Background:We analyzed patient outcomes after deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap reconstruction using a national database to assess readmission, mortality, morbidity, and length of stay (LOS).Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized the 2017-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database. Patients had an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision procedure code for DIEP flap reconstruction from January to November each year. The primary outcome was the 30-day readmission rate, with secondary outcomes including in-hospital and 30-day mortality, reasons for admission and readmission, and complication rates. Multivariate regression adjusted for confounders.Results:A total of 32,019 DIEP flap reconstructions were identified, with a median patient age of 51 years. The most common indication was breast reconstruction after mastectomy. In-hospital, 30-day, and calendar-year mortality rates were all under 1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29-3.99). The 30-day readmission rate was 5.8% (95% CI: 5.4%-6.3%), with infection being the leading cause of readmission (2.0%), a previously unreported finding. Other causes included wound dehiscence (0.19%), pulmonary embolism (0.19%), sepsis (0.18%), and hematoma (0.18%). Reoperation rates were 7% during the index hospitalization and 11% during readmission. The average LOS was 3.7 days (95% CI: 3.65-3.82), consistent with current literature.Conclusions:This study provides valuable insights into DIEP flap reconstruction outcomes, revealing a 2.0% infection readmission rate. It shows a higher overall readmission rate (7% versus 5.6%) and a lower dehiscence rate (0.2% versus 2.8%) compared with previous data. These findings, derived from the largest nationally representative readmission database in the United States, also demonstrate comparable reoperation rates and LOS.
As plastic surgeons, we strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients. However, despite being a good surgeon with a sound plan that was thoughtfully crafted and well executed, complications still happen. As a result, surgeons involved in the care of patients who have complications can experience mental and emotional suffering, including feelings of guilt, sadness, anxiety, and stress. It is important to be aware of these emotions and to acknowledge them. Through recognition and self-acceptance, we can let go of that which no longer serves us and focus on the present. In fact, there are definitive benefits to letting go of negative thoughts, emotions, and maladaptive behaviors by implementing mindfulness-based practices and seeking individualized treatment if needed.
Abstract Background Autologous fat grafting (AFG) is a widely used surgical technique that involves extracting a patient's own adipose tissue and transferring it to different areas of the body. This practice is still evolving. Guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis and use of adjuncts in plastic surgery are currently limited, with a notable absence of standardized guidelines for AFG. Objectives In this survey, we assess contemporary antibiotic practices and adjuncts in AFG procedures. Methods A 52-question survey was emailed to 3106 active members of The Aesthetic Society. Two hundred and ninety-three responses were recorded, representing a 9% response rate. Results We analyzed 288 responses. The most common AFG procedures were facial (38%), gluteal (34%), and breast (27%) augmentation. Preoperative antibiotics were used by 84.0% overall, with rates of 74.3%, 88.0%, and 92.7% in face, breast, and gluteal AFG, respectively. Lipoaspirate–antibiotic mixing was reported by 19.8%, mainly during gluteal AFG (46.9%), and less so in face (2.8%) and breast (8%) AFG. Notably, 46.9% of surgeons administered prolonged prophylaxis for 72 h or more. Tranexamic acid was utilized by 39.9% of the surveyed surgeons. Platelet-rich plasma was used by 5.6%. Doppler ultrasound was incorporated by 16.7% in AFG, with 21.5% in gluteal AFG, 14% in the face, and 19% in breast procedures. Conclusions In this survey, we offer insights into antibiotic practices and adjunct therapies in AFG, especially intraoperative antibiotic mixing. Practices among members of The Aesthetic Society vary from guidelines. It is crucial to standardize practices and conduct further research to pave the way for evidence-based guidelines in AFG. Level of Evidence: 5
OBJECTIVES:Complex head and neck defects involving composite defects can be reconstructed using chimeric flaps or multiple flaps with separate anastomoses. Limited comparisons exist between chimeric and multiple flap reconstructions. We compare outcomes between chimeric and multiple flap reconstructions in oral cavity reconstruction. DATA SOURCES:PubMed (NLM), Embase (Elsevier), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics), and Cochrane CENTRAL (Wiley). METHODS:A systematic review was conducted, including English articles reporting outcomes of oral cavity reconstruction with either chimeric flaps or multiple flaps. Data extraction included patient characteristics, flap type, and outcomes such as flap survival, partial flap loss, operating room time, hospital length of stay, and postoperative complications. RESULTS:Forty-seven articles comprising 1435 patients were included. Notably, 552 patients underwent multiple flaps, while 883 received chimeric flaps. Meta-analysis revealed no statistically significant difference in flap survival between chimeric and multiple flap patients (98% vs. 99%, p = 0.198). Multiple flap patients had higher rates of operating room take-backs for anastomotic issues and longer hospital stays compared with chimeric flap patients. There were no significant differences in partial flap failure, resumption of diet and speech, need for subsequent flaps, fistula formation, or general complications. CONCLUSION:This large-scale meta-analysis demonstrates equivalent flap survival between chimeric and multiple flaps in the reconstruction of composite oral cavity defects. Both approaches appear to be safe and acceptable, with comparable outcomes in terms of diet and speech resumption, rates of fistulization, and general postoperative complications. Multiple flap patients had higher rates of operating room take-backs and longer hospital stays. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:NA Laryngoscope, 134:4196-4202, 2024.
Study Design Facial bone fractures in women are less common than in men in the United States. However, little is known about the epidemiology of women who sustain facial fractures.Objective Our aim is to describe the patient population of women seeking emergency care for facial fractures in the United States and they type and cost of care received in this setting.Methods This is a retrospective cohort study using the 2019 National Emergency Department Sample. The inclusion criterion was diagnosis of facial fracture. The primary outcome was patient characteristics. The secondary outcomes are emergency department (ED) characteristics, discharge disposition, total visit charges, and most common cause. Diagnoses and procedures were identified using ICD10-CM codes. Outcomes were compared to men.Results Thirty-seven percent of ED facial fractures were encountered in women. Both women and men were most likely adult, Caucasian, from the lowest median income quartile, sustained nasal bone fractures, and presented to a southern, metropolitan, private nonprofit, non-trauma ED.Conclusions Women were older, more likely insured by Medicare and less likely by private insurance, discharged home, and had lower ED charges than their male counterparts. However, the financial burden of emergency care for facial fractures among women was $1.6 billion.
Breast cancer is treated with a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget's disease, Phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of systemic therapy (preoperative and adjuvant) options for nonmetastatic breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org.
Background Despite growing demand for gender-affirming surgery (GAS), there are few formal GAS fellowships in the United States. Paucity of online information about GAS fellowships may discourage potential applicants and decrease the visibility of the field. Thus, it is important to analyze the existing online information about GAS fellowships to improve fellow recruitment and patient outcomes. Objective To identify the number of GAS fellowship websites (GASFWs) and evaluate their robustness. Second, to report the social media presence of GAS fellowships. Methods To identify GASFWs, existing databases sponsored by plastic surgery associations and Google query were used between April and May 2023. Thirty-five independent variables based on previously published data were evaluated for presence in a bivariate fashion on GASFWs. Accounts on popular social media websites were also identified by Google query. Website and social media analysis were also done for GAS fellowships that were offered by departments/specialties other than plastic surgery. Results In total, only 6 GASFWs associated with plastic surgery departments were identified and analyzed. Eight nonplastic surgery GASFWs were included for analysis. Overall, both categories of GASFWs were not robust; key information such as previous fellow listing and selection criteria was often missing. Furthermore, important topics specifically related to GAS such as community engagement and programmatic building are often not found on GASFWs either. In addition, none of the fellowships had any independent Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Conclusions To ensure patient safety and quality outcomes, it is important to promote GAS by recruiting more applicants for specialized training beyond residency. With increased Internet use, improving GASFWs and social media presence as well as considering the use of a centralized database or match system can foster the growth of the field.
Background Opioid use disorder (OUD) has been implicated as a potential risk factor for adverse outcomes and readmissions in various surgical procedures. Patients admitted with an open fracture of the lower extremity often have multifarious pain needs, require surgical procedures, and have prolonged rehabilitation; previous OUD complicates this process. Our goal was to describe at a national level how OUD is associated with readmission, complications, and healthcare expenditure for patients admitted with open lower extremity fractures. Questions/purposes (1) Do patients with OUD who were treated for open lower extremity fractures have higher odds of readmission compared with patients without OUD? (2) Do patients with OUD who were treated for open lower extremity fractures have higher healthcare utilization (specifically, length of stay and hospitalization charges and costs)? Methods This was a retrospective, comparative study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, which is the largest nationally representative readmissions database in the United States. Patients were included if they had an ICD-10-CM principal diagnosis of open lower extremity fracture. Between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2019, a total of 17,811 patients were admitted for open lower extremity fractures and entered in the National Readmissions Database. Of the 17,811 patients, 2.3% (410) had a secondary diagnosis of OUD and 97.7% (17,401) did not. The mean age was 46 years for both groups. The most common operative procedure was debridement, and 1.5% of patients received a flap for reconstruction. Opioid disorders were identified using ICD-10-CM codes. Ninety-day complications and readmissions were characterized for the calendar year. Patients undergoing flap-based reconstructions were identified with ICD-10-PR codes. Confounders (patient demographic and hospital characteristics) were adjusted for using multivariable regression analysis models. Results After controlling for potentially confounding variables such as primary payer, Charlson comorbidity index, Gustillo type, and bone density, we found that patients with OUD had greater odds of readmission after open lower extremity fractures (adjusted OR 1.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0 to 2.0]; p = 0.03). The 90-day infection occurrence was higher in patients with OUD (adjusted OR 1.96 [95% CI 1.0 to 3.8]; p = 0.049) and was the primary reason for readmission in both groups. Moreover, 11% (11 of 103) of patients with OUD were readmitted with opioid-induced complications, which was exclusively observed in this cohort. Patients with OUD also had longer hospital stays (adjusted mean difference 2.2 days [95% CI 0.5 to 3.8]; p = 0.01) and higher hospitalization charges (adjusted mean difference in USD 34,000 [95% CI 1000 to 66,000]; p = 0.04) and costs (adjusted mean difference in USD 7000 [95% CI 2000 to 13,000]; p = 0.007) than those without OUD. Conclusion These findings suggest that mitigating infection and opioid overdose, addiction, and constipation in patients with OUD could reduce readmissions in lower extremity fracture patients. Future research should focus on antibiotic and wound care compliance and the early and frequent engagement of postoperative opioid addiction support services. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.
Robert H. Ivy significantly influenced the field of plastic surgery through his innovative techniques, leadership, and dedication to the science and art of surgery. His dentistry background and military experience shaped his approach to maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery. Ivy's pioneering work in cleft lip and palate surgery, along with his use of local flaps, advanced the field of plastic surgery. Ivy was a key figure in the professionalization of plastic surgery; he played a crucial role in establishing the field as a distinct medical specialty, becoming the first-ever professor of plastic surgery. He was instrumental in founding major professional organizations and helped set the rigorous standards that govern plastic surgery today. His legacy lives on in the Robert H. Ivy Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society, a testament to his exceptional dedication to plastic surgery. Ivy's career exemplifies the power of innovation, leadership, and humility in advancing the practice of plastic surgery; his contributions continue to inspire and guide future generations of surgeons and surgical researchers.
PURPOSE: While patient satisfaction ratings are increasingly used as hospital and provider performance metrics, these ratings may be affected by extraneous factors. This study aimed to assess whether outpatient Press Ganey ratings for plastic surgery providers were tied more to provider or patient characteristics. METHODS: All CG-CAHPS responses for plastic surgery providers from 2017-2023 at a single institution were analyzed. Ordered logistic regression was used to identify characteristics associated with provider ratings. RESULTS: 6,442 surveys from 4,594 patients across 29 plastic surgery providers were analyzed. Across the cohort, 23.2% (N=1,492) rated providers lower than a 10/10. After adjustment, provider characteristics including provider gender, patient-provider gender concordance, and years in practice were not associated with overall provider ratings (all p>0.05). Hand surgery or craniomaxillofacial trauma providers tended to receive lower ratings compared to other plastic surgery subspecialties (both p<0.001). Older patient age [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.02; p<0.001)] was associated with higher ratings. Finally, poorer patient-reported overall health and mental health were associated with lower provider ratings (both p<0.05), CONCLUSION: Press Ganey ratings for plastic surgeons are influenced by patient factors including age and mental health, as well as subspecialty indication, a finding likely attributable to the proportion of patients presenting for trauma compared to elective indications. As satisfaction ratings are increasingly used as performance metrics, adjusted models may be needed to more accurately reflect surgeon performance.
Breast cancer is treated with a multidisciplinary approach involving surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and medical oncology. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Breast Cancer include recommendations for clinical management of patients with carcinoma in situ, invasive breast cancer, Paget's disease, Phyllodes tumor, inflammatory breast cancer, and management of breast cancer during pregnancy. The content featured in this issue focuses on the recommendations for overall management of systemic therapy (preoperative and adjuvant) options for nonmetastatic breast cancer. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines for Breast Cancer, visit NCCN.org.
Background Although patient satisfaction ratings are increasingly used as hospital and provider performance metrics, these ratings may be affected by factors extraneous to surgeon performance. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether outpatient Press Ganey ratings for plastic surgery providers were tied more to provider or patient characteristics. Methods All Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Clinician & Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) responses for plastic surgery providers from 2017 to 2023 from a single institution were analyzed. Ordered logistic regression models were used to identify characteristics associated with provider ratings. Results In total, 6442 surveys from 4594 patients representing 29 plastic surgery providers were analyzed. Across the patient cohort, 23.2% (N = 1492) rated plastic surgery providers lower than a 10/10. After adjustment, provider characteristics including provider gender, patient-provider gender concordance, and years in practice were not associated with overall provider ratings (all P > .05). In contrast, patient characteristics were associated with provider ratings. Older patient age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; P < .001) was associated with higher ratings. Finally, self-reported overall health and mental health were associated with lower provider ratings (both P < .05); specifically, mental health categories lower than “Excellent” were associated with significantly lower provider ratings (overall mental health “Very Good’: OR, 0.57; “Good”: OR, 0.53; “Fair”: OR, 0.59; “Poor”: OR, 0.55; all P < .05). Conclusions Press Ganey ratings for plastic surgeons are influenced by patient characteristics, including age and mental health. Because satisfaction ratings are increasingly used as performance metrics in plastic surgery, adjusted rating models may be needed to more accurately reflect surgeon performance.
Background:Wellness programs are especially important in residency. However, the resources available to plastic surgery residents through residency wellness programs have not been described. This study reports current plastic surgery residency wellness programs' organization, leadership, and resources.Methods:An anonymous and voluntary e-mail survey was sent to 106 plastic surgery residency program directors through May and June 2022. Features of residency wellness programs were detailed, and program directors' sentiments towards residency wellness programs were evaluated.Results:A 30.2% (32 of 106) complete response rate was achieved. Nearly 90% (87.5%, 28 of 32) of program directors indicated the presence of a wellness program. More than 75% (21 of 28) of programs are supported by the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Wellness events were offered by 92.9% (26 of 28) of programs. More than half of programs offered resources for mental health, physical health, mentorship, and protected time. Several resources were associated with the presence of wellness leadership roles, suggesting residents can positively shape wellness program offerings. Program directors strongly indicated that wellness programs are important, relevant, and effective. Additionally, 75% (24 of 32) report a desire to learn about wellness programs at other plastic surgery residency programs.Conclusions:Resources offered through plastic surgery residency wellness programs are comparable to those in other specialties. However, plastic surgery programs vary in the resources offered to residents and barriers to access exist. Greater involvement of residents in plastic surgery wellness programs may better support physician wellness.
Background Bard is a conversational generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform released by Google (Mountain View, CA) to the public in May 2023. Objectives This study investigates the performance of Bard on the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) In-Service Examination to compare it to residents' performance nationally. We hypothesized that Bard would perform best on the comprehensive and core surgical principles portions of the examination. Methods Google's 2023 Bard was used to answer questions from the 2022 ASPS In-Service Examination. Each question was asked as written with the stem and multiple-choice options. The 2022 ASPS Norm Table was utilized to compare Bard's performance to that of subgroups of plastic surgery residents. Results A total of 231 questions were included. Bard answered 143 questions correctly corresponding to an accuracy of 62%. The highest-performing section was the comprehensive portion (73%). When compared with integrated residents nationally, Bard scored in the 74th percentile for post-graduate year (PGY)-1, 34th percentile for PGY-2, 20th percentile for PGY-3, 8th percentile for PGY-4, 1st percentile for PGY-5, and 2nd percentile for PGY-6. Conclusions Bard outperformed more than half of the first-year integrated residents (74th percentile). Its best sections were the comprehensive and core surgical principle portions of the examination. Further analysis of the chatbot's incorrect questions might help improve the overall quality of the examination's questions.
BACKGROUND:Mechanisms that affect access to surgical hand care appear to be complex and multifaceted. This scoping review aims to investigate the available literature describing such mechanisms and provide direction for future investigation. METHODS:The methodological framework outlined by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews was used to guide this review. In November 2021, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched. A narrative summary of the characteristics and key findings of each paper is used to present the data to facilitate the integration of diverse evidence. RESULTS:Of 471 initial studies, 49 were included in our final analysis. Of these, 33% were cohort studies; 27% reported that underinsured patients are less likely to get an appointment with a hand specialist or to receive treatment. Overburdened emergency departments accounted for the second-most reported reason (16%) for diminished access to surgical hand care. Elective procedure financial incentives, poor emergency surgical hand coverage, distance to treatment, race, and policy were also notably reported across the literature. CONCLUSIONS:This study describes the vast mechanisms that hinder access to surgical hand care and highlights their complexity. Possible solutions and policy changes that may help improve access have been described.
Background: Prescription opioid misuse in the United States accounts for significant avoidable morbidity and mortality. Surgeons are responsible for more than a third of opioid prescriptions. Although opioids continue to provide needed analgesia for surgical patients, there are only sporadic guidelines in the plastic surgery literature for their safe and appropriate use after surgery. The consequence is wide variability and excessive opioid prescriptions. Understanding patterns of prescribing among plastic surgery residents is an important step toward developing safer practice models for managing post-operative pain. Opioid prescribing patterns among plastic surgery residents remains unexplored. Methods: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of post-operative opioid prescriptions after bilateral breast reduction at a single academic medical center from 2018-2021. Single factor one-way ANOVA was used to evaluate prescribing patterns by resident, post-graduate year, attending of record, and patient characteristics (age, race, BMI, smoking status, diagnosis of chronic pain disorder, and mental health diagnosis). A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the degree to which these factors predicted opioid prescriptions. Results: A mean of 131 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) were prescribed by 12 residents for the 126 patients who underwent bilateral breast reductions included in this study. This is over four times the MMEs typically used by patients after this operation. Significant variability in prescribing among residents (p<0.001) was found irrespective of patient characteristics. Additionally, opioid prescriptions were found to differ based on attending (p value< 0.001). However, a multivariate analysis performed based on the variables for the initial ANOVA analyses found that only resident post-graduate year (p<0.001) and resident prescriber (p<0.001) were significant predictors of opioid prescriptions. Conclusion: There is wide variability in plastic surgery resident prescribing after bilateral breast reduction surgery. These prescriptions are often in excess of typical consumption after this operation. Findings highlight residents as a promising target for transforming opioid prescribing, as they were found to be the main predictor of opioid prescriptions after surgery. Thus, overall opioid prescribing can be drastically changed by improving the education of residents and facilitating their decision-making by implementing evidence-based, opioid-conscious analgesic protocols after common plastic surgery operations.
Background Prescription opioid misuse in the United States accounts for significant avoidable morbidity and mortality. Over one third of all prescriptions written by surgeons are for opioids. Although opioids continue to provide needed analgesia for surgical patients, there are few guidelines in the plastic surgery literature for their safe and appropriate use after surgery. The consequence is wide variability and excessive opioid prescriptions. Understanding patterns of prescribing among plastic surgery residents is a crucial step toward developing safer practice models for managing postoperative pain.Methods The authors performed a retrospective analysis of discharge opioid prescriptions after bilateral breast reduction at a single academic medical center from 2018 to 2021. Single factor 1-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate prescribing patterns by resident, postgraduate year, attending of record, and patient characteristics for 126 patients. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine the degree to which these factors predicted opioid prescriptions.Results This analysis revealed significant variability among residents prescribing opioids after bilateral breast reductions (P < 0.001) irrespective of patient comorbidities and demographics. Residents were found to be the main predictor of opioid prescriptions after surgery (P < 0.001) with a greater number of morphine milligram equivalents prescribed by the more junior residents (P < 0.001).Conclusions Excessive and variable opioid prescriptions among plastic surgery residents highlight the need for opioid prescribing education early in surgical training and improved oversight and communication with attending surgeons. Furthermore, implementation of evidence-based opioid-conscious analgesic protocols after common surgical procedures may improve patient safety by standardizing postoperative analgesic prescriptions.
Background:. The use of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps is a well-established breast reconstruction technique. Methods:. A 29-question survey was e-mailed to 3186 active American Society of Plastic Surgeons members, aiming to describe postoperative monitoring practice patterns among surgeons performing DIEP flaps. Results:. From 255 responses (8%), 79% performing DIEP surgery were analyzed. Among them, 34.8% practiced for more than 20 years, 34.3% for 10–20 years, and 30.9% for less than 10 years. Initial 24-hour post-DIEP monitoring: intensive care unit (39%) and floor (36%). Flap monitoring: external Doppler (71%), tissue oximetry (41%), and implantable Doppler (32%). Postoperative analgesia: acetaminophen (74%), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (69%), neuromodulators (52%), and opioids (4.4%) were administered on a scheduled basis. On postoperative day 1, 61% halt intravenous fluids, 67% allow ambulation, 70% remove Foley catheter, and 71% start diet. Most surgeons discharged patients from the hospital on postoperative day 3+. Regardless of experience, patients were commonly discharged on day 3. Half of the surgeons are in academic/nonacademic settings and discharge on/after day 3. Conclusions:. This study reveals significant heterogeneity among the practice patterns of DIEP surgeons. In light of these findings, it is recommended that a task force be convened to establish standardized monitoring protocols for DIEP flaps. Such protocols have the potential to reduce both the length of hospital stays and overall care costs all while ensuring optimal pain management and vigilant flap monitoring.
Background: Impostor phenomenon occurs when high-achieving individuals have persistent self-doubt despite objective measures of competence and success, and has been associated with professional burnout and attenuated career advancement in medical specialties. This study aimed to define the incidence and severity of the impostor phenomenon in academic plastic surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional survey containing the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (range, 0 to 100; higher scores indicate greater severity of impostor phenomenon) was distributed to residents and faculty from 12 academic plastic surgery institutions across the United States. Generalized linear regression was used to assess demographic and academic predictors of impostor scores. Results: From a total of 136 resident and faculty respondents (response rate, 37.5%), the mean impostor score was 64 (SD 14), indicating frequent impostor phenomenon characteristics. On univariate analysis, mean impostor scores varied by gender (67.3 for women versus 62.0 for men; P = 0.03) and academic position (66.5 for residents versus 61.6 for attendings; P = 0.03), but did not vary by race or ethnicity; postgraduate year of training among residents; or academic rank, years in practice, or fellowship training among faculty (all P > 0.05). After multivariable adjustment, female gender was the only factor associated with higher impostor scores among plastic surgery residents and faculty (estimate 2.3; 95% CI, 0.03 to 4.6; P = 0.049). Conclusions: The prevalence of the impostor phenomenon may be high among residents and faculty in academic plastic surgery. Impostor characteristics appear to be tied more to intrinsic characteristics, including gender, rather than years in residency or practice. Further research is needed to understand the influence of impostor characteristics on career advancement in plastic surgery.