The Patient Application to the Outpatient Plastic Surgery Clinic and Management of Treatments During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Comparison of Prepandemic and Postpandemic Periods

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to show the differences about patient profile and treatment selections in outpatient plastic surgery clinic by comparing the pre-pandemic and the pandemic period for one year processes. Methods: The patients who applied to outpatient clinic of plastic surgery during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods were included in the study. The data related to demographic characteristics, reasons for application of outpatient plastic surgery clinic, pre-diagnosis, and treatment modalities -outpatient or inpatient- were collected retrospectively. Results: It was observed that there was a significant numerical difference in the number of applications of the patients between the pre-pandemic and the pandemic periods. The application rate of females decreased, while the rate of males increased during the pandemic period. When we examined the application rates in the age groups, the patient application rates in the 12-18, 18-25, and 25-40 age groups increased. In the other age groups, the patient application rates were decreased (p