The Truth About Social Media Famous Surgeons
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Posted on January 25, 2024 under Cosmetic Surgery
If you check your Instagram or TikTok feed from time to time, there is a good chance you have come across posts or content related to cosmetic surgery. Perhaps you’ve seen testimonials from patients who share their thoughts on how their procedures went, or maybe you have seen cosmetic surgery specialists explaining why liposuction may work better than abdominoplasty for some patients. The next time you launch the app after seeing these posts, you may even run into other posts featuring doctors doing TikTok dance challenges.
The reality of cosmetic surgery as a social media topic is that it enjoys high engagement. Hashtags like #plasticsurgery and #beautytransformation get millions of views on Instagram, a platform where before-and-after photos, influencer endorsements, and surgeon profiles drive interest. TikTok has surpassed Facebook and Twitter in terms of cosmetic surgery trends, and it is catching up to Instagram. Social media interest in cosmetic surgery has been strong since the mid-2000s, but it was not until 2010 that professionals in the field realized the sheer marketing potential of social networks.
Competing For Social Media Clout
The rise of “Snapchat doctors” and “Instagram surgeons” can be traced to the popularity of cosmetic surgery reality shows on television. TLC, Bravo, E!, and even MTV jumped on this trend when Facebook and Twitter started gaining traction. By 2014, Snapchat doctors had become a topic of news media discussion, and they were followed by Instagram surgeons a few years later.
According to a 2019 survey conducted among members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 61% of cosmetic surgeons have active social media accounts, and nearly 80% of this cohort reported using their accounts for promotional purposes. A 2023 survey conducted by researchers from the UC Davis School of Dermatology determined that 41% of patients felt optimistic about the social media presence of their cosmetic surgeons. Still, most did not choose their doctors based on social media activity.
Other market research studies show that those cosmetic surgery practices dedicating more time and effort to their social media followers tend to charge the highest fees; this makes sense when you see the high production values of the content they publish. Some cosmetic surgeons decide to step away from seeing patients once they start turning into social media celebrities; at this point, it becomes more lucrative for them to continue engaging millions of followers, which often means dialing up the entertainment angle when creating new content. This is when social media clout takes precedence over the practice as such.
Contact Us
At Cosmetic Surgery Associates in Bethesda, Maryland, Dr. Jabs, Dr. Magge, and Dr. Richards believe that social media is a good platform for patient education. The casual tone of communication on social networks is helpful when letting patients know what they can expect from specific procedures. If you have questions about the information about cosmetic surgeries you consume on social media, you can contact us to learn more during a personalized consultation.
Our Plastic Surgery Associates team includes Dr. Franklin Richards, Dr. A. Dean Jabs, and Dr. Keshav Magge. Each of our plastic surgeons is board-certified, and together they have over 60 years of combined experience. Drs. Richards, Jabs, and Magge are all highly qualified in procedures for the face, breast, and body, and pride themselves in providing excellent results through our state-of-the-art, Quad A certified operating centers
