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ASPS Survey Fact Sheet

Patient Experiences, Perceptions, and Attitudes on Post-surgical Side Effects and Complications

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery vs. Medically Necessary Surgery¹

  • Nearly 8 out of 10 patients (80% cosmetic plastic surgery/78% medically necessary surgery) surveyed were satisfied with their overall surgical experience.
  • Nearly 40% of cosmetic plastic surgery patients and 29% of patients who had medically necessary surgery believe they should have been more proactive in learning about the possible side effects and complications of their surgeries.
  • Nearly one-third of cosmetic surgery patients (28%) did not check their doctor’s credentials before surgery; 37% did not check if their surgeon was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; 54% did not check if their surgeon completed an accredited residency training program in plastic surgery.
  • The majority of patients believed their surgeons: answered all of their questions (90% cosmetic plastic surgery/96% medically necessary surgery); addressed how to properly prepare for the day of surgery (82% cosmetic plastic surgery/89% medically necessary surgery); and informed them of the details of their surgical procedure (77% cosmetic plastic surgery/ 74% medically necessary surgery).
  • The majority of patients (82% cosmetic plastic surgery/86% medically necessary surgery) were satisfied/very satisfied with the overall quality of pre-surgical discussions with their doctors; however, nearly 30% of cosmetic surgery patients and nearly 20% of patients who had medically necessary surgery admit feeling uncomfortable asking their doctor or surgeon questions prior to surgery.
  • Nearly three-quarters (73% cosmetic plastic surgery/75% medically necessary surgery) believed their doctor completely addressed potential side effects and complications before surgery.
  • Before surgery, 91% of cosmetic surgery patients and 95% of patients who had medically necessary surgery said they knew what to expect in terms of post-surgical side effects and complications; however, fewer than half recalled being informed of some common side effects and complications such as nausea and vomiting (42% cosmetic plastic surgery/43% medically necessary surgery), blood clots (34% cosmetic plastic surgery/28% medically necessary surgery), or suture complications (34% cosmetic plastic surgery/25% medically necessary surgery).
  • About 1 in 2 patients (57% cosmetic plastic surgery/56% medically necessary surgery) expressed some concern about the outcome of their procedure as it relates to post-surgical side effects and complications.
  • 60% of all patients surveyed had outpatient surgery (released the same day as their surgery).
  • Nearly one-third of patients (30% cosmetic plastic surgery/33% medically necessary surgery) who experienced post-surgical side effects or complications found them to be at least somewhat difficult to manage.
  • Among those who experienced a post-surgical complication, roughly 70% of patients said it negatively impacted their daily life in such areas as an inability to accomplish necessary tasks (35% cosmetic plastic surgery/ 44% medically necessary surgery); a decrease in energy level (32% cosmetic plastic surgery/53% medically necessary surgery); and time away from work (27% cosmetic plastic surgery/39% medically necessary surgery).
  • 35% of cosmetic plastic surgery patients and 39% of patients who had medically necessary surgery who experienced a post-surgical complication reported missing four or more days of work due to their complication.

¹Survey respondents were never directly asked about side effects at any point in the survey, but instead were asked about risks and complications, which in several questions included some well-known side effects such as nausea, vomiting and pain.

The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive® for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Merck & Co., Inc. between January 15 to 29, 2007, among 617 adults, of whom 301 had cosmetic plastic surgery under general anesthesia in the past two years and 316 had non-emergency medically necessary surgery under general anesthesia in the past two years. Please see press release for full methodology statement.