Choosing Your Surgeon: The Critical Question of Experience and Procedure Volume

When considering plastic surgery, one of the most important questions you can ask a prospective surgeon is: “How many of these procedures have you performed?” This seemingly simple question can be the difference between a successful outcome and complications that could have been avoided. Understanding the relationship between surgeon experience, procedure volume, and patient outcomes is crucial for making an informed decision about your care.

Why Surgeon Volume Matters

In studies, surgeons who have a high volume of procedures on a specific condition have proven to have lower complication rates, and shorter hospital stays for their patients, than surgeons with lower numbers of procedures. Most reviews tend to support the presence of a surgeon volume-outcome relationship. This relationship is particularly pronounced for complex procedures where technical expertise makes a significant difference in outcomes.

Surgeon volume correlates inversely with complication rates, length of stay, and total charges in endocrine surgery. The lowest complication rates are achieved by surgeons performing 100 or more endocrine operations annually. While this specific study focused on endocrine surgery, similar patterns emerge across various surgical specialties, including plastic surgery.

What Constitutes Adequate Experience?

The question of “how many procedures” doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer, as it varies significantly by procedure type and complexity. During cosmetic surgery fellowship, surgeons receive thorough training in all cosmetic surgery procedures of the face, breast, and body, plus non-surgical cosmetic treatments, performing a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures.

For specific procedures, research suggests different volume thresholds. A subset of very high volume rectal surgeons performs these operations with fewer complications that require procedural intervention or reoperation. A subset of very high volume rectal surgeons performs these operations with fewer complications that require procedural intervention or reoperation. This principle applies across surgical specialties, including plastic surgery.

Experience vs. Annual Volume: What’s More Important?

Interestingly, recent research suggests that cumulative experience may be more important than just annual volume. Increasing practice experience was more significantly associated with a reduction of in-hospital complications and the risk of major adverse limb events compared with volume. Surgeon experience appears to have the most important role in predicting for overall surgical performance with improved in-hospital outcomes and major adverse limb events.

Experience still matters a lot, whether that experience is specific or related. This means that surgeons who have performed related procedures may also provide excellent outcomes, even if their volume for one specific procedure is moderate.

Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

When consulting with a plastic surgeon, consider asking these essential questions:

• How many procedures of this type have you performed? It is perfectly reasonable to ask a surgeon about his/her experience on a specific procedure.
• What is your complication rate for this procedure?
• How many years have you been performing this specific surgery?
• Are you board-certified in plastic surgery?
• Can I see before and after photos of similar cases?

Clearly, no one wants to be among the first procedures that a surgeon will perform. Don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion if you’re not comfortable with a surgeon’s experience level.

The CS Kim Plastic Surgery Approach

For residents of Connecticut seeking experienced plastic surgery care, Plastic Surgeon Bridgeport Dr. CS Kim exemplifies the importance of extensive experience and volume. With hundreds of tummy tucks, breast augmentations, and breast reduction surgery procedures under his belt, board-certified surgeon Dr. Kim has performed hundreds of tummy tuck procedures in the region, helping hundreds of patients improve their appearances.

Drawing from his extensive surgical experience and academic training, Dr. Chang Soo Kim MD provides his patients with comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. He also dedicates himself to each patient, providing personalized, uncompromised care. This combination of high volume and personalized attention represents the ideal balance patients should seek.

Beyond the Numbers: Quality Indicators

While procedure volume is important, it’s not the only factor to consider. The bottom line is this: patients should receive treatment from hospitals that perform high-quality surgery, not necessarily from hospitals that perform a lot of them. Look for surgeons who:

• Are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Have hospital privileges at accredited facilities
• Maintain low complication rates
• Provide comprehensive pre- and post-operative care
• Have positive patient reviews and testimonials

Making Your Decision

Volume minimum standards serve as a threshold to filter out surgeons and surgical delivery environments that lack the volume to maintain clinical competence, the necessary resources to rescue from complications, and interdisciplinary teams required for complex postoperative care.

When choosing a plastic surgeon, remember that experience and volume work together to create better outcomes. A surgeon who performs your desired procedure regularly, has years of experience, maintains low complication rates, and makes you feel comfortable and confident is likely your best choice. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about experience – any reputable surgeon will be happy to discuss their qualifications and track record with you.

Your safety and satisfaction depend on making an informed choice. Take the time to research, ask questions, and choose a surgeon whose experience and volume give you confidence in achieving your aesthetic goals safely and successfully.