RealSelf Feedback - please help us improve RealSelf.com

Posted 06 Aug 2009

Our goal at RealSelf.com is to provide people with a place to get support for a cosmetic treatment--both before and after.  Sometimes we get feedback that we've fallen short of this goal. More often we get suggestions for changes that would enhance the experience. Since RealSelf is ultimately about you and your needs, we thrive on getting constructive feedback. Please share yours. It makes a difference.

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danielle nicole (4 posts) 4 Dec 2008
Sharon from RealSelf, I see you on the boards pretty often so I thought that it'd be good to ask you this question --seeing that you are very active and respond so often (thanks for that by the way!!!!!) Here is the deal, why aren't the doctors that have positive reviews listed by state so that we are able to kinda get an idea if there is a certain doctor CONSISTENTLY doing good work, or to see which doctor in our city has had a patient review them on Real Self. This would be soo helpful you wouldn't believe!!!!
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 5 Dec 2008
Hi Danielle, That's what I'm here for. :) Thanks for your suggestion. I think that's something we could eventually work towards - if not what you specifically described, then something close to it. I'll pass along your comments to our development team and see if I can find out any more information. Cheers, --Sharon
danielle nicole (4 posts) 3 Jan 2009
HI Sharon, I had posted about a month or two months ago that they really should summarize by state the doctors that have been reviewed by patients. That would be an invaluable resource. I need to find a doctor for this procedure in NC but I would like to find one that has been reviewed by one of the members here. There is no search function on here through the reviews. Even if I had a list of doctors I couldn't find out who has been reviewed on here. If real self has the display information of the doctors, why couldn't they do a grouping by state. I am really frustrated by this.
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 4 Jan 2009
Hi Danielle, Yes, I remember. Sorry it's been such a source of frustration for you! I did forward your comments to the development team. I'm not sure what they're working on at the moment but they're quite busy. I'll chase it up and let you know if I find out anything. And, of course, you can always drop me an email (sharon [at] realself.com) if you want to get in touch with me directly. Thanks for your patience. :) --Sharon
danielle nicole (4 posts) 11 Jan 2009
Sharon, Hey it's me again...i know that you are going to tell me that R&D are still working on figuring out how to list all the doctors that have been reviewed on this site along with the states that they practice in and the amounts. Is there a way that I can get this information for NC? I tried doing the map search, but unfortunately there were some doctors that had been reviewed that wasn't even listed in the map search. I really would like to go to a Dr. that has been reviewed by REal Self. Please offer some assistance. I would like to get my procedure done in either New York, NJ, or NC (where I currently live). THanks!
lmangano07 (3 posts) 9 Apr 2009
hi, danielle, is live in New jersey as well, i just had smart lipo done on my abs and flanks on tuesday. So far so good. I definatly would reccommend my Dr., Dr. Goldfarb. He was the first on the east coast to learn this procedure, and has more experience than any other Dr. in this area. My results, well so far they look like they are going to be great, but its on been two days. Dr. Goldfarb works out of Langhorne Pa, but has an affilation with Cherry Hill laser Skin Care Center, that is how I found him. Also, theyprovide the transportation the dya of surgery to nad from Langhorne, if you would like them to.
JillyBean (10 posts) 10 Sep 2009
Also .. to be able to serch for reviews by location ie. city/state would be awesome! It is really really helpful to read others' expereince from the same area where we reside .. especially if it so happen to be the same physician/practice. Not only is it comforting but its inspiring. Thanks for your consideration.
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 11 Sep 2009

Thanks, Jilly. I'll make sure your feedback is heard.

There is already a (limited) way to do this through the "Find a Doctor" link. If you click on your city or state, reviews are displayed at the bottom of the page and you can filter these further by procedure. For example: Cincinnati cosmetic treatment reviews

We're working on making this process a bit more user-friendly. Feel free to drop us an email if you have any ideas on what you'd like to see.

Thanks!
--Sharon

Update: You can now search for local reviews by clicking "Nearby" on the main review page. Example

Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager - 606 posts) 11 Sep 2009

Keep the comments coming! We read every single one, and find it invaluable to learn what works, doesn't, and could enhance the RealSelf.com experience. Thank you so very much.

Tom (founding RealSelfer @ RealSelf.com)

tcbelle (4 posts) 16 Sep 2009

Seems that this site is asking for REVIEWS and I have yet to get a name of one Excellent Review of one DR in this state. Wonder if there is a way to search by state? I am not impressed with the majority of surgeries I have seen on this site. If I pay for a face lift then I would not expect to see any flab under my chin nore in the jowl. No Excuses. Use Lipo. Name the Doctor that messed you up or gave you Excellent results.

Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 17 Sep 2009

Hi tcbelle,

Yes, there is a way to search by state. Click "Find a Doctor" at the top of the page and then you can browse by city, state or zip.

We have three positive facelift reviews from Washington so far. Here's the link (scroll to the bottom to read reviews): Washington facelift

Hope this helps!

Robert123456789 (1 post) 23 Nov 2009
Tom Realself needs to add a new category. There is a section for Vaser but not a section for Vaser High Def There is QUITE a difference between the 2...
ms-lead (103 posts) 18 Dec 2009

Just an idea but a way to keep Patient's plugged in to the website, without that, you'll have a bunch of doctors talking to themselves. There are already way to many doctors writing in as patients. You have no control over that. It just gets so obvious.

I have problems from a dermal filler, Sculptra, of course, I am sure there are others, a real "bull" market. I have found the best solutions, as few as there are, but often they came from other woman with similar problems, not from the To The Doctors questions. Not too many p.surgeons or dermos are going to put their faces next to questions from real people with real problems, It obviously associates them as the doctor who created the problem.

A forum for woman to Ask questions to other woman. Out in the open, full of Real Self's necessary disclaimers. Responses out in the open, whatever. If the website gets too slick and not real, you lose, even doctors would be able to check anything close to real data. Just an idea.

Body Shaping (3 posts) 3 Jan 2010

I want everyone to know that RealSelf.com will probably not include this post because they carefully screen each post. Therefore, there really is not a true "freedome of speach" posting from real people. I am a provider of SmoothShapes and many happy clients have written in to SmoothShapes. They posted 1. I called twice and asked why they did not post the others and they stated they would look into it. Then asked for the client's email which I provided. They then posted the emails -- for a very short time -- then they deleted them again. Hmmm. Perhaps a payoff? What is their connection to the competitors devices that warrants the "staff" to selectively post emails positive or negative and then change the "percentage" of pros and cons? Real Self -- you are all cons.

Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager - 606 posts) 3 Jan 2010

Hi "Smoothshape"

Even though we take great umbrage with your accusations against our company and dedicated employees, we're happy to publish your comment here under our feedback section (not as a review, as you submitted).

It's simply untrue and that we have an agenda against any device or provider. A business model based on manipulation or hidden agenda has no place at RealSelf-- that's not how you build a trusted brand with loyal customers.

In fact, when looking at Smoothshapes reviews, I see this review is posted about your clinic and speaks favorably to the device.

Our mission is to provide a trusted consumer resource, and we have zero tolerance for any postings that even suggest manipulation of ratings.

Just like every social review site, reviews can end up being suppressed by our software system and/or editor review. This process may seem unfair to you, but it's designed to protect both consumers and businesses alike from fake reviews.

The process affects both positive and negative reviews. It's important to note that these reviews are not deleted and may reappear on a reviews page in the future.

I congratulate you on having a practice with happy clients.  May you continue to see success.

Tom, President and Founder, RealSelf.com

Body Shaping (3 posts) 3 Jan 2010
Tom - your response is unnacceptable. Your statement "reviews can end up being suppressed by our software system and/or editor review." Software review? How much due diligence does your staff need in order to qualify a true review? Your website is unfair and opinionated as you are. I have talked to you and your staff in the past many times as you guys delete positive reviews over and over. I have provided emails from clients who wish to have their results and satisfaction posted -- yet your post unfavorable percentages and delete them after posting them - as if they will go unnoticed. I used to refer to your site and will not and have posted my experience with you and your staff manipulating the "ratings." You have lost all respect from my clients and our staff. We will no longer refer to your web site.
JOJO47 (9 posts) 11 Feb 2010
I submitted a review regarding Zerona titled "The Real Truth About Zerona" 5 days ago and again today and it has never posted. There is a new positive post regarding the procedure up on the site though. Are you only posting positive reviews now since there are so many negative ones? What happened to my review?
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 11 Feb 2010

Hi JOJO47,

Your review is in our moderation queue and will be reviewed by our staff shortly.

The most common reason reviews are not published in a timely fashion is because a user hasn't verified their account (you should have received an email with a "Confirm your review" link, although these are sometimes misrouted to "Spam" folders by certain email providers).

When reviews aren't verified, they are put on hold (not published) and re-checked in a few days to see if the account has since been verified. If it still hasn't, we take further steps to verify it. You've taken the time to share your experience; we definitely want to publish it for you!

Not sure if this is what happened here as I don't know when your account was verified, but your review will be up shortly.

To clarify for everyone: we post ALL reviews that adhere to our Community Guidelines, both positive or negative. We're an independent community so we don't stand to gain anything by editorialising.

Hope this helps and thank you for your patience!
--Sharon

JOJO47 (9 posts) 11 Feb 2010
Thanks Sharon, it's up there now:)
linda888 (12 posts) 29 Jan 2010
I keep trying to post my question on the Q and A section and it never appears. Help!
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 29 Jan 2010

Hi Linda,

Questions go through a moderation process first before they're published. This generally takes 24-48 hours. You'll receive an email once your question is live on the site, and again when a doctor or another RealSelfer replies.

You can also access all of your posts from your profile page: http://www.realself.com/user/linda888

Hope this helps!

linda888 (12 posts) 30 Jan 2010
Thanks! Does it say that somewhere (about the 24 - 48 hours thing)? If not, that might save people from thinking they've done it wrong and need to post their question again and again...or was it written right there in bold and I just didn't see it...cuz that's a possibility!
Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 3 Feb 2010

You're absolutely right. We used to say that but I think it's been removed somewhere along the line (the email still says it, I think, but it's easy enough to miss). I'll email our web team so they can add it back in.

Thanks for pointing this out!

Happy with the procedure (2 posts) 2 Feb 2010

I think this company should make clear that reviews are going to be posted in a public way. I feel my privacy has been interfered with because I thought I was filling out a survey, and then discovered what I wrote would become public. If there was a way to edit a username then I could easily make my username private, and this would solve the problem. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO DO THIS.

Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager - 4,028 posts) 3 Feb 2010

Hi,

Thanks for your feedback. Could you let us know how you found out about RealSelf (referral from doctor, Google search, etc) so we can look into this further?

Cheers,
--Sharon


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