One of the very common questions that many patients ask, either through the internet or in actual consultations, is….how many of (whatever procedure they are interested in) do you do or have you done? On the surface, this question seems logical and appropriate and one that should lead to a level of greater or lesser confidence on the patient’s part. But is it really a meaningful question?
First and foremost, you have to assume that the plastic surgeon actually knows how many they have done. While I am sure many plastic surgeons have a general idea, very few could give you a reasonably accurate number. There is also the phenomenon that most of us surgeons think we have done many more surgeries than we actually have. Do you know how many times you have been in a Starbucks this past year? The specific number is not as important as the trend….either very few (every couple months), a modest amount (once every few weeks or so), or a lot. (at least once a week) That is how you should think about surgical numbers. Either your surgeon does the procedure a lot (once a week or so), frequently (at least once a month), or infrequently. (every couple of months) The point is…ask your plastic surgeon about how often they do the operation in question…not how many have they done or do per year. You are much more likely to get an accurate assessment to the intent of your question.
Secondly, the commonality of the procedure has a lot to do with how often it is performed by any plastic surgeon. Some operations (e.g., breast implants) are done in high numbers across the country and is much more commonly done in any plastic surgery practice. Other procedures (e.g., calf implants) are not common operations at all and a plastic surgeon’s low ‘numbers’ may be more a reflection of the regional frequency of that specific procedure.
Thirdly, I think pictures (before and after photos) are more relevant than a surgeon’s estimate of their operation rates. If a plastic surgeon can show you a number of before and after photos (their photos!) of the procedure and can go over what is right and wrong with a representative sampling of patients, that suggests a good familiarity with the procedure.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana