title: Women's preference of cosmetic results after gynecologic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cosmetic appeal of different incision types used in gynecologic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred women between the ages of 20 and 40 years were shown 4 color photographs of a female abdomen with incision sites marked for Pfannenstiel, minilaparotomy, traditional laparoscopy, and robotic-assisted laparoscopy. The women were asked to rank the photographs on cosmetic appeal alone. An additional photograph depicting single-port laparoscopy was then added, and patients were asked to again rank the photographs. Participants were also asked basic demographic information and prior surgical history.
  
  
  METHODS
  Office practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred women between the ages of 20 and 40.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Minilaparotomy was ranked as the most appealing incision among the first set of photographs by 74% of the participants, and the remaining 26% preferred traditional laparoscopy. Robotic-assisted laparoscopy was ranked as the least appealing scar type by 42%, and no patient selected it as their first choice. Sixty-four percent preferred the appearance of a single-port laparoscopic scar when that option was added. The only demographic variable that reached statistical significance was the presence of prior abdominal surgery. Patients without prior surgery ranked minilaparotomy as more cosmetically appealing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When several minimally invasive surgical approaches are possible, the patient should be counseled regarding the cosmetic results of each. Patients in this study strongly preferred the appearance of minilaparotomy and single-port incisions over full Pfannenstiel or robotic incisions.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Electronic address: goebelk2@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D057240:Patient Preference; D012371:Robotics; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cosmesis; Laparoscopy; Myomectomy