Social Media Causing Rise in San Diego Plastic Surgery?

SAN DIEGO, CA, August 18, 2012 (Press-News.org) Recent reports of social media being responsible for an increase in the number of plastic surgery procedures being performed may be exaggerated, according to San Diego plastic surgeon Dr. John T. Alexander II at Alexander Cosmetic Surgery (http://www.alexandersurgery.com).

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recently reported an increase in the number of procedures may be due to people's perceptions of themselves after seeing their pictures on social media platforms. There have been reports that some patients seek cosmetic surgery after noticing defects in their profile photos. In fact, some surgeons are beginning to call these procedures "Facebook Lifts," even if there's no facelift involved.

But Dr. Alexander says that while social media may be responsible for some degree of increased awareness, it hasn't been a driving force like some have claimed.

"There's no doubt that facial cosmetic surgery is popular in San Diego, and my practice is seeing an increase in procedures performed," says Dr. Alexander. "But I'm skeptical that Facebook and other social media channels are contributing significantly to the increased interest in facial procedures. Certainly, social media has been a great place for people to learn about our practice and connect with us. If anything, the more likely scenario is that patients are choosing a procedure and then going on Facebook to tell all their friends and show off their new look."

Dr. Alexander said he believes that social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are doing a lot of good for plastic surgery, letting patients communicate easily with each other by recommending doctors they've had good experiences with. The doctor also points to cosmetic-specific social sites like RealSelf.com, which allow people to share their cosmetic surgery and medical spa stories, review doctors, and answer questions for prospective patients.

"Rather than just causing people to question how good they look, social media has in fact helped people boost their self-confidence and their knowledge about cosmetic surgery," adds Dr. Alexander. "It's allowed patients to share their success stories and feel great about how they look. This is the trend I see in the relationship between social media and plastic surgery in San Diego, and it's part of the greater role the Internet has played in our field over the past 15 years."

Dr. Alexander points to his own practice's website, which has seen dramatic changes in recent years as patients increasingly rely on web-based information gathering to select a surgeon. Alexander Cosmetic Surgery's own website offers a wealth of information including before and after photos, as well as videos of the doctors and virtual tours of the offices.

"We've had a tremendous response to the before and after gallery," notes Dr. Alexander. "Patients are able to share their own before and after pictures on Facebook and sites like that, which is a lot of fun for the patient and their network of friends and family. But with our online gallery, visitors get to see many results from our practice, all in one place. You couldn't get that kind of immediate interaction even just 10 years ago."

Alexander Cosmetic Surgery (http://www.alexandersurgery.com) has been San Diego's leader in facial rejuvenation and cosmetic plastic surgery since 1964. Led by father and son duo, Drs. John T. Alexander, M.D., and John T. Alexander II, M.D., F.A.C.S., J.D., the clinic has a history of patient dedication and care, while leading the way with innovative treatments such as the QuickLift procedure.