Pesquisa Operacional (2012) 32(2): 371-387 © 2012 Brazilian Operations Research Society Printed version ISSN 0101-7438 / Online version ISSN 1678-5142 www.scielo.br/pope DECISION AIDING IN PLASTIC SURGERY: A MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS Luiz Fl´ avio Autran Monteiro Gomes 1* , Lu´ ıs Alberto Duncan Rangel 2 and Priscila Pereira Fernandes 3 Received November 19, 2009 / Accepted August 25, 2011 ABSTRACT. The aim of this article is to present, through a real case, a practical way, based on Multicri- teria Decision Aiding, to support decision making in Plastic Surgery. The case studied was a Caucasian woman of 36 years of age with mammarian hypertrophia with ptosis and abdominal lipodystrophy, making it necessary to select the most adequate techniques for the best aesthetic result. For this purpose, the mul- ticriteria methods Even Swaps and PrOACT were used. Three plastic surgeons working in the city of Rio de Janeiro with equivalent professional experience were consulted as decision agents. In order to define the objectives to be achieved, the criteria relevant to the making of the decision and the alternatives which could be used were identified. Throughout this identification and in the later analysis the surgeons participated in the application of the methods, which contributed towards facilitating their acceptance of the multicri- teria analysis in their decision making. It was confirmed, in this case study, that the use of Multicriteria Decision Aiding tends to make the medical decision more wide ranging and, above all, transparent. The plastic surgeons themselves validated the analysis, considering it fully consistent with their professional experience. Keywords: Multicriteria Decision Aiding, Even Swaps, Plastic Surgery. 1 INTRODUCTION The norms of conduct in Plastic Surgery constitute the central axis of medical attention. Thus, in the doctor-patient relationship one seeks patient satisfaction, in terms of their expectations of this from their perceived physical imperfections, as well as their concerns in regards to beauty in its functional-aesthetic condition. The administration of this speciality involves well-prepared preliminary work with a view to the most accurate objective. Here, psychology and technical *Corresponding author 1 Ibmec/RJ, Av. Presidente Wilson, 118, Sala 1110, Centro, 20030-020 Rio de Janeiro, RJ. E-mail: autran@ibmecrj.br 2 EEIMVR/PUVR/UFF, Av. dos Trabalhadores, 420, Vila Santa Cec´ ılia, 27255-125 Volta Redonda, RJ. E-mail: duncan@metal.eeimvr.uff.br 3 Fundac ¸˜ ao T´ ecnico Educacional Souza Marques, Av. Ernani Cardoso, 335, Sala dos Professores, Cascadura, 21310-310 Rio de Janeiro, RJ. E-mail: priscilafernandes@ig.com.br