What is RealSelf.com

Get the real story about any type of cosmetic treatment at RealSelf.com

• Our goal is to help people get useful information about products and services that address everything from acne scars and unwanted body fat to stretch marks and crooked teeth.

• Over 300 cosmetic treatments and topics are discussed on RealSelf.com, covering cosmetic surgery, dermatology, facial plastic surgery, laser eye surgery, and cosmetic dentistry.

• The beauty concerns expressed on RealSelf.com reflect important, often expensive decisions that carry emotional and potential physical risks. To give a full perspective on these considerations, RealSelf offers 3 core means of to get informed and exchange information: ask, share and find.

Ask an expert

Anyone considering a cosmetic treatment can ask a doctor a free question—or read over 50,000 answers—submitted by our 800+ active medical experts in the community. Responses provided by board-certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists, and specialists in facial plastic surgery, eye surgery and cosmetic dentistry are entirely done so on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

Share experiences and opinions

Read detailed, first-hand accounts by real people who've undergone a treatment or procedure.  Postings include before and after photos, videos and diaries of the experience. Treatments are rated on whether it was worth it, how much it cost, and the pain experienced. Treatments are ranked in our Worth It index.

Find a doctor

RealSelf offers a directory of local pages that list board-certified doctors who are pre-screened, core aesthetic specialists. RealSelf Local includes a synopsis of community activity for the locations, such as what New Yorkers say about Rhinoplasty or how Angelenos rate Invisalign braces. Doctors shown in local pages are displayed according to their level of activity in the community.

Inspiration behind RealSelf.com

340,000 hotel reviews about the towels, none about laser treatments before RealSelf.com

Tom Seery founded RealSelf.com after his wife pointed out that it was easier to get informed about hotel towel quality using sites like TripAdvisor.com than finding consumer opinion about a $2,000 laser skin treatment.  Our team is passionate about closing this information gap by creating an authentic forum to share opinions and experiences, much in the way consumer review sites have done so for travelers, movie goers, and book buyers.

Company Facts

Founded: 2006

Location: Seattle, WA

Business: Privately held corporation

Team: Meet the team

Revenue Model: We make money by selling advertising, not pay-to-play or lead generation

Board: Board members are Tom Seery, Richard Barton, Mike Slade, and Mariam Naficy

Investors: Completed two rounds of financing led by Second Avenue Partners. Other investors include angel investors in Seattle, Boston and the Bay Area

Press mentions & inquiries: See the Press room

Guidelines and Policies: In addition to our privacy and advertising policies, we maintain comprehensive community guidelines and doctor listing criteria

Note: The material on this site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider