Representation of Racial Diversity on US Plastic Surgery Websites: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background The racial diversity portrayed in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) media is an important indicator of an inclusive environment for potential patients. To evaluate the degree to which PRS websites demonstrate inclusivity, we assessed the racial composition of both patients and plastic surgeons depicted on the most visited academic and private PRS websites to determine the extent to which racial diversity is represented. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2023. The 10 most visited websites in each state were identified. Sociodemographic characteristics including race and sex of patients and plastic surgeons, as well as the type of practice, were collected. Race was classified according to individuals' Fitzpatrick Phototypes into White and non-White. Differences in patient and surgeon representation were compared to the 2020 US Census and the 2020 ASPS demographics using χ2 tests. Subgroup analyses were conducted to identify differences by type of practice and region. Results We analyzed a total of 2,752 patients from 462 websites belonging to 930 plastic surgeons. PRS websites were predominantly from private practices (93%). Regarding patient representation, 92.6% were female, 7.4% were male, 87.6% were White, and 12.4% were non-White. The surgeon population on the studied webpages was 75.1% male, 92.1% White, and 7.8% non-White. Statistically significant differences were found in the patient population when compared to the 2020 national (P < 0.001) and regional (P < 0.001) US Census demographics and the 2020 ASPS Statistics Report (P < 0.001). Although minority representation was significantly higher on academic websites compared to private practice (22.9% vs. 12.1%; P = 0.007), both were significantly lower than the percentage of minority patients undergoing PRS. Conclusions This study illuminates racial disparities in the representation of racial groups among patients and plastic surgeons in the most frequented plastic surgery websites. Moreover, it underscores the imperative to bolster racial diversity within the digital content of both private and academic PRS websites. Greater racial representation can foster a more inclusive perception of the plastic surgery field, which may potentially broaden access to care and enrich the professional landscape.