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Doctors upset about plastic surgery shows

Jul 25

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Technorati Tags: plastic surgery, plastic surgery show, extreme makeover

TV shows that deal with plastic surgery, are said to have a great influence on first-time patients who are seeking a surgical procedure. This is according to the study published in the recent issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official industry journal. This proves once again that television hasn’t lost its power despite the presence of other media such as the Internet.

However, the finding brought out by the study does make plastic surgeons upset.

Plastic surgery television shows such as Extreme Makeover, The Swan, I Want A Famous Face, Dr. 90210, and Miami Slice are all attracting viewers from all walks of life through the various ways they present plastic surgery in reality TV.

Dr. John Persing has this to say over the issue: "Despite widespread unease about the effects that reality television shows have on patient decision making and expectations, no data existed on how these shows affected potential patients."

This led them to conduct a study on whether plastic surgery reality TV shows have a real effect on their viewers.

The researchers interviewed 42 cosmetic plastic-surgery patients, and found that 57% were "high-intensity" watchers of plastic-surgery shows--meaning regular viewers of at least one ongoing program. Ninety-five percent of the respondents were female.

Four out of five respondents believe that TV influenced them directly to pursue a particular surgical procedure.

However, plastic surgeons are not happy about the finding. Dr. Persing has this to say: "It is unfortunate that patients are turning toward the entertainment industry for educational information--we had hoped for different results. These shows may create unrealistic, unhealthy expectations about what plastic surgery can do for you. Although it's called reality TV, it may not be reality."

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Anonymous on Apr 7

I've been a viewer of most of the plastic surgery shows, but especially nip/tuck, since I started working with a plastic surgeon performing cosmetic surgery in Houston. Although I have never seen (and never even heard of) 'Miami Slice," I was always a big fan of 'nip/tuck'... until this year. I don't know if it's because they've 'gone Hollywood' or what, but it's been way over the top this season. Obviously, although I'm not a surgeon, I was well aware that what I was watching was for entertainment rather than educational purposes, but still, this season hasn't even been entertaining. In fact, I stopped watching, I think, sometime in January. I'll agree that TV certainly has and will continue to influence people (first-time patients, or not), but right now, I would say the economy appears to be having the greatest impact on whether or not a prospective patient elects plastic surgery.

Well, What're Ya Gonna Do?

Noelle on Feb 7

So medicine is going the way of everything else these days--becoming either part of the fabric of pop culture or a commodity or both. Have you heard about Cancer Treatment Centers of America? Sounds like a franchise deal to me. Drive-thru chemo maybe. Weird.

Anyway, no matter what, plastic surgery is still surgery. Even if it's more "pop" than ever, it's still up to the patient to do their homework. And find a plastic surgeon with solid credentials. There are many in and around the hotbeds of pop culture like Southern California. For San Diego plastic surgery I'd go to Dr. Richard Chaffoo. He's board certified, in fact he's triple board certified. Not a drive thru, not even a reality TV star.

nip/tuck is just a show, but dr. rey...

PromKing on Dec 14

is that guy for real??? my roommate is addicted to those home shopping networks, and although i can't stand them, i work with an Albany breast augmentation, so i couldn't wait to see dr 9021o himself on, selling shapewear of all things! it was hilarious. he said women want 3 things for the holidays: flowers, jewelry and shapewear. i doubt it. anyway, nip/tuck? i was pretty excited about mcnamara/troy going to hollywood 'cause i used to live there, but i'm just not into it this year. love 'hearts and scalpels,' though!!!

They ought to be upset with...

Anonymous on Nov 20

US magazine and other pubs trading the unfortunate passing of Kanye West's mother with article entitle, "Plastic Surgery Horror" and "The Dark Side of Plastic Surgery." As someone who writes for the industry - I'm writing several sites now for a big ps center in FL specializing in liposuction in Miami - I think US' article might better be called, "Plastic Surgeon Horror." While surgery, elective or not, has risks, the untimely passing of any patient shouldn't shine a light on the "dark side of plastic surgery." It ought to shine a light on doctors like Dr. Jan Adams (the surgeon who operated on Ms. West) who have sites with typos, inconsistencies and hyperbole. He actually used the word "humorous" to describe video clips in the video section of his site. Come on. If he isn't concerned w/his image, will he be concerned with yours?

Worried...

Amanda on Nov 15

I work for a doctor who specializes in plastic surgery in New Jersey, and while i also love Nip/Tuck, I'm worried now because of the whole West thing (first, I was worried about the writer's strike, and now this truly unfortunate event). I've already seen where the Discovery Channel canceled Before and After, and rightfully so since Dr. Adams hosted it (not exactly good PR). We'll see, but I'm worried.

What?!!!

Rick on Nov 8

I don't care what all of you say. Like you, I work at a center that does lots of breast augmentation in Miami, and I LOVE NIP/TUCK! I especially loved it when the show was set here, and I still like it even tho it's in Hollywood. Have you watched it this season?It's entertainment, that's all! It's not like peole can schedule sugery at the end of the show. They still have to see real doctors. Now, dr. 90210? Can't stand him. ;-)

don't be a boob tuber

Jay on Oct 16

If you're interested in plastic surgery and want to know the truth, you're not likely to find it by watching a so-called plastic surgery show. Get the truth and get it from both top doctors and patients alike... get Cosmetic Surgery Magazine. It's on the web and it's not only a free resource for patients and practices, but one of the best resources i've found.

it gets worse

Jay on Oct 15

i live in hollywood, and i was discussing these shows with a Hawaii plastic surgeon i know. he told me that this new season of nip and tuc is going to revolve around the two doctors serving as consultants on a plastic surgery show called "hearts and scalpels." so, get ready for a reality based show within a reality based show. if doctors thought patients were misinformed before...

don't believe everything you see

Anonymous on Oct 11

… especially on these shows.

Unfortunately, with nip and tuck going hollywood soon, it's likely to only get worse.

If you want to be entertained, watch tv (and hope for the best). If you want to be informed, see a plastic surgeon, preferably one far, far away from la-la land. I suggest you take a look at this practice if you're considering Cosmetic surgery in New York... or regardless of where you live. ;-)

I Feel Sorry For…

Mike on Aug 9

... plastic surgeons, I mean I work with one who does cosmetic surgery in orange county. But, you know who I really feel sorry for? The people who think these shows are representative of real plastic surgery in the real world. Guess what, people? They're not. They're television shows. They're designed to get ratings so that they can sell advertising so they can make more television shows. Think CSI is representative of a real crime scene investigation, do you? Remember the OJ case?

You Forgot Nip/Tuck

Anonymous on Jul 30

Maybe because it's not reality tv? It is "reality based" original programming... supposedly. There's no denying the power of TV. As Homer Simpson once said, "TV... teacher, mother, secret lover." I'm not a surgeon myself, but I work with one performing plastic surgery in Scottsdale, and it's really unfortunate if potential patients allow a television program to influence whether or not they have plastic surgery... it's TV! It's entertainment (sometimes); it's rarely educational. As another show (X-Files) said, "the truth is out there." It's okay to watch TV for fun, but one shouldn't be making serious life decisions based on what they see on a show called, "Miami Slice."

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