title: Introduction to cost analysis in facial plastic surgery.
abstract: Resource allocation in health care is increasingly guided by financial considerations. The cost of care influences treatment decisions not only for health care organizations but also for patients, especially in the fee-for-service marketplace that typifies cosmetic surgery. The purposes of this article are to improve the facial plastic surgeon's understanding of cost analyses and to facilitate critical reading of the literature. We describe basic concepts in economic analyses, such as perspective of analysis, the difference between costs and charges, and the importance of discounting. We also introduce the importance of assessing treatment effectiveness and quality of care. In a review of existing cost-based studies in facial plastic surgery, we found a paucity of rigorous treatment analyses. There are numerous opportunities to pursue economic analysis in facial plastic surgery. We discuss potentially rewarding directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Eric James
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kezirian
authors.forename: Bevan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yueh
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D018588:Fee-for-Service Plans / Q000191:economics; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005544:Forecasting; D017048:Health Care Costs; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome