Perception Of Plastic Surgery Research Articles

Cultivating a “Feminine” Surgical Culture: Lessons from Indonesia

Background: Despite a growing number of female physicians, most practicing surgeons in the U.S. are still men. By contrast, Indonesia has achieved notable gender parity among surgeons, with the number of women practicing as plastic surgeons projected to soon surpass men. Achieving more female representation in plastic surgery is important for delivering high-quality care, especially in the face of physician shortages and high burnout. Methods: This survey study was conducted at the 26th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Indonesian Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (InaPRAS) in Manado, Indonesia, during August 2023. Respondents were asked about their perceptions of plastic surgery, mentorship, career motivations, and caregiving responsibilities. Responses were scored using a 3-point Likert scale of agreement to statements (Disagree, Neutral, Agree); χ2 and Fischer’s exact test were performed to assess differences in responses by gender. Results: In this validated survey of 175 plastic surgeon trainees and attendings, there were no significant difference between genders in the perception and roles of mentorship in preparing for a career in plastic surgery. Respondents for both genders espoused optimistic views on work-life balance items, including time for family and friends and flexibility of work schedules. Conclusion: Indonesia can serve as a model for encouraging greater gender parity in plastic surgery. Community-level interventions such as family leave policies, childcare provisions, and initiatives to promote an inclusive culture will create a more supportive workplace to increase women’s representation in plastic surgery in the United States and around the world.

Broadening Horizons: a 3-month structured webinar series for undergraduate and postgraduate plastic surgery education

BackgroundWe created a 3-month webinar series, entitled Broadening Horizons, which explored plastic surgery principles from each subspeciality according to the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP) for plastic surgery. This article reports on our experience of producing a teaching programme, its impact on our delegates, and provides a useful guide to creating future webinar series in plastic surgery and other specialities.MethodsPre- and post-course questionnaires were used to perform a needs analysis, collect feedback and assess our delegates’ career interests and perceptions of plastic surgery. Delegates rated their responses on 5-point Likert scales. Delegates also undertook a 60-question pre- and post-course exam to test their knowledge.ResultsOne thousand eight attendances were recorded for the entire 16-part webinar series. Sixty-three (53–73) delegates, including undergraduate, postgraduate and international students, attended each lecture on average. Seventy-five percent of delegates felt they had previously received inadequate plastic surgery teaching. Ninety-six percent were satisfied or very satisfied with Broadening Horizons. Confidence in their knowledge of plastic surgery increased significantly from 2 (1–3) (not very confident) to 3 (2–5) (somewhat confident) (p = 0.01). Post-course exam scores increased significantly from 49% (32–67) to 56% (23–85) (p = 0.05). Career interest and positive perceptions were maintained.ConclusionsThis is the first webinar series to provide undergraduates and postgraduates plastic surgery teaching based on ISCP learning objectives. The series increased delegates’ knowledge and confidence in their understanding of plastic surgery. This article describes the 5-E-Z step guide to developing future teaching programmes similar to Broadening Horizons.Level of evidence Not ratable

The perception of plastic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic—an analysis of online search patterns on a medical information platform

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted global life and transitioned economies and societal perceptions of life as we knew it. Professional and social life mostly ground to a nadir during the first lockdown in Europe in March. As a consequence, measures aimed at preventing the spread of the virus were established in medical facilities also and elective plastic surgery procedures were temporarily suspended in our clinic and others. A majority of the population, including those potentially contemplating plastic surgery procedures, spent most of their time at home with ample time available to research information about surgical procedures and other topics online. This investigation analyzes the relevance of plastic surgery during the pandemic on the basis of online search behavior patterns. Online traffic data from the online platform http://www.mooci.org were extracted using Google Analytics over a period of 6 months. The parameters analyzed were: pageviews, session duration, and bounce rate. Additionally, differentiation by areas of interest has been obtained. The data were compared and analyzed before and after the beginning of the first hard lockdown in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. There were no significant differences in regard to pageviews and session duration when comparing time points before and after the beginning of the hard lockdown. The bounce rate exhibited a significant decrease after the beginning of the lockdown, implying a more conscious search for information and greater absorption and retention. There was no difference that could conclusively be attributed to the pandemic in terms of specific areas of interest researched. Society’s demand for information about plastic-surgical procedures continues to be steadily prevalent—despite, or even in particular, during a global pandemic. Providing reliable and readily available information about plastic surgery procedures is an important component of a functioning doctor–patient relationship and informed consent. This information may reflect society’s increased interest in plastic surgery during the pandemic, or be simply reflective of more spare time at hand to allow for such research. Further studies should investigate the relevance of elective procedures over the entire course of the pandemic.

Perception of Plastic Surgery Among Medical Students

Introduction: Misconception of plastic surgery as a purely aesthetic specialty is common among medical students and interns. This study aims to assess the perception of medical students and interns on plastic surgery in Saudi Arabia and Canada. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on February 2020 targeting first to last year medical students and interns in Saudi Arabia (IAU, KAUH) and Canada (McGill). Convenient sampling technique was used. Online based and paper questionnaires consisting of 21 questions addressing participants’ demographics as well as a list of various medical scenarios that require participants to choose the most appropriate specialty to refer to. These scenarios aim to assess the broad understanding of the participants of the various pathologies treated by plastic surgeons. Results: A total of 729 students were included in this study, where 27.5% of them were second year medical student, 25.3% were third year, 14.4% fourth year, 11.2% interns and 21.6% other levels (Table 3). Geographical distribution demonstrates that 86.8% of the students were from Saudi Arabia and 13.2% were from Canada (Table 1). The data analysis demonstrated that only 3 questions of the plastic surgery were answered correctly including liposuction (73.7% correct answers), facial sagging (67.2%) and congenital adhesion (52.5%) as shown in Figure 1. The rest of the 9 questions were answered incorrectly, indicating that most of the students misinterpret the various services that plastic surgeons can offer. Conclusion: This data suggests that plastic surgery is still commonly perceived as a merely aesthetic specialty among medical students. We recommend increasing the exposure to plastic surgery for medical students during clinical years to enhance their awareness about the armamentarium of the plastic surgeon.

How to attract our future? - Perception of plastic surgery among medical students

BackgroundThere is a mounting body of evidence that underscores the worldwide and US national need for increased plastic surgery recruitment of trainees. Thus, plastic surgery must attract more applicants while maintaining the high-level qualifications of residency candidates. MethodsA total of 250 (w = 197) medical students rated the prototypical plastic surgeon (PS), general practitioner (GP), and craniomaxillofacial surgeon (CMF) with respect to traits derived from a literature review on the general perception of surgery, favorability, and their intention to pursue a respective career. ResultsFactor analysis yielded two overarching dimensions of prototype perception in addition to femininity and resilience, one reflecting a coldhearted, narcissistic, competitive character (status primacy; SP), and one reflecting role-model-like traits (hard-working, healthy, admired, and empathetic). Prototypical PSs scored significantly higher on SP than GPs (t(249) = 18.72, p < 0.001, d = 1.26) and CMFs (t(249) = 5.73, p < 0.001, d = 0.36), while receiving significantly less positive evaluations (GP: t(249) = -9.93, p < 0.001, d = -0.63; CMF: t(249) = -3.52, p < 0.001, d = -0.22). The higher participants rated PSs on SP, the more likely a career in plastic surgery was excluded (OR = 0.71, p = 0.03). An opposite relationship with femininity approached significance (OR = 1.32, p = 0.06). ConclusionsGiven the growing need for PSs, worldwide and US national task fields have to overcome the outdated traits and highlight the field's pro-bono engagement. Furthermore, plastic surgery should further expand its leading role in promoting female trainees.

Addressing Disciplinary Misconceptions: Mentorship Programs and Student-Led Surgical Societies. Comment on "Perception of Plastic Surgery and the Role of Media Among Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study".

Addressing Disciplinary Misconceptions: Mentorship Programs and Student-Led Surgical Societies. Comment on "Perception of Plastic Surgery and the Role of Media Among Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study".

The Perception of Plastic Surgery by Community-Based, Private Practice Nurses: A French National Descriptive Study.

Plastic surgery is a dynamic field but remains poorly understood by general practitioners, medical students, health professionals, and the public. The main health care professionals in the community who are involved in the follow-up of plastic surgery patients are nurses; they help to facilitate wound healing and rehabilitation in the postoperative period. In this study, the authors assessed the medical knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery by nurses working in the community setting and explored their understanding of classical scenarios commonly encountered in reconstructive surgery. An online survey was designed to assess the demographics of nurses working in the community in France and their knowledge of plastic surgery. This was disseminated to all practicing nurses working outside of hospitals by means of an online social network from the period of April 2019 to June 2019. The survey was completed by 318 nurses. Specific training in plastic surgical nursing will be required to optimize the management of these patients following discharge from hospital. This gap in knowledge may affect patient recovery negatively.

Knowledge and Perception of Plastic Surgery Among Medical Students in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia

Background: The future career choices of medical students are influenced by the medical school curriculum and exposure they receive in the schools. A thorough understanding of the students’ knowledge and perception about a specialty like plastic surgery is essential for assessing the scope and career choices. This study evaluates the medical students’ knowledge and perception of plastic surgery in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a cross-sectional online survey study that was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire which was distributed between senior medical students. The questionnaire recorded participants’ sociodemographic details, their knowledge about the specialty of plastic surgery, and their perception of the specialty. The data collected were subjected to Statistical analysis using SPSS Ver.23 and a p-value of &lt; 0.05 was deemed significant. Results: The majority of the students (78.3%) reported poor knowledge regarding plastic surgery while 11% of the respondents had previously taken a clinical rotation in plastic surgery department. Female medical students had comparatively demonstrated better knowledge than male students regarding the specialty (p&lt;0.034). It was reported by 43.2% of students that plastic surgery is the same as other specialties, whereas 53.2% believed that this specialty is an essential one. Only 34.1% of the students were interested in pursuing plastic surgery as a specialty after graduation. Conclusion: The study finding highlights that the knowledge about plastic surgery is not satisfactory among medical students. There is a need to improve knowledge about this specialty. The medical curriculum should fill the voids and give more considerations for this specialty when training undergraduate medical students, which would positively influence their career choices.

The perception of plastic surgery by physiotherapists: a French national descriptive study.

BackgroundPlastic surgery is a transversal discipline that many people misunderstand, including general practitioners, medical students, paramedics and the public. Plastic surgeons often collaborate with physiotherapists for post-acute care and rehabilitation. They ensure optimal post-operative recovery of the patient. Herein, the authors assessed the medical knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery by physiotherapists working outside health centers and explored their attitudes towards classic reconstructive surgery scenarios.MethodsTo assess physiotherapists’ medical knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery, the authors conducted an online questionnaire survey. A total of 1,262 physiotherapists responded.ResultsThe physiotherapists confirmed the suspected lack of knowledge regarding the plastic surgery field. Although they were generally aware that plastic surgeons perform cosmetic procedures and treat burns, they were largely unaware that plastic surgeons perform hand surgeries and microsurgical operations. More than 70% of them stated that they did not have the necessary knowledge to properly manage patients in this specialty. This lack of knowledge can sometimes have a negative impact on patients’ recovery, particularly for fear of making a mistake.ConclusionsPhysiotherapists, outside the hospital, have an incomplete conception of plastic surgery. They would need a specific plastic surgery training in order to manage these patients in an optimal way.

Evaluation of awareness and perception of plastic surgery among general public at a suburban teaching hospital

Background: The general public is usually unaware of the available services of a plastic surgeon. Thus, we are trying to identify the perceptions of the public towards plastic surgery in a setting of a suburban tertiary teaching hospital by means of a questionnaire and the results were analyzed.Methods: 250 people took part in this study of varying ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, education levels and of either sex. These people were those visiting the different outpatient departments of our hospital. A short and simple questionnaire was devised in three languages of English, Tamil and Hindi. The questionnaires were analyzed and tabulated and the results were inferred.Results: 60.4% of the public think plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery are the same. 69.6% of the public think that plastic is used in plastic surgery. 90% of them think that there will be no scars following plastic surgery and that plastic surgery is only for the rich and famous. 39.6% of them think that plastic surgery is a risky operation whereas 30.4% feel that there is no risk involved. 80% of the population voted that a common procedure like rhinoplasty is done by a plastic surgeon. 70% of the public think that getting plastic surgery is good. All the public have heard the term plastic surgery, while 84.4% of them think that plastic surgery is only cosmetic surgery. 79.6% of the population has heard of plastic surgery from radio and television.Conclusions: There has been a sudden surge of plastic surgery performed over the recent years but the public are not much aware regarding these procedures and we must educate them for the speciality to progress.

Perception of Plastic Surgery and the Role of Media Among Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundAlthough plastic surgery has been gaining a lot of popularity recently, there seems to be limited perception and a poor understanding of this field by both medical professionals, including medical students, and the general public. This might alter referral patterns as well as medical students’ choice to pursue a career in plastic surgery.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and perception of plastic surgery among medical students and to explore the influencing factors underlying particular beliefs.MethodsData for this cross-sectional study were collected between August 22 and December 22, 2017. The questionnaire was formulated on the basis of our own study objectives and from available questionnaires with similar objectives. It was composed of 14 questions divided into three main parts: demographics, the specialty of plastic surgery, and media involvement and its effect on plastic surgery. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire among medical students in all years at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data were considered significant at P<.05. All analyses were performed using SPSS, version 20.ResultsA total of 886 medical students participated in this study. We achieved a response rate of 56.79%. The mean age of the participants was 21.2 years. The mean awareness score was 9.7 (SD 4.2) for female students and 8.3 (SD 4.2) for male students (P<.001). The condition most commonly known to be treated by a plastic surgeon was burns (70.3% of responses).ConclusionsMedical students do not have adequate awareness of plastic surgery, and early exposure to this specialty may enhance their awareness.

Public perception of plastic surgery in a rapidly growing developing country

Public perception of plastic surgery in a rapidly growing developing country

Male medical students' perception of plastic surgery and its relationship with their cultural factors.

Objectives:This study is an attempt to establish the knowledge of the medical students on the specialty of plastic surgery, in addition, to know their opinions about its relationship with their cultural factors.Patients and Methods:This is a cross-sectional study; participants invited randomly from the college of medicine at King Khaled University to fill a questionnaire consisted of 20 questions regarding the basic knowledge, attitude, perception, and understanding of plastic surgery and its subspecialties.Results:Medical student participated in our study; their perception towards plastic surgery specialty was positive as they believed that this is a specialty as any other medical specialties; Out of 201 (45.6%), 81 (18.4%) assured plastic surgery is a good specialty. The biggest concerns about joining to cosmetic surgery were a difficulty of accepting in this specialty (34.9%). There is a significant relationship between the plastic surgery and cultural factors (P < 0.05). On other hand, there is no significant relation between choosing plastic surgery specialist among medical students and community overview about plastic surgery specialty (P = 0.15).Conclusion:Despite the confession of the importance of plastic surgery between Saudi medical students, a large portion of them refuses plastic surgeons due to cultural factors. Increasing knowledge of plastic surgery subspecialties deserves attention.

Contemporary Koreans' Perceptions of Facial Beauty.

BackgroundThis article aims to investigate current perceptions of beauty of the general public and physicians without a specialization in plastic surgery performing aesthetic procedures.MethodsA cross-sectional and interviewing questionnaire was administered to 290 people in Seoul, South Korea in September 2015. The questionnaire addressed three issues: general attitudes about plastic surgery (Q1), perception of and preferences regarding Korean female celebrities’ facial attractiveness (Q2), and the relative influence of each facial aesthetic subunit on overall facial attractiveness. The survey’s results were gathered by a professional research agency and classified according to a respondent’s gender, age, and job type (95%±5.75% confidence interval). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 10.1, calculating one-way analysis of variance with post hoc analysis and Tukey’s t-test.ResultsAmong the respondents, 38.3% were in favor of aesthetic plastic surgery. The most common source of plastic surgery information was the internet (50.0%). The most powerful factor influencing hospital or clinic selection was the postoperative surgical results of acquaintances (74.9%). We created a composite face of an attractive Korean female, representing the current facial configuration considered appealing to the Koreans. Beauty perceptions differed to some degree based on gender and generational differences. We found that there were certain differences in beauty perceptions between general physicians who perform aesthetic procedures and the general public.ConclusionsOur study results provide aesthetic plastic surgeons with detailed information about contemporary Korean people’s attitudes toward and perceptions of plastic surgery and the specific characteristics of female Korean faces currently considered attractive, plus trends in these perceptions, which should inform plastic surgeons within their specialized fields.

Medical Student Perception of Plastic Surgery and the Impact of Mainstream Media.

Plastic surgery as a discipline is poorly understood by many, including primary care physicians, nurses, medical students, and the public. These misconceptions affect the specialty in a number of ways, including referral patterns and recruitment of medical students into residency programs. The reason for these commonly held misconceptions has not yet been addressed in the plastic surgery literature. As such, we assessed medical students' knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery as a discipline and explored factors influencing these opinions. To assess medical students' knowledge and perceptions of plastic surgery, we conducted an online survey. A total of 231 medical students responded. Interviews were then conducted with 2 focus groups, in which we explored the survey results and reasons behind these misconceptions. As with previous studies, medical students showed a gap in knowledge with respect to plastic surgery. Although they were generally aware that plastic surgeons perform cosmetic procedures and treat burns, they were largely unaware that plastic surgeons perform hand and craniofacial surgeries. Focus groups revealed that television plays a large role in shaping their ideas of plastic surgery. Medical students have a skewed perception of the discipline of plastic surgery, and this is largely influenced by television. Interventions aimed at educating medical students on the matter are recommended, including a greater presence in the preclerkship medical school curriculum.

A Qualitative Study of Breast Reconstruction Decision-Making among Asian Immigrant Women Living in the United States

Despite research supporting improved psychosocial well-being, quality of life, and survival for patients undergoing postmastectomy breast reconstruction, Asian patients remain one-fifth as likely as Caucasians to choose reconstruction. This study investigates cultural factors, values, and perceptions held by Asian women that might impact breast reconstruction rates. The authors conducted semistructured interviews of immigrant East Asian women treated for breast cancer in the New York metropolitan area, investigating social structure, culture, attitudes toward surgery, and body image. Three investigators independently coded transcribed interviews, and then collectively evaluated them through axial coding of recurring themes. Thirty-five immigrant East Asian women who underwent surgical treatment for breast cancer were interviewed. Emerging themes include functionality, age, perceptions of plastic surgery, inconvenience, community/family, fear of implants, language, and information. Patients spoke about breasts as a function of their roles as a wife or mother, eliminating the need for breasts when these roles were fulfilled. Many addressed the fear of multiple operations. Quality and quantity of information, and communication with practitioners, impacted perceptions about treatment. Reconstructive surgery was often viewed as cosmetic. Community and family played a significant role in decision-making. Asian women are statistically less likely than Caucasians to pursue breast reconstruction. This is the first study to investigate culture-specific perceptions of breast reconstruction. Results from this study can be used to improve cultural competency in addressing patient concerns. Improving access to information regarding treatment options and surgical outcomes may improve informed decision-making among immigrant Asian women.

Knowledge and perception of plastic surgery among tertiary education students in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Knowledge, perception, and acceptance of plastic surgery among any population are influenced by channel of presentation. A good understanding of the public awareness will define the way plastic surgery services will be provided. To assess the knowledge, awareness of availability, and acceptance of plastic surgery practice in Enugu, South East Nigeria. A questionnaire-based prospective study. The electronic media is the most common medium of awareness. Less than half the sample knew about the existence of plastic surgeons in Enugu even though a large proportion was aware of the existence of plastic surgery as a specialty. The concentration of plastic surgeons in a center is directly related to awareness of plastic surgery services in that facility. The most common esthetic procedure done by a plastic surgeon in Enugu is tattoo removal and scar refashioning. Orthopedic surgeons are thought to be key players in the management of burn patients as much as the plastic surgeons due to the "SIGNPOST EFFECT." The level of awareness is high in the sampled population with associated increase in acceptance of its practice and willing utilization. All public hospitals should be encouraged to employ the services of plastic surgeons. Appropriate branding of specialized hospitals where plastic surgery service is available will advance the practice significantly.

Plastic Surgery Undergraduate Training

Plastic surgery teaching has a limited role in the undergraduate curriculum. We held a 1-day national course in plastic surgery for undergraduates. Our aim was to introduce delegates to plastic surgery and teach basic plastic surgical skills. We assessed change in perceptions of plastic surgery and change in confidence in basic plastic surgical skills. The day consisted of consultant-led lectures followed by workshops in aesthetic suturing, local flap design, and tendon repair. A questionnaire divided into 3 sections, namely, (1) career plans, (2) perceptions of plastic surgery, and (3) surgical skills and knowledge, was completed by 39 delegates before and after the course. Results were presented as mean scores and the standard error of the mean used to calculate data spread. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric data. Career plans: Interest in pursuing a plastic surgery career significantly increased over the course of the day by 12.5% (P < 0.0005).Perceptions: Statistically significant changes were observed in many categories of plastic surgery, including the perception of the role of plastic surgeons in improving patient quality of life, increased by 18.31% (P = 0.063). Before the course 10% of delegates perceived plastic surgery to be a superficial discipline and 20% perceived that plastic surgeons did not save lives. After completing the course, no delegates held those views.Surgical skills: Confidence to perform subcuticular and deep dermal sutures improved by 53% (P < 0.0001) and 57% (P < 0.0001), respectively. Delegates' subjective understanding of the basic geometry of local flaps improved by 94% (P < 0.0001). Interestingly, before the course, 2.5% of delegates drew an accurate modified Kessler suture compared with 87% of on completion of the course. A 1-day intensive undergraduate plastic surgery course can significantly increase delegates' desire to pursue a career in plastic surgery, dispel common misconceptions about this field, and increase their confidence in performing the taught skills. The results of this course demonstrate that a 1-day course is an effective means of teaching basic plastic surgery skills to undergraduates and highlights the potential role for local plastic surgery departments in advancing plastic surgery education.

Awareness and Perception of Plastic Surgery among Healthcare Professionals in Pune, India: Do They Really Know What We Do?

Purpose. The aim of this study is to understand the level of awareness and knowledge of plastic surgery in healthcare professionals in a tertiary health care facility in Pune, India. This study also aims to highlight the perception of the medical professionals about plastic surgery and what they think a plastic surgeon does. Materials and Methods. A questionnaire-based survey was done at B.J Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, Pune in 2011. Feedback evaluation forms from hundred resident doctors and faculty were evaluated and analyzed. Results. There is not much awareness about plastic surgery as a specialty amongst health care providers. Plastic surgery is mostly perceived as cosmetic surgery, and the other spectrum of the patients we cater to goes largely unnoticed. Of all the clinical conditions given to the participants, there was not a single clinical condition where the respondents favored unanimously for plastic surgeons. Conclusion. Plastic surgery as a specialty is poorly understood by our medical colleagues, and the onus of creating and improving the awareness and perception of our specialty lies on us. Herculean unified efforts at individual as well as global level will help us achieve this goal.

Family physicians’ perception of plastic surgery and its influence on referral. A survey from Poland

Background: Inadequate family physicians’ knowledge of plastic surgery might be a barrier for patients to benefit from plastic surgery treatments reimbursed by the Polish National Health Service (NHS).Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess family physicians’ awareness of the indications for plastic surgery, and their knowledge of conditions that are treated without extra costs for the patient in plastic surgery outpatient clinics (OCs).Methods: An e-mail survey was carried out in a group of 100 out of 378 randomly selected primary care doctors currently practicing in Lodz, central Poland. Respondents were asked to fill in a questionnaire, which contained questions about conditions with reimbursed treatments in plastic surgery OCs. We also provided them with a list of diseases and asked them to which OC they would refer a patient in such case.Results: 58 primary care physicians responded: 30 specialists in family medicine and 28 residents in the final year of their specialization in family medicine. Respondents had good knowledge of the range of conditions managed in plastic surgery OCs. They were also aware of most of the medical procedures not being reimbursed by the Polish NHS. However, some indications for plastic surgery as well as the free availability of relevant medical procedures were known by less than half of the respondents (e.g. lipoma 47%, gynaecomastia 28%, and xanthelasma palpebrarum 16%).Conclusion: To improve collaboration between plastic surgeons and family physicians basic information regarding plastic surgery might be included in residency programmes in family medicine.