More than 10 years ago, we founded RealSelf, to provide trusted insight for anyone considering a cosmetic treatment. Our goal: to connect people with one another, with top providers and with all the information you need before making a major life- (or, at least, body)-altering decision.
In a world where you can view an operating table on Snapchat and book a cosmetic procedure on Yelp, RealSelf strives to be a trusted, unbiased source of information about cosmetic procedures. On our platform, you’ll find reviews of more than 20,000 healthcare professionals and board-certified doctors. With so many providers to choose from, we wanted to narrow the field even more to find you the most responsive, patient-friendly, top-tier professionals. That’s how we came up with the idea for RealSelf Verified.
RealSelf Verified is a blue checkmark that stands for something both patients and consumers care about. You’ll find it right next to the doctor’s name on their individual RealSelf page. The symbol signifies that a doctor or surgeon has been vetted and has passed a lengthy checklist with flying colors. It means that we’ve taken care of much of the critical consumer-safety research for you, so you can rest assured and book with confidence. Ahead, the consumer concerns that we’re solving with that blue checkmark.
Is your doctor in good medical standing?
Yes! All RealSelf Verified doctors have an active medical license and are in good standing with their local boards.
Is your surgeon really a plastic surgeon?
An important reason we’re launching RealSelf Verified is to bring transparency to an opaque industry and help patients cut through confusing and misleading information. One of the biggest red flags that consumers may not even recognize is when they come across a doctor who describes themselves as a “cosmetic surgeon.”
In the U.S., any medical professional can advertise as a cosmetic surgeon, even if they have no formal training in plastic surgery. Many of these doctors may even advertise that they’re certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery—a board that neither RealSelf nor the plastic-surgery industry at large recognizes as legitimate.
If the thought of getting surgery performed by a doctor who is not properly trained sounds scary, consider this: more than half (59 percent) of U.S. women don’t know the difference between a real, properly trained plastic surgeon and a general doctor who calls themselves a cosmetic surgeon.
That’s why, on RealSelf, we never use the confusing term cosmetic surgeon. Every doctor or surgeon on RealSelf is properly labeled with their primary board certification, to denote their area of medical specialty. Non-board-certified doctors are labeled as “physicians.”
Elective surgery is a big decision, which is why RealSelf Verified surgeons have to pass an especially stringent vetting process.
Is your surgeon certified by the right board?
According to a survey commissioned by Harris Poll on behalf of RealSelf, 92% of U.S. women agree that a doctor performing a surgical procedure should be board-certified. On the flip side, only 30% can identify which type of board certification their provider should have. We’ve taken out the guesswork for you. Participation on RealSelf, for aesthetic surgical procedures, is restricted to doctors with relevant board certifications. Our multistep verification process certifies their credentials so you don’t have to.
What is your surgeon’s board-certified specialty?
All RealSelf Verified doctors are required to list their active board certifications so you can easily find exactly what your doctor is certified in. Doctors can also fill in a Procedures I’m Known For category, so you can choose a surgeon who is especially experienced in your prospective surgery.
Find your doctor’s total number of years in practice in large, bold letters on their individual profile page.
Does your surgeon have any license restrictions?
When you see the RealSelf Verified badge, you can be assured that RealSelf is confirming quarterly for any outstanding license restrictions. If there is a restriction, the RealSelf Verified badge will be removed and potential patients will no longer be able to contact that doctor through RealSelf.
Does your doctor have good reviews from patients?
Every RealSelf Verified doctor has an average patient-satisfaction score of four stars or more. Just as important, each doctor has committed to responding to RealSelf user requests in two business days or fewer. You can expect any RealSelf Verified doctor to respond to your questions quickly, carefully and with empathy.
Is your doctor committed to the highest safety and transparency standards?
The blue checkmark is an easy and visible way for patients to know that the doctor they’re considering is qualified, has the right experience and board certifications and rates high in patient satisfaction. But the mark stands for something more than just checking off a list of (albeit very tough) boxes. It stands for commitment—the commitment to transparency that RealSelf makes to our consumers and that every RealSelf Verified provider deeply shares. In addition to patients’ reviewing RealSelf Verified doctors, the doctors themselves also personally answer consumer questions and show unedited before and after photos of their work so consumers have the relevant information they need—right at their fingertips—to make smart, confident decisions.
