A 10-Year Analysis of Resident Aesthetic Surgery Clinic: Abdominoplasty Performed by Residents Is Safe and Leads to Comparable Outcomes to Attending Surgeons.

[INTRODUCTION] Resident-led aesthetic clinics have been introduced in plastic surgery training programs to enhance residents' experience in cosmetic procedures. Although these clinics provide valuable hands-on training, concerns regarding the safety of resident-led surgeries, such as abdominoplasty, remain. This study aims to evaluate the safety of abdominoplasty performed by residents compared to those performed by attending surgeons.

[METHODS] A retrospective cohort study was conducted for abdominoplasty cases performed at a single academic center between 2012 and 2022. Cases were categorized based on whether the primary surgeon was a resident or an attending physician. Patient demographics, operative details, and complications (both acute and long-term) were collected and statistically analyzed. Outcomes were compared using comparative statistics and regression analysis.

[RESULTS] A total of 89 abdominoplasty cases were reviewed, with 49 led by attending physicians and 40 by residents under supervision. There was no statistically significant difference in overall complication rates between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Resident-led cases had a longer operative time (P < 0.0001) and more frequent concurrent liposuction (P < 0.001). Despite these differences, acute complications, such as seroma and hematoma, and long-term complications, such as hypertrophic scarring and skin necrosis, were comparable between groups, supporting the noninferiority of resident-led procedures.

[CONCLUSIONS] The outcomes of abdominoplasties performed by residents in a supervised clinic were comparable to those conducted by attending surgeons, affirming the safety of resident-led aesthetic clinics. These findings support the integration of resident clinics into plastic surgery training, where they offer significant educational benefits and maintain high standards of patient care. Further multicenter studies are recommended to corroborate these findings and assess additional outcome measures, such as patient satisfaction.