American Society of Plastic Surgeons Recommendations on Resuming Elective Procedures

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in the attitudes of much of the public. People are often afraid to go outside for long periods of time without wearing a mask as well as being afraid to visit the interior of businesses. The reason for their fear is they are afraid they will be exposed to the coronavirus disease from strangers and possibly catch the disease. However, with the reopening of cities and businesses across the country, there are some businesses and services that people have a positive attitude towards and this positive feeling includes the act of visiting medical offices for plastic surgery procedures. In order to make the public feel that visiting a plastic surgeon is safe for patients of all ages, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has issued a number of recommendations related to the topic of resuming elective plastic surgery procedures.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons Survey about Plastic Surgery Perceptions

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has greatly impacted the United States, as well as the rest of the world this year; the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conducted a survey examining the perception that Americans currently have about plastic surgery. The survey examined responses from more than 1000 consumers and the results were as follows:

• 49\\% of those surveyed that have not had plastic surgery indicated that they are open to having a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure in the future
• Of those 49\\% discussed above, 28\\% of them would consider having a first-time cosmetic procedure
• Consumers in the survey that had undergone a previous procedure reported an improved overall level of confidence
• 29\\% of all of the survey respondents indicated they were interested in specific treatments and some of the treatments they listed included a facelift, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation

American Society of Plastic Surgeons Recommendations for Plastic Surgery

Thanks to the positive perception of plastic surgery shown in the survey results, the ASPS has developed recommendations for reopening strategies for plastic surgery offices across the country. Their list of recommendations includes the following items:

• Keeping track and being aware of the most up-to-date COVID-19 statistics in the community where the medical office is located
• Reviewing patient flows in order to better facilitate social distance protocols that are designed to keep the public safe
• Having the ability to test for COVID-19 if there is any indication that patients or staff might have the disease
• Reassessing the current cleaning and sterilization protocols of the medical office
• Staying aware of the available access to anesthesia supplies and personal protective equipment
• Spend the necessary time to educate the office staff
• Make sure everyone is aware of the availability of transfer options

In addition, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons listed a number of items that patients should be able to easily access when they make the decision to visit a medical office for a plastic surgery procedure:

• Enhanced safety protocols
• Providing an option for virtual consultations/telehealth services in place of in-person office visits for patients that are still unsure about visiting a medical office in-person
• A list of the medical services that will be available to patients once the office is open as well as a list of the medical services that will be delayed
• The use of online patient portals and other methods of completing paperwork that does not require an in-person office visit
• On-site screening services that ensure both patients and staff are healthy while visiting the office
• Staggered scheduling to minimize the amount of people in the office at one time
• Both staff and patients wearing masks in order to minimize the chance of spreading the disease

According to Lynn Jeffers, MD, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, “Our goal at ASPS is to keep our finger on the pulse of the public and plastic surgeons for all information and questions pertaining to cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.”

Ensure Plastic Surgery Patient Safety by Asking Questions

While many patients will keep the list of recommendations discussed above in mind when making their decision about having plastic surgery, they might still be a little confused or unsure about visiting the office of a plastic surgeons during this ongoing medical crisis. One of the best methods for patients to be certain about what they can expect when they visit their doctor of choice is by simply making a list of questions and then contacting the medical office to get the answers they desire.

The questions should address the overall safety protocols being practiced by the medial office as well as how these safety steps will be handled and executed when it comes to the specific case of the patient that is asking the questions. Patients should also ask about the steps they need to follow when preparing to undergo their procedure of choice. There is no such thing as too much information when it comes to ensuring the safety of patients as well as the staff of the medical office when it comes to time for a plastic surgery procedure to be performed.

MA