Public perception of the terms "cosmetic," "plastic," and "reconstructive" surgery

Abstract

Objective: To investigate potential differences in perception of the terms "cosmetic," "plastic," and "reconstructive" as descriptors for surgery. Methods: An anonymous questionnaire was offered to subjects over 18 years of age throughout the Unites States via the Internet and in person. The multiple-choice survey measured variables including permanence, risk, expense, recovery, reversibility, pain, technical difficulty, and surgeon training. The questionnaire also included several open-ended questions to capture qualitative perceptions. Semantic differential data were analyzed to measure statistical significance. Results: For most variables-permanence, risk, recovery, reversibility, pain, and surgeon training-the 216 subjects had significantly lower mean responses for cosmetic surgery than those for plastic or reconstructive surgery (P