Why we removed 3,000 doctors from RealSelf.com
3,000 doctors were recently removed from the RealSelf.com Find a Doctor listings and Ask a Doctor feature in order to improve the site consistency and experience for our community members.
Among those removed are doctors featured as "cosmetic surgeons" on popular TV makeover shows. We're proud to point out that our standards are higher than these media outlets.
To be a recognized expert on RealSelf.com, the individual must be a board-certified physician in one of the following specialties: Plastic surgery, Facial plastic surgery, Dermatology, Oculoplastic surgery. These specialties are often referred to as “core aesthetic specialties” as described in our comprehensive policies.
Why the change?
First, it should go without mention that we view it as our responsibility to provide the community with high quality information about aesthetics for the skin, body, and smile. Getting educated about all of the various treatment options and cosmetic procedures is daunting to even the most informed consumer. The more hype and hyperbole we can strip out, the better.
Secondly, we're not the medical experts. Instead, for medical opinion, we rely upon the volunteer participation by doctors who've demonstrated to medical authorities that they've achieved a clearly defined standard of training, education, and knowledge related to a specialty area of medical study.
It may very well be the case that all 3,000 of the doctors removed from the site offer quality aesthetic services. Yet, we believe standards in aesthetics are in place for good reasons, not the least of them, patient safety. RealSelf is not in the position to develop or offer an alternative means of recognition for expertise.
"I do not teach anyone; I only provide the environment in which they can learn."
- Albert Einstein
Of the tens of thousands of conversations on our site, with discussions ranging from acne scar treatments to Zoom teeth whitening, a key point of consistency is that we're the unbiased facilitators. We present information in a format that helps consumers make informed decisions.
Comments about the change in doctor listings? Please feel free to share. We're always open to feedback.
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1216 posts
17 Mar 2009
It is also important to note that specialists in the areas of cosmetic dentistry, orthodontistry, bariatric surgery, vein treatment, and vision correction surgery will also continue to be featured on RealSelf in a limited capacity. Inclusion criteria for this select group of non-core aesthetic specialists may be found in RealSelf policies.
29 posts
19 Mar 2009
Some of the most experience and knowledgeable experts in the field of aesthetic medicine come from non-core backgrounds. Most plastic surgeons have their nurses doing the lasers treatments and injections. Most Dermatologists do aesthetic medicine part-time. The true experts are the doctors who do cosmetic medicine full-time. Some are dermatologists, but many come from non-core specialties. Deleting all non-cores is not smart and is not in the best interests of the patients who come to this site. Tom, you are shooting yourself in the foot. "At the County Fair, when all the folks guess the weight of the hog, there is a large variation in the guesses, but if you take all the guesses and average them, the average is usually within one pound of the true weight of the pig" -- R. Rox Anderson, MD. I thought this is what RealSelf was trying to do. Get all opinions on the table and then let the people decide what made sense after seeing a wide variety of thoughts and opinions. RealSelf.com has just removed a significant voice at their County Fair. They have infact, removed a voice that is most likely to know the weight of the pig. I think that excluding the non-core voice will make RealSelf's value and relivence much less. Bad move, Tom. You really should reconsider. I can be reached at via email if you have any questons.
478 posts
19 Mar 2009
Thank you for the comment and feedback. Our mission is to provide consumers with the best possible information about aesthetics. Indeed, we do welcome diverse opinions. The community remains open to all doctors and consumers who can see value from participation. The only change is that we're using widely accepted medical standards to identify core aesthetic specialists. This is pro-consumer because the aesthetic market is chock full of alternative boards and certifications that almost seem to be, by design, to confuse consumers. How do we know? We've polled our audience and they've told us that they don't know the difference between key factors like board certifications or terminology like cosmetic surgeon vs. plastic surgeon. Do you see this as a problem?
9 posts
25 Mar 2009
I don't believe in cosmetic surgeons...Good move Tom. That is why I trust this site. Always raise the bar higher!
1 post
25 Mar 2009
Dear Tom, I agree with your excellent decision. Many individuals do not know the difference in training for a "cosmetic surgeon" and a truly Board Certified Specialist. We all know that a physicians expertise is based on many criteria- " the saying" It's not the filler, but the Filler who makes a difference, or that results depend on who is on the other side of the needle. In vast majority, it is the specialist with the most training in a particular procedure who will make the best decision and get the best results. Although, their may be an occasional exception to this, patients should absolutely seek out a board certified core "expert" in whatever procedure they are considering choosing to have. Thank you.
9 posts
25 Mar 2009
Bravo Tom! This is the best decision that you could have made. There are so many fakes out there posing as dermatologists and plastic surgeons. They often call themselves aesthetic doctors or cosmetic physicians and they claim that they are board certified by fake and unrecognized boards. You go to their websites and they don't even mention their training/board cert.
9 posts
25 Mar 2009
Anyone that claims to be a "skin care specialist" or "expert aesthetic doc", are fakes. These are often disgruntled family practice/ER/Ob-gyns that are just trying to make an extra buck...no formal training...puts patients at risk. Derm/plastics are the hardest residencies to get into...reserved for the brightest. Thanks for saving us from the posers!! Stick to your guns!
587 posts
25 Mar 2009
Great move Tom - There is enough confusion about training and background regarding providers who perform cosmetic surgery. Clearly some (definitely not all) "non-core" providers use that confusion to increase revenue. Thanks for helping make those distinctions clearer. It is a step forward for patients. Steve Williams.
166 posts
26 Mar 2009
100% agreement. This is another step in the right direction for patient education. Although many "cosmetic surgeons" may be excellent physicians, there is an avenue for these physicians to do plastic surgery it is called residency! I have no business delivering babies and I am sure that the OB/GYN "cosmetic surgeon" would attest to that.
301 posts
26 Mar 2009
Of all the comments above, we believe "jepstein" makes the best point. At our practice, we delegate the laser procedures and injections to the nursing staff. We make no secret about this fact to our patients and they appreciate being treated by a nurse, PA or nurse practitioner with thousands of treatments under their belts and countless hours of training from myself, manufacturers and industry sponsored workshops. In fact most of the board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons do the same for lasers and injections - delegate the procedures to nurses, PAs or NPs - because they are performing sugery or high level dermatological procedures - most of the time. We find most of the comments above from the board certified physicians a bit protectionist and hypocritical given how most of their offices operate. All the board certified physicians on this site are not in agreement that disallowing all but board certified physicians to post is the way to provide better information. Sometimes, sadly, it's actually the opposite.