WHAT DO PLASTIC SURGEONS DO

The image of plastic surgery as portrayed by the media is of concern t o all plastic surgeons. In order to assess knowledge about the special ity, a questionnaire was devised and given to five groups of participa nts: general practitioners, medical students, nurses, plastic surgical out-patient attendees, and the general public. The results revealed t hat general practitioners, nurses and medical students in the Cambridg e area are, on the whole, knowledgeable about the role of plastic surg ery. However, the general public are not so well educated and 23.7% of them could not think of five conditions treated by plastic surgeons, and felt that burns and cosmetic problems were the commonest condition s dealt with. Improved liaison with general practitioners, other speci alties and more teaching of undergraduates, coupled with more effectiv e promotion of the skills on offer might permit better use to be made of the specialty.