RealSelf blog posts and news

Bottom 10 Cosmetic Procedures In The RealSelf Worth It Index

Earlier today we posted about the Top 20 cosmetic procedures according to our Worth It index and rating scale. 

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New National Trend Data For Cosmetic Surgery And Treatments

Noses in Northeast, Tummy Tucks in the South, Breast Reductions in the Pacific Northwest

Despite the down economy, cosmetic procedures continue to be a hot topic across the country as people research various treatments they may consider in the future. But does where people live affect what’s hot and what’s not in cosmetic makeovers? Our geographic based search data suggests the answer is “yes.”

Here are some highlights:

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Skincare Social Media: RealSelf Partners With The American Society For Dermatologic Surgery

Should you be contemplating a cosmetic procedure for a skin condition or complaint--such as sun damage or facial wrinkles--you're likely to be extremely focused on getting informed on all your options before making a dermatology appointment. Afterall, nearly all cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance and can represent a significant personal investment.

Dermatologists who offer cosmetic services, such as laser resurfacing or Restylane injections, increasingly see the advantage in helping aesthetic consumers find reliable information on the web by connecting with consumers on social media sites.

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Lifestyle Lift Slammed For Deceptive And Illegal Posting By NY AG -- And How RealSelf Protects Our Community

Earlier today, the New York state Attorney General announced it fined Lifestyle Lift, the "facial-firming" mini-lift company, $300,000 for posting fake consumer reviews on the Internet.

Lifestyle Lift is actively discussed on RealSelf, with one million visits made to RealSelf.com content related to the treatment in the past year by both previous patients and those considering the plastic surgery procedure. With over 180 reviews of LifeStyle Lift, 36% of past patients felt the procedure was worth it.  

The Attorney General accused Lifestyle Lift of tricking consumers "into believing that satisfied customers were posting their own stories" about the product. This deception, said the AG, constituted "deceptive commercial practices, false advertising, and fraudulent and illegal conduct" under New York and federal laws.

Last year, Lifestyle Lift and RealSelf settled two lawsuits, one a trademark infringement claim by Lifestyle Lift, and the other a counter-claim by RealSelf based on this same issue of fake postings.

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RealSelf Teams Up With The American Academy Of Facial Plastic And Recontructive Surgery

Today we're excited to announce an agreement we've made with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) to provide our community with access to the 2,700 surgeons who are members of the organization. All AAFPRS members are board certified with a focus on surgery of the face, head and neck. 

As many of our community members know, primarily only board-certified doctors can participate on RealSelf, to ensure the answers you receive to your questions come from only the best.  Today's annoucement solidifies the idea that surgeons who are members of the AAFPRS are some of the best in the business. 

As of today, over 10,000 questions have been asked by the community on topics ranging from how much does a facelift cost to what are my options for teeth whitening.  We believe that asking these questions and getting answers from a variety of physicians will help those considering a cosmetic procedure, or those who have already had one, make better decisions. 

Have a question you want answered?  What are you waiting for - ask away!

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20,000 Doctor Answers, And Counting

Today RealSelf.com received its 20,000th answer from a doctor. Congrats to Dallas plastic surgeon Dr. Rod Rohrich for posting #20,000!

In less than a year's time, the doctors on RealSelf.com composed over 20,000 responses to consumer questions about everything from the best ways to get rid of forehead wrinkles to how to whiten teeth.

While very serious questions are being addressed by these professionals, every so often the community poses a somewhat unusual question. Despite being time starved, the doctors on RealSelf.com stepped up to lend their medical opinion.  Here are 3 examples that capture the diversity of our inquisitive community:

 o What can be done about injections placed in the foot pads, done to give the feeling of walking on pillows?

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Lasik Laughs

In honor of the new lasik review just in, going for some lasik laughs.

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Making It Easier To Identify Board-certification

Consumers are interested in finding a board-certified doctor to undergo cosmetic surgery or treatments.  At RealSelf.com we're committed to making it easier to discover this information. 

Our first action was to set guidelines that clarify the meaning of "board certified" and "board certification."  On RealSelf.com, these terms refer only to medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy who have received specialty certification from an ABMS member board or a recognized ABMS non-member board.

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Opinions Belong On RealSelf.com

Alliegirl, a RealSelf.com community member, asked about the difference between two mini-facelift procedures that are branded the Quicklift and Lifestyle Lift.  One of the responses was provided by a North Carolina plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Law, who suggested to take caution.

Clearly this upset Quicklift (or someone claiming to do PR for Quicklift) which reported Dr. Law's answer as inappropriate.

The PR person wrote:

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Top 10 Cosmetic Procedures That Are Worth It

Getting "work" done should always be worth it. The cost, recovery time, pain, all should result in a great gain. But what treatments are really worth it?  

We're trying to address this key question with consumer reviews about skin treatments, plastic surgery procedures, dental procedures, laser vision correction, and other cosmetic enhancements offered by medical experts.

At RealSelf.com readers rate which cosmetic treatments and procedures are "worth it." This information is a great starting point to read the stories people share about their cosmetic experiences.

The current top 10 procedures rated as most worth it are:

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