Beware of Plastic Surgery Advice on Social Media

by April Maguire

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!

We all use social media in one way or another, and this direct interconnectivity has influenced nearly every facet of our society. Without question, one of the biggest beneficiaries of the rise of social media has been the beauty and cosmetic industry, and that's especially true for plastic surgery. Through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, cosmetic surgeons can speak directly to their potential patients, educating them about the latest in cutting edge techniques and proudly showing off the fruits of their labor.

Unfortunately though, new research suggests that you shouldn't believe everything you see about plastic surgery online. On the one hand, yes, this should be blatantly obvious. After all, who would believe everything they read online? The surprising part of these studies, however, is that information can't be trusted even when it seems to come from a legitimate source.

Lies and Marketing

The first study came out of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine last year. Researchers discovered that more than a quarter of the top plastic surgery posts on Instagram were shared by doctors and surgeons that were not board-certified plastic surgeons. In other words, general practitioners, dermatologists, general surgeons and even dentists were promoting their ability to do cosmetic surgery. These kinds of posts highlight the dangers of undertrained physicians performing plastic surgery procedures, a problem that has become more rampant over the past decade and led to numerous botched treatments.

More recently, a team of researchers at Rutgers University examined nearly 250 of the most popular plastic surgery videos on YouTube. The team combed through the videos looking at the quality of information provided, and they found that the videos weren't as informative as they appeared. In fact, the majority of the videos were little more than marketing material for the physician or practice that posted the video. While that kind of subversive marketing isn't inherently bad, what is troubling is that the videos presented highly biased information, often downplaying the risks of surgery while overvaluing the benefits as well as the qualifications of the doctors presented.

Ultimately, the lesson here is to not be passive in your social media habits. Get multiple sources for all of the information you come across, don't take everything you read as fact, and maintain a healthy sense of skepticism. By staying as informed as possible, you should be able to make informed decisions not only when it comes to health and beauty, but in all facets of your life.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about plastic surgery, please feel free to schedule a consultation or contact one of our representatives today!

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Beware of Plastic Surgery Advice on Social Media

by April Maguire

Lies and Marketing

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