New Survey Finds Social Media is a Major Influence on Elective Surgery
03/27/2013
Social media is leading consumers to have a more self-critical eye, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). The annual poll of the organization's board-certified facial plastic surgeons found a 31 percent increase in requests for surgery as a result of social media photo sharing. The study shows that a growing number of procedures are cosmetic versus reconstructive in nature, accounting for 73 percent of all procedures in 2012, up from 62 percent in 2011. However, while social media continues to play an increasingly large role in how consumers view themselves, its influence as a trusted informational resource for plastic surgery is diminishing. Last year only seven percent of prospective patients used social media to research doctors and procedures, down from 35 percent in 2011. Instead, 57 percent got their information about plastic surgery online, with 33 percent relying on referrals.