Posted December 20, 2017 in Select a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Are you ever scrolling through Facebook or Instagram and feel that the ads promoted to you are reading your mind. You might have been thinking about buying a new pair of shoes, and bam, you get an ad for shoes. Don’t worry, social media isn’t reading your mind, just your common search trends. While these ads are mostly benign (except maybe to your wallet), there has been a steady uptick in a possibly harmful type social media marketing—beauty and plastic surgery marketing.
Surgeons Making a Name for Themselves
Social media has been a revolutionary way to connect beauty professionals (plastic surgeons included) with their customer base. You can scroll through new, more dynamic photo galleries and get to know your surgeon without ever actually stepping into their office. Some surgeons have even become popular showing the shock and awe of the behind the scenes of plastic surgery. This connection with past, current, and potential clients is amazing, and it helps foster a community of acceptance for plastic surgery. The problem lies in people who market themselves as qualified surgeons but aren’t.
The Cost of Cheap Beauty
One prominent component of social media advertising is catching your eye with cheap deals. But when it comes to your beauty and your surgery, is “cheap” really the look you’re going for? At best, choosing an unqualified surgeon from social media will leave you with poor but fixable results. At worst, the procedures you undergo can leave you permanently scarred or even put your health at risk.
In May of 2017, a woman was sentenced to over 11 years in prison for performing illegal silicone injections. She falsely claimed to be a licensed medical professional, and her actions resulted in the disfigurement of several people and the death of one woman. While this is an extreme case of the dangers that are posed by choosing a surgeon you haven’t researched, it should be used as a warning not to be complacent when picking a plastic surgery professional.
Choosing a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
A 2017 article by Science Daily reported that there are a staggering number of people who advertise themselves as plastic surgeons on social media when they are not. Cosmetic surgeons and beauty practices often offer non-invasive body enhancements, and while they may be legally able to perform these procedures, having a medical license doesn’t mean a person is trained or has specialized in plastic surgery. The field of body sculpting requires years of study to perfect the art of shaping a person’s physique.
If you have found a surgeon to perform your face, breast, body, or non-invasive procedure, make sure they meet the following criteria:
- Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
- Experience performing the technique or procedure you desire
- In good standing with the medical board
- Great before and after photos