Choosing the right plastic surgeon
Deciding to get plastic surgery is a major decision. It takes a lot of planning and consideration. One of the most important decisions is choosing the right plastic surgeon. You want to be sure the doctor has all the right credentials and sufficient experience in the procedure. A study in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that a personal recommendation from a doctor or friend is one of the most influential factors when choosing a plastic surgeon.
Dr. Nick Marsidi stated, “It seems that the greater the experience the more confident patients are for a better result.”
Conjoint analysis is a market research technique that Dr. Marsidi used to assess the factors affecting the choice of plastic surgeons. 150 patients participated in this study. Patients have a variety of characteristics in a plastic surgeon that they consider. Conjoint analysis determines which of these are most valuable to the patients. 18 different scenarios were presented to each patient. They had to rank their preference according to cost, travel time, surgeon experience, clinic size, method of referral and online presentation.
Out of the 18 scenarios, patients rated surgeon experience as the most important factor. This rated at about 36 percent. Patients preferred plastic surgeons with at least 10 years of experience. Patients ranked method of referral as the next most important factor. It had an importance rating of 21.5 percent. Dr. Marsidi stated, “The most preferred method of referral is by the general practitioner, followed by referral by a friend or family member.” Referrals made by TV, magazine or the Internet were less effective for patients choosing their surgeons.
The next important factor patients consider is the time of travel at 14 percent. Patients prefer traveling less than one hour to see a plastic surgeon. The cost of the procedure ranked lower at 13 percent. Patients tend to remain price-sensitive. Quality plastic surgery is likely going to cost more. Patients feel that more money will be worth it in the end.
The study revealed that patients do find it important for plastic surgeons to have a strong online presence. However, the overall importance ranked less than nine percent. When choosing a plastic surgeon patients are least likely to consider the clinic size. The importance ranked at six percent.
The amount of patients considering plastic surgery dropped significantly during the recession of 2008. Since then, numbers have been on the rise. Even though the amount of patients is rising again, it is still important for surgeons to keep in mind a patient’s preference.
Dr. Marsidi stated, “The most preferred clinic would be with a specialist that has over ten years of experience, is recommended by the general practitioner, costs 15 percent less than average, with a travel time between 0 and 30 min, is a local clinic and has an extensive online presentation.” Surgeons should focus mainly on establishing good relationships with primary doctors.
If you are considering plastic surgery in Des Moines, Dr. Franks could be the right plastic surgeon for you. He is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 14 years of experience. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Franks, contact 515.421.4299.