educational Value of Resident Aesthetic Clinics.

BACKGROUND: Resident aesthetic clinics (RACs) provide plastic surgery residents with hands-on aesthetic surgery training. Although RACs have demonstrated successful surgical outcomes without compromising patient care, few studies have evaluated the efficacy or educational value of RACs to increase resident confidence and competence in procedures. In addition, clinic structures vary widely among institutions, with each clinic offering a unique patient volume, caseload, and degree of resident autonomy that impacts the clinic's educational value. This systematic review identifies existing RAC practices, compares clinic structures, and proposes a curriculum framework to maximize educational value for residents. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we performed a systematic review of plastic surgery residency training program RACs. We queried PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 2000 to April 2020. Eligible articles were original articles that discussed RAC structure and educational value. Data abstracted included details on clinic structure (eg, volume, location, cost, clinic operations) and trainee-perceived educational value (eg, resident satisfaction, resident confidence in procedures). RESULTS: Of 1199 identified publications, 10 met the inclusion criteria: 6 single-site studies and 4 national survey studies. Among the single-site studies, annual volumes ranged from 22 to 68 patients/year and 35 to 81 cases/year. Resident aesthetic clinics were all staffed by full-time academic faculty (100%); one-third also were staffed by adjunct faculty and 17% also by community plastic surgeons. Resident involvement varied by hours in clinic and degree of autonomy. The survey studies found that RACs increase resident confidence and competence in performing aesthetic procedures and identified critical challenges to RAC implementation (eg, financial viability, continuity of care) that limited RAC educational value. Based on this review's findings, we propose a 6-step RAC curriculum framework for training programs seeking to establish an RAC and maximize the clinic's educational value. CONCLUSIONS: Resident aesthetic clinics are increasingly important for providing plastic surgery residents with aesthetic training. Patient and case volume, degree of resident autonomy, and clinic attending physicians are critical determinants of the educational value of RACs. We hope our findings can aid plastic surgery training programs in better organizing educational and sustainable RACs.

Caregiver Preferences for Three-Dimensional Printed or Augmented Reality Craniosynostosis Skull Models: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing and augmented reality (AR) have expanded anatomical modeling possibilities for caregiver craniosynostosis education. The purpose of this study is to characterize caregiver preferences regarding these visual models and determine the impact of these models on caregiver understanding of craniosynostosis. METHODS: The authors constructed 3D-printed and AR craniosynostosis models, which were randomly presented in a cross-sectional survey. Caregivers rated each model's utility in learning about craniosynostosis, learning about skull anatomy, viewing an abnormal head shape, easing anxiety, and increasing trust in the surgeon in comparison to a two-dimensional (2D) diagram. Furthermore, caregivers were asked to identify the fused suture on each model and indicate their preference for generic versus patient-specific models. RESULTS: A total of 412 craniosynostosis caregivers completed the survey (mean age 33 years, 56% Caucasian, 51% male). Caregivers preferred interactive, patient-specific 3D-printed or AR models over 2D diagrams (mean score difference 3D-printed to 2D: 0.16, P < 0.05; mean score difference AR to 2D: 0.17, P < 0.01) for learning about craniosynostosis, with no significant difference in preference between 3D-printed and AR models. Caregiver detection accuracy of the fused suture on the sagittal model was 19% higher with the 3D-printed model than with the AR model (P < 0.05) and 17% higher with the 3D-printed model than with the 2D diagram (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that craniosynostosis caregivers prefer 3D-printed or AR models over 2D diagrams in learning about craniosynostosis. Future craniosynostosis skull models with increased user interactivity and patient-specific components can better suit caregiver preferences.

Surgical Versus Nonsurgical Lower Face Contouring: Layperson Perceptions of Attractiveness and Personality Traits.

BACKGROUND: Traditional approaches to lower face contouring involve ostectomy of the mandibular angle or body. More recently, nonsurgical techniques have gained popularity, including neurotoxin injection to the masseter muscle. This study aims to evaluate layperson perceptions of patient attractiveness and personality traits following lower face contouring using either surgical or nonsurgical treatment. METHODS: In this survey study distributed via Amazon's Mechanical Turk, respondents viewed a series of 14 patient images obtained in clinic before and after surgical or nonsurgical jawline slimming, or without any facial aesthetic procedure. Respondents rated changes in attractiveness and personality trait scores between the before and after image (score: -50 to 50, with 50 representing the greatest posttreatment increase and 0 representing no change). We used descriptive statistics and multivariable regression to determine differences in respondent ratings between patient images. RESULTS: A total of 415 respondents (mean age 38 years, 50.6% female) successfully completed the survey. Compared to patients who underwent nonsurgical treatment, those who received surgery had significantly greater increases in perceived attractiveness (P < 0.001), femininity (P < 0.001), friendliness (P < 0.001), intelligence (P < 0.001), trustworthiness (P < 0.001), financial wealthiness (P < 0.001), dominance (P < 0.01), and self-esteem (P < 0.001). Gonial angles increased and jaw widths decreased following both surgical and nonsurgical intervention, with no statistically significant difference between treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: From the layperson perspective, surgical compared to nonsurgical jawline contouring offers greater improvements in perceptions of attractiveness and favorable personality traits.

A systematic review of sutureless vascular anastomosis technologies.

Vascular anastomoses typically involve a handsewn technique requiring significant surgical training, expertise, and time. The aim of our systematic review was to identify and describe sutureless vascular anastomosis techniques. We performed a systematic review of all sutureless vascular anastomosis technologies published in MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus Library databases and a patent review using US Patent and Trade Office Application, US Patent and Trademark Office Patent, Google Patents, Lens, Patent Quality Through Artificial Intelligence, SureChEMBL, and E-Space Net. Data from inclusion studies and patents published between January 1, 1980 and July 15, 2021 were abstracted to describe their category, anastomosis type and configuration, study types, and advantages and disadvantages encountered with each technology. Two hundred eleven original studies and 475 patents describing sutureless vascular anastomosis technologies were identified. In the literature, stents/stent-grafts/grafts (n = 61), lasers (n = 53), and couplers (n = 27) were the predominant device categories. In the patent review, adhesive technologies (n = 103), stents/stent-grafts/grafts (n = 68), and mechanical connectors (n = 61) predominated. The majority of studies involved in vivo animal studies (n = 193); 32.2% (n = 68) of investigations involved human trials; and 17.9% (n = 85) of patent technologies were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The main advantages described for sutureless anastomosis technologies included faster procedure time and greater patency rates compared with handsewn anastomoses. The main disadvantages included reduced vessel compliance, stenosis, leakage, and device costs. The appeal of sutureless technology is substantiated by numerous animal trials, but their use in humans remains limited. This may be a reflection of strict regulatory criteria and/or vascular complications associated with currently available technologies.

Dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane allografts for myelomeningocele and wound reconstruction.

A growing body of literature demonstrates the clinical promise of dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM), a cryopreserved tissue product derived from placental amniotic membrane, to enhance post-operative wound healing. The purpose of this study is to review the potential of dHACM to facilitate post-surgical and myelomeningocele wound repair. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed was conducted to identify studies investigating dHACM use in pediatric and surgical wound care published from inception to October 2020. For each study, patient characteristics, wound characteristics, and outcomes following dHACM application were documented and assessed. Of the 190 articles reviewed, 15 publications were included in the final analysis. Results demonstrated that the average wound healing time varied across clinical indications (e.g., 14 days for trauma reconstruction to 116 days for Moh's surgery repair). Across indications, pediatric patients had shorter healing periods compared to adults (P < 0.01). Chronic wounds (> four weeks old) were documented in both adult (n = 3) and pediatric (n = 2) wound repair publications; all chronic surgical wounds demonstrated complete wound closure with dHACM. No complications from dHACM use were reported. Advantages of dHACM included increased patient satisfaction, cost-savings, and faster wound healing. We then present two cases of myelomeningocele wound repair facilitated successfully by dHACM. Overall, dHACM proves to successfully expedite wound repair in pediatric patients with chronic or complicated wounds such as those from myelomeningocele repair. It is important for surgeons to consider wound duration, size, and patient age to better predict graft success in enhancing wound repair.

The Zoom Boom: How Video Calling Impacts Attitudes Towards Aesthetic Surgery in the COVID-19 Era.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the widespread adoption of video calling. A parallel growth in aesthetic surgery demand has been documented. OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to identify associations between video call engagement and aesthetic surgery attitudes. METHODS: We distributed a cross-sectional survey via Amazon Mechanical Turk in November 2020. Respondents were asked to report their time spent video calling, video calling applications and features (eg, virtual backgrounds) they utilized, and aesthetic surgery attitudes employing the 15-item Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS; higher scores indicate greater acceptance). ACSS scores were compared between video call users and non-users employing t tests. Pearson's correlation coefficient was employed to quantify associations between ACSS scores and time spent on calls and multivariable analysis to estimate associations between video call engagement and ACSS scores. RESULTS: A total of 295 respondents (mean age, 37.6 years; 49.5% female) completed the survey. Across all video call applications surveyed, video call users had higher ACSS scores than non-users. Increased time respondents spent looking at their own face on video call was moderately associated with higher ACSS scores (r = 0.48, P < 0.01), whereas time spent looking at another person's face was not associated with a change in ACSS scores (r = 0.09, P = 0.11). Increased video call utilization was associated with higher ACSS scores. CONCLUSIONS: Increased video calling utilization is associated with increased acceptance of aesthetic surgery. Although the clinical significance of ACSS scores can be better elucidated, plastic surgeons should consider the effects of video calling on patient motivations for aesthetic surgery in the COVID-19 era.

A New Decade for Diversity: Trends in Representation of Women at the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons first Women in Plastic Surgery was established, reflecting the national trend to address the gender gap between men and women in surgery. Conferences, such as the annual NESPS, are important opportunities to increase visibility of female role models and resources to address deterrents to surgical careers. We thus sought to examine the participation and visibility of women in the NESPS over the last decade. METHODS: Abstracts and programs from the NESPS regional conferences between 2013 and 2019 were accessed via the publicly available past meetings archives, and registration lists were provided by the NESPS. Registrants, panelists, speakers, moderators, and first author and senior author listed for each poster presentation, podium presentation was listed, sex was determined (male or female), and sex were aggregated by category of participation. Significance was set at a P value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: Registration of women for the NESPS annual conferences was constant for 5 years (2013-2017), followed by an increase in female registrants from 27.1% in 2017 to 42.3% in 2019. Female representation among poster and podium presentations also increased from 2017 to 2019 (7.7%-23.3% poster presentations and 11.1%-23.4% podium presentations). Invited positions (speakers, panelists, and moderators) had a peak of 32.2% in 2017, but otherwise, there is no clear evidence of improved representation of women. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increase in the proportion of female registrants at the annual NESPS conferences from 2013 to 2019. However, visibility of female participants fluctuated over the same period; addressing this represents one opportunity for closing the gender gap at the NESPS. As the percentage of female trainees continues to rise, we look to female faculty to continue to participate in educational events, such as the NESPS meeting, and to be present as role models for the growing new generation of female plastic surgeons.

The Valuation of Rhytidectomy in Different Economic Markets.

This study demonstrates that the trend of how rhytidectomy is valued can be used to determine not only the pricing of this good but also how receptive developing economic markets are to the export of cosmetic facial plastic surgery. This study seeks to analyze and compare the value of rhytidectomy in an established market and an emerging market. A cross-sectional survey was administered through public online forums to 162 casual observers in the United States and 74 casual observers in India. Participants were shown pre- and postoperative photos of 10 patients who underwent cosmetic rhinoplasty and 2 patients who did not undergo surgery. Observers were asked to quantify the perceived change in attractiveness, change in age, and willingness to pay (WTP). There is a similar nonlinear trend between WTP and change in attractiveness in both the United States and India. Baseline values of rhytidectomy in the United States and India have a similar ratio of 2.122 compared with the ratio between both countries in the 2018 Big Mac index. The comparison of the trend in WTP in the United States and India shows that facial cosmetic surgery functions as a luxury good in both an established market and an emerging market. Our model successfully approximates the relationship between each country's purchasing power parity. Since the market behavior of rhytidectomy can be predicted based on purchasing power parity, there may be an untapped market for facial cosmetic surgery among populations with growing economies.

The Health Utility and Valuation of Cosmetic Rhinoplasty.

Importance: The importance of this study is to understand the impact of rhinoplasty as perceived by society and to conceptualize the health utility metric of cosmetic rhinoplasty in relation to other health interventions. Objective: This novel study seeks to measure and quantify the health state utility and valuation of cosmetic rhinoplasty. Design, Setting, Participants: This is a cross-sectional survey administered through public online forums to 161 casual observers in America. Main Outcomes and Measures: Participants were shown pre- and postoperative photographs of six patients who underwent cosmetic rhinoplasty and two patients who did not undergo surgery. Observers were asked to imagine that the external nose in each image was on their own face and rated (1) their health state utility and (2) how much they were willing to pay (WTP) to have the ideal nose. Results: Established metrics of standard gamble and visual analog scale were explored in detail. Using these valuation and health utility data, we calculated WTP per quality-adjusted-life-year (WTP/QALY). The WTP/QALY for cosmetic rhinoplasty is $12,264 per QALY, which is significantly below cost-effective thresholds. Participants were willing to accept 10% risk of death to undergo cosmetic rhinoplasty. Conclusions and Relevance: Calculating WTP/QALY as a metric, we assess and quantify the social importance of rhinoplasty. This is the first study to demonstrate that elective cosmetic rhinoplasty can be a high-value intervention as perceived by society. Furthermore, the high percentage of risk of death that participants are willing to accept for cosmetic rhinoplasty suggests there is a profound psychosocial impact of external nasal deformity. These findings have implications for patients, surgeons, and health policy makers.

How Old Do I Look? Exploring the Facial Cues of Age in a Tasked Eye-Tracking Study.

Importance: This is the first eye-tracking study to use a tasked age estimation paradigm to explore the facial cues of age as seen by casual observers. Objectives: Determine where observers gaze on faces when tasked with estimating an individual's age. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective controlled experiment, which took place at an academic tertiary referral center. In total, 220 casual observers (80 untasked, 140 tasked) viewed frontal facial images of women while an infrared eye-tracking monitor recorded their eye movements and fixations in real time. Main Outcomes and Measures: Multivariate Hotelling's analysis followed by planned posthypothesis testing was used to compare fixation durations for predefined regions of interest, including the central triangle, upper face, midface, lower face, and neck between tasked and untasked observers. Results: A total of 80 observers (mean age 23.6 years, 53% female) successfully completed the first untasked eye-tracking experiment. A total of 140 observers (mean age 26.1 years, 60% female) successfully completed the second age estimation experiment. On multivariate analysis, there were significant differences in the distribution of attention between observers in the two experiments (T2 = 99.70; F(5,2084) = 19.9012, p < 0.0001). On planned posthypothesis testing, observers attended significantly more to the lower third of the face (0.20 s, p < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14-0.27 s) and neck (0.05 s, p = 0.0074, 95% CI 0.01-0.08 s) and less to the upper third of the face (-0.27 s, p < 0.0001, 95% CI -0.40 to -0.14 s) when tasked. There was no significant difference in time spent on the whole face in the two experiments, suggesting that peripheral elements such as hair color or jewelry did not significantly influence gaze patterns. Conclusions and Relevance: Humans form judgments about others every day of their lives, and age perception colors their every interaction. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use eye tracking to investigate facial cues of age. The results showed that when tasked with estimating age, casual observer visual attention was shifted toward the lower face when compared with those who were untasked. These data inform our understanding of facial age perception and potential areas to target for facial rejuvenation. Level of Evidence: NA.

Transoral neck surgery prevents attentional bias towards the neck compared to open neck surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Measure attentional distraction of neck scars after open neck surgery compared to transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via a vestibular approach (TOETVA) or transoral endoscopic parathyroidectomy via a vestibular approach (TOEPVA) using eye-tracking technology. METHODS: Casual observers viewed facial images of patients who underwent open neck surgery, TOETVA/TOEPVA, or no surgery (controls). An eye-tracking monitor recorded eye fixations in real time. Multivariate Hotelling's analysis followed by post-hypothesis testing compared fixation durations for predefined regions of interest, including the eyes, nose, mouth, neck, and remaining face between open neck surgery patients, transoral neck surgery patients, and controls. RESULTS: One hundred forty observers completed the experiment. The majority of their attention was directed towards the central triangle (eyes, nose, mouth). On multivariate analysis, distribution of attention was significantly different on the faces of those who underwent open neck surgery versus TOETVA/TOEPVA (T2 = 43.66; F[32,131] = 14.5389, P < .0001). Observers attended significantly more to the neck (0.20 seconds, P < .0001; 95% CI, 0.13, 0.26 s) and less to the peripheral face (-0.24 seconds, P = .0031; 95% CI, -0.39, -0.08 s) of open neck surgery patients. In patients who followed up months after surgery, significant differences persisted (T2 = 13.97; F[3451] = 4.6377, P = .0033). By contrast, fixation patterns for TOETVA/TOEPVA patients were not significantly different from controls (T2 = 5.59, F[31,186] = 1.8602, P = .1345). Observer race and gender did not significantly affect attention to neck scars. CONCLUSION: Scars following open neck surgery draw attention in casual observers. This attentional distraction is prevented in TOETVA/TOEPVA patients due to the absence of a scar, even months after surgery. Moreover, visual processing of TOETVA/TOEPVA patients' faces is similar to that of controls. These data support the effectiveness of transoral neck surgery in giving patients a cosmetic result that does not distract the attention of observers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:1603-1608, 2020.