Curriculum Development for the Resident Aesthetic Clinic

Abstract

One key feature of Plastic Surgery is that it encompasses aesthetic concerns as a major component of the specialty. Over the course of their training, residents are expected to learn how to examine, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of solely aesthetic patient concerns. Unfortunately, there has been no comprehensive resource to which trainees can turn for accurate information. As part of a project undertaken by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS), a comprehensive resource for plastic surgery residents covering topics in aesthetic medicine and surgery was developed. A small committee was chosen to develop topics relevant to aesthetic surgery and resources resident would find particularly valuable as they rotate through their training program’s aesthetic surgery clinic. The initial task was to identify topics that fell within the definition of aesthetic surgery. This would include physical findings and treatment options involving the head and neck and the breast, trunk, and extremities. Then, within each section and for each topic, relevant abstracts, textbook chapters, and videos were included. More recent references with updated information were chosen in lieu of older ones. A wide sample of authors was included, and each author chosen was deemed to be well-versed in the subject. Videos were more difficult to identify; YouTube videos were not included in the first iteration but are a possibility for future updates should they be deemed unbiased, free of commercial interests, and well-crafted. Next, general and specific resources related to each of the identified subjects were chosen. These were deemed important to senior and chief residents to direct a successful resident aesthetic clinic. They included consultations, photographic standards for various anatomic areas, specific consents (surgical and photographic), key review articles, seminal textbooks, selected videos, and miscellaneous items. For example, the blepharoplasty consultation sheet incorporated a directed ophthalmologic history and physical examination that should be performed by the plastic surgeon before referral to an ophthalmologist for clearance. Each consultation was designed to recall specific features of each diagnosis that would be necessary for safe and effective treatment. Each was also designed to be 1 page in length and contain relevant diagrams as necessary. The resident would be able to log in the ACAPS Web site and download the specific resource desired. Future iterations will hopefully include continual updates to the site, as new, important data are acquired. In addition, investigative surveys can be developed to better the residents’ experience with their aesthetic clinic. These might include questions of value to program directors, such as the cost structure of the clinic, what resident year levels participate in cosmetic clinic, and what other specialties participate in resident clinic. The ultimate goal of the described project is not only to better the experience of the aesthetic clinic for the resident and faculty but also to maximize patient safety and satisfaction.