RealSelf’s earns a 1.2-star rating from 32 reviews, showing that the majority of cosmetic procedure patients are dissatisfied with their outcomes.
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RealSelf: A Complete Marketing Scam - My Experience and Evidence
RealSelf is a website that claims to provide honest reviews about doctors and medical procedures. However, my experience with this website has been nothing short of a complete marketing scam. I strongly advise against using this website for any kind of research or information.
One of the biggest issues with RealSelf is their policy of deleting any negative comments or reviews that are deemed inappropriate. This is particularly concerning when the comments are critical of doctors who are funding the website. It seems that RealSelf is more interested in protecting the interests of these doctors than providing honest information to their users.
Furthermore, I have evidence that RealSelf charges money from various organizations under the guise of donations. This is a clear conflict of interest and raises serious questions about the integrity of the website.
Another major problem with RealSelf is their policy of not allowing users to edit their own comments. This means that outdated or inaccurate information can remain on the website for years, potentially misleading thousands of people. It is unacceptable that RealSelf does not take responsibility for ensuring that the information on their website is accurate and up-to-date.
Overall, I believe that RealSelf is a dishonest and unethical website that preys on the emotions of innocent people. They should be banned, and laws should be put in place to regulate their articles and deleting policies. It is unacceptable that one negative post can lead to thousands of negative reviews, even if the information is outdated or inaccurate. RealSelf's motto seems to be "once bad, always bad," which is a shameful way to operate a website that claims to provide honest information to its users.
RealSelf Review: Censored and Biased Towards High-Paying Doctors
When I first stumbled upon RealSelf, I was ecstatic to find a platform where I could share my plastic surgery journey with others. However, my excitement quickly turned into disappointment when I realized that the site was heavily censored. It seemed that we were not allowed to express our true experiences if it upset a doctor who paid more than the one we were using. This is completely unethical and goes against the very purpose of the site.
To make matters worse, most of the RealSelf staff are young IT guys who seem to be completely out of touch with the plastic surgery experience. They are dismissive and half-annoyed at us who have undergone plastic surgery. I had the top facelift following and spent months writing a review, only to have it pulled because I was told I would lose my status if I said anything to defend my doctor who was being smeared by two users with no pictures or reviews.
On the other hand, another top doctor who had more ad space completely botched a woman's surgery, leaving tissue death and pretty much butchering her. She was defending her doctor while normal women were commenting that she should seek a lawyer. We were told to defend her and the doctor and to outcast the women who were bringing this up. It is all "pay to play," and if users realized that bad reviews were suppressed on higher paying doctors (some pay RealSelf 400 a month up to thousands), they would not feel that this was "real" at all.
We were constantly censored, and any real depth in response to other reviewers was discouraged. The staff would openly talk rudely to each other in front of us, even though we did not work for RealSelf. The environment was toxic, and the site felt very fake. We need something new that encourages meaningful journeys, open debate, and real testimonies. Only then can we make informed decisions, not partially informed decisions because RealSelf has a financial motivation to appease doctors who pay more, even if the work they do is subpar.
In conclusion, while RealSelf may seem like a great platform to share your plastic surgery journey, it is heavily censored and biased towards doctors who pay more. The staff is dismissive and out of touch, and the environment is toxic. We need a new platform that encourages open debate and real testimonies, so we can make informed decisions about our plastic surgery journeys.
Realself.com: The Ultimate Social Community for Cosmetic Surgery Reviews and Advice
Cosmetic surgery can be a daunting and expensive decision for anyone. With so many options and varying results, it can be difficult to determine what is worth the investment. That's where realself.com comes in. This social community is a hub for those who have undergone cosmetic surgery or are considering it.
Realself.com offers detailed accounts of other people's experiences, including the level of pain, cost, and whether or not they felt the procedure was worth it. Additionally, the site has a team of board-certified plastic surgeons available to provide advice.
The site has been steadily growing in popularity over the past four years, with visitor figures reaching seven figures. It is a unique platform that represents a growing trend of "vertical" social communities that focus on a specific interest rather than being too broad.
While there have been similar forums in the past, they often suffer from issues such as control problems, moderation issues, trolls, flaming, phony postings, and spam. Realself.com, on the other hand, offers a more organized and friendly environment that is optimized for one class of user. It provides practical advice, sympathy, and a safe place to discuss a sensitive and perhaps even taboo subject.
If you have ever considered cosmetic surgery or want to share your experience, realself.com is the place to go. It offers a wealth of information and a supportive community that can help you make an informed decision.
RealSelf Censors Negative Reviews of Convicted Doctor: My Experience
RealSelf is a website that claims to help people make informed decisions about cosmetic procedures by providing reviews and information about doctors. However, my experience with this site has been less than satisfactory. I have repeatedly tried to warn other prospective patients about a doctor named Gavin M. Dry, who is listed on the site with high reviews, but who is also a convicted drug addict and has killed a patient. Despite my efforts, RealSelf has continuously deleted my posts.
I understand that RealSelf has terms and conditions for posting, but I believe that it is important for people to know the truth about this doctor. I have provided links to articles that detail his convictions and the disciplinary action taken against him by the state of Washington. I am not using profanity or making false accusations, I am simply trying to inform others so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not to trust this doctor.
It is concerning to me that RealSelf would facilitate the removal of negative content about this doctor while leaving behind all of the glowing reviews. It gives the appearance of a cover-up, even if that is not their intention. I believe that people have a right to know the truth about the doctors they are considering for cosmetic procedures, especially when it comes to serious issues like drug addiction and patient deaths.
I cannot recommend RealSelf as a trustworthy site until I see that they have taken action to remove this doctor from their listings. It is important for people to be able to share their experiences and opinions, even if they are negative, without fear of censorship. I hope that RealSelf will reconsider their policies and allow for more transparency and honesty in their reviews.
RealSelf Review: Tummy Tuck and Liposuction - Exceeded My Expectations!
I just had to share my experience with RealSelf (realself.com) after undergoing a tummy tuck and liposuction to my abdomen and flanks. It's been six weeks since the procedure and I am absolutely amazed and overjoyed with the results!
As a 48-year-old woman who underwent a gastric bypass operation in 2013, I was left with a fat tire around my waist that I just couldn't seem to get rid of no matter how hard I tried. I tried every diet from LighterLife to the cabbage soup diet and went to the gym three times a week, but nothing seemed to work.
Over the years, I had thought about surgery and had seen a couple of surgeons, but I never really felt happy enough to go through with the procedure. That all changed when I attended an open evening presentation by Mr. Marc Pacifico last December at the Nuffield Hospital in Tunbridge Wells.
Mr. Pacifico is a very nice, friendly, and easy-to-talk-to plastic surgeon. After the presentation, I was impressed and followed it up with a 10-minute free consultation with him. In January 2017, I had a further consultation with Mr. Pacifico at his offices at Purity Bridge in Tunbridge Wells to discuss the procedure further. During that consultation, I was convinced that this surgery was right for me, and it was, in fact, the best thing that I have ever done!
I booked my operation for February 22nd, which hopefully would leave enough time for most of the swelling to go down as I had a holiday booked in Spain in May. When I woke up after the operation, Mr. Pacifico came to see me and told me that he had removed 3.5 kilos (the size of the average baby!) of skin and fat from the tummy tuck and 1 litre of fat from the liposuction.
Now, six weeks later, I not only have a flat stomach but a flat abdomen and a great-shaped waist. Basically, I've got a great new body that I'm over the moon with, so thank you very much, Mr. Pacifico. My operation far exceeded my expectations!
I highly recommend RealSelf to anyone who is considering plastic surgery. It's a great resource for finding reputable surgeons and reading reviews from real people who have undergone similar procedures. I am so grateful to have found Mr. Pacifico through RealSelf and couldn't be happier with the results of my surgery.
RealSelf Review: Shady Practices and Manipulated Reviews?
I've been a fan of RealSelf for a few years now. I love browsing through the before and after photos and reading about other people's experiences with different treatments. However, lately I've noticed some shady things going on with the site and its reviews. It's really frustrating to see the manipulation that's happening and it's making me question the credibility of the site.
I haven't personally had any bad experiences with doctors on RealSelf, but I've seen some things that make me doubt the honesty of the reviews. For example, the "Worth it" percentage rating seems to be falsified in some cases. I've also noticed a lot of fake positive reviews and some doctors' reviews being manipulated (with negative reviews being removed for some and positive reviews being removed for others).
I've been following some of the same reviews and doctors for two years now (which I know sounds a bit creepy, but it's something a lot of us do when trying to make a decision about treatment). Based on what I've seen, it seems like the manipulation is based on whether or not a doctor is a paying customer of RealSelf.
Now, I understand that RealSelf has the right to censor whatever it wants in order to benefit its customers. But if they're going to do that, they shouldn't pretend to be an unbiased review site. They should be upfront about the fact that they're trying to provide positive marketing for paying doctors and that they're enticing other doctors to pay by promising to portray them in a better light.
I think RealSelf should have some sort of disclosure for users, like the annoying pop-ups that constantly ask you to download their app. Many potential customers don't know how to spot fake or manipulated reviews, and they rely on sites like RealSelf to make decisions about medical treatments. This is a really important area of business, and full disclosure is crucial. The potential consequences of being "duped" are much higher when it comes to medical treatments.
RealSelf: Not a Reliable Source for Non-Surgical Body Enhancement Advice
I recently checked out RealSelf, hoping to find some helpful advice on non-surgical methods for enhancing different areas of the body. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed with what I found.
I decided to see what kind of advice was being given about a method I personally have experience with: the Brava vacuum pump method for breast enhancement, which is FDA approved and actually works. To my dismay, all of the questions about non-surgical breast enhancement were answered by so-called "doctors" or "surgeons" who gave negative comments and claimed that surgery was the only proven method. This was completely untrue, as I know from my own personal experience. I even posted a comment to correct the misinformation, but it was removed within two weeks.
It seems that any questions about non-surgical methods are met with criticism and a push towards surgery, which is a clear indication that the site is not a reliable source of information. Even people who need help with surgical wounds opening up after a few days don't seem to get much practical advice from the supposed medical professionals on the site.
I suspect that plastic surgeons use RealSelf as a way to increase business for themselves, by criticizing any method of enhancement or body shape improvement that doesn't require a visit to a plastic surgeon. I would be wary of any reviews on the site that are carried out by plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons, as they are unlikely to be objective.
Overall, I was extremely disappointed with RealSelf and would not recommend it as a source of reliable information.
RealSelf: Are They Allowing Fake Reviews and Blackmail?
RealSelf is a website that allows patients to share their experiences with cosmetic procedures and doctors. However, it seems that not all reviews on the site are genuine. Recently, a review was flagged as fake and it was reported to RealSelf. However, the website did not seem to have investigated the matter thoroughly. Instead, they simply replied that the reviewer is responsible for their review and they will take it down if they want it taking down.
The patient who wrote the review has been accused of lying and blackmailing the surgeon. They have demanded a sum of ?5000 to remove the review, which contains false information not just about their surgery and care, but also the doctor's status with medical boards. However, the patient only paid ?2200 for their surgery. This seems to suggest that RealSelf is being used by the patient to blackmail the surgeon, which goes against their own code of conduct. Despite this, the review is still not being investigated by RealSelf.
The patient has made false claims about the surgeon leaving a medical board due to the number of bad cases about them. In reality, the surgeon left via voluntary measure due to not working in the UK anymore. The patient has also lied about having a life-threatening infection and necrosis. They claim to have been in the hospital for one day, but there is no evidence to support their claims of nearly dying, having necrosis, or being stitched up incorrectly.
While it is unfortunate when patients get infections, it is not an excuse to ask for twice as much money as their surgery or write lies on the internet about their results or a doctor's status with medical boards. RealSelf should be more responsible in ensuring that their website is not being used for malicious purposes.
There are many posts on the site that relate to the doctor's medical board that are not true. When a lawyer wrote to the site to show evidence of this, they replied that under Washington state law, they are not responsible for the reviews. This seems to suggest that RealSelf is not following their own code of conduct and is allowing the public to be given false and fake information. This is unacceptable.
As an admin assistant who is trying to help the surgeon with this matter, I have seen the level of stress that the surgeon has gone through as a result of RealSelf. Freedom of speech is one thing, but posting lies on the internet and then asking for ?5000 to remove them is another. If the reviewer had just written about their own care, then maybe there would be an excuse. However, to make false claims about the doctor and demand money to remove them is simply lying to try and gain money.
RealSelf claims to follow their 'code of conduct' and terms of service, but from my experience, even when a barrister contacts them providing information and evidence that the reviewer has lied, they do not look at the information. They do not delete the review and instead write back stating that they are not responsible for the review. They say that it would only be removed if a court case states it should be or the reviewer states it's okay to take it down. However, the reviewer has told us that she will take it down for ?5000 to delete her lies. We are not going to pay her to remove lies.
In conclusion, RealSelf needs to be more responsible in ensuring that their website is not being used for malicious purposes. They should investigate reviews that are flagged as fake and take appropriate action. They should also ensure that their code of conduct is being followed and that false information is not being spread on their website.
Navigating RealSelf: A Review of the Pros and Cons of the Cosmetic Procedure Review Site
RealSelf is a unique business model that operates on two sides of the coin. On one hand, it relies on patient reviews to generate revenue. However, these reviews are often posted soon after a procedure, making it difficult to determine the true results. The comments on each review or forum post can also be confusing, making it challenging to understand when they were posted and to which comment they are referring.
On the other hand, RealSelf is also used as a marketing tool for doctors. While doctors provide RealSelf with credibility, the site gives doctors the ability to promote themselves by answering questions. The more questions a doctor answers, the higher they rank on the RealSelf scale. However, this ranking does not necessarily reflect the doctor's ability or expertise.
This system can be misleading and confusing for users. RealSelf also monitors all interactions on their site, including private messages, which means that users should not expect any privacy. While the site has rules against posting medical advice or links, many users still do so. However, it is unclear whether it is acceptable to reach out to other users and share links or advice.
It is essential to remember that RealSelf is a business venture that relies on the cosmetic industry for profit. Doctors also rely on RealSelf to promote their businesses. While member reviews are available, they are not updated regularly and do not provide long-term results. The information on RealSelf is also poorly organized, making it challenging to find real information, especially for procedures such as liposuction.
Users often give advice based on their own experiences, which may not be medically appropriate for others. Doctor answers in the Q&A section may also be suspect since they cannot examine or take a history from the person asking the question. If someone posts a negative review of a procedure, they are often told by other members or community managers that things will get better, ignoring real problems.
If a member asks a physician about a negative outcome, they may be told it is their own fault or bad luck, ignoring scientific evidence. Rarely is the doctor who performed the procedure called out. Overall, RealSelf can be a useful resource, but users should be aware of its limitations and biases.
RealSelf: Exploiting Patients for Profit - A Review of the Site's Unethical Practices
I recently had a terrible experience with a surgery and decided to share my story on RealSelf. I included clear photos of the problem area and soon received comments from people who were considering the same doctor for the same procedure. However, to my surprise, my review was pulled from the site and my account was banned without any explanation from RealSelf staff members.
This was not an isolated incident. I later found out that another patient who had been victimized by the same doctor was also banned from RealSelf, and her review was locked so that users could no longer comment beneath her updates. RealSelf claimed that she "had an agenda against the doctor," which is a common response when patients pay a lot of money for a botched job. Although she can no longer access her account, RealSelf still has her review and photos. It seems that RealSelf is exploiting these personal struggles to attract more visitors to the site and make more money.
RealSelf also locked a review from a patient who sustained horrific third-degree burns from liposuction. RealSelf's justification was that her review "centred too much on her legal case," which is not true. I read the same review and counted only one mention of legal recourse. I have since come across stories on other plastic surgery forums from people who've had their RealSelf reviews taken down and found their accounts banned.
It seems that RealSelf is doing its best to remove the most grisly and off-putting horror jobs from these so-called Board Certified doctors with jumped-up egos and more money than skill. Instead, they spout platitudinous tripe about maintaining "a friendly online environment" while throwing a sizeable proportion of its userbase under the bus and hoping that no one notices.
RealSelf is now funneling dollars acquired from butchered patients clicking on ads for bad doctors to RealSelf-sponsored "medical aid" tours in Third World countries. While this may seem like a worthy cause, the problem lies in the uncomfortably ironic truth: that RealSelf's "medical aid" tours are being bankrolled by people in the First World clicking on doctors' ads and posting traffic-generating horror stories showing clear evidence of physical butchery.
All the while, RealSelf's policies remain incredibly lenient towards the one-post wonder reviews and shills that populate the site. My former doctor has an active shill on RealSelf who's been hard at work for the best part of a year. Her job is to post his name and website links wherever she can get away with it, and direct users back to her review so that they can see her "amazing" results for themselves. She regularly solicits private messages and continually "updates" her review with the same photos and parts of the same story so that it remains at the top of the list in that particular category. It's obvious she's not legit, but RealSelf seems to turn a blind eye to these practices.
RealSelf's Terms of Service are vague and unenforceable, giving them carte blanche to make up the rules as they go along and silence honest members who forfeit their privacy and post proof of bad results in order to help others. Recently, RealSelf has taken to re-appropriating their dishonest commercial gains in the most cynical ways possible. If the site wants to survive, it needs to closely examine its exploitative business model before it loses all credibility and is superseded by a better rival.
RealSelf Complaints 22
RealSelf: A Site of Fake Reviews
I gotta say, I had a pretty bad experience with a surgeon a while back. I was 35 years old and feeling a little tired, you know? I thought maybe some botox or a skin peel would help me look a little more refreshed. But this guy I went to see, he was a real charlatan. He convinced me that I needed a facelift, and I was dumb enough to go along with it.
Well, let me tell you, it was a disaster. He messed up my ear lobes so bad that they're still messed up to this day. And the scars? They're hideous. To make matters worse, I looked exactly the same after the procedure. It was a total waste of time and money.
Anyway, a few years later, I got contacted by RealSelf. They told me that my review was being removed. I was completely baffled. I mean, this post was from years ago. Why would they be taking it down now?
So I did a little digging, and what I found out really surprised me. It turns out that RealSelf has changed a lot since I last used it. Nowadays, they only seem to post positive reviews. And let me tell you, those reviews are fake as hell. They're all just people bragging about how wonderful their experiences were.
Honestly, I can't trust that site anymore. It's just not a reliable source of information. If you're looking for real reviews from real people, you're better off looking somewhere else.
RealSelf Reviews: Buyer Beware of Fake Accounts and Spammy Replies
I recently joined RealSelf to find a doctor for a face lift. I was excited to see that there were quite a few doctors in my area (Los Angeles) that had amazing reviews by happy clients. I reached out to 7 of the most recent patients by 7 doctors to get their opinions.
However, I was disappointed to find out that RealSelf has a reputation for being fake. Out of the 7 patients I messaged, only one reply was from a real patient. The other 6 replies were from office staff trying to sign me up for consultations. I was frustrated that I couldn't get an honest opinion from a real patient.
To make matters worse, the one reply I did get from a patient sounded spammy and didn't address my question. I strongly suspect that her account was fake, too. It's disappointing that RealSelf allows fake accounts to exist on their platform.
I hope that people don't choose a plastic surgeon based solely on the reviews on RealSelf. It's important to do your own research and get opinions from real people, not just fake accounts.
To express my concerns, I posted in the RealSelf forum under a very obvious fake review. However, my post was deleted immediately. It's frustrating that RealSelf doesn't allow honest opinions to be shared on their platform.
Overall, I was disappointed with my experience on RealSelf. I don't recommend using their platform to find a plastic surgeon. It's important to do your own research and get opinions from real people, not just fake accounts.
RealSelf Review: A Shady Website with Fake Reviews and Unreliable Doctor Credentials
RealSelf is a website that claims to help people find the right doctor for their cosmetic needs. However, my experience with RealSelf was not a good one. I found that doctors were putting up tons of their own glowing reviews, written by everybody in the office. It was clear that negative reviews were being removed if the doctor paid for "premium" listings. This made me feel like RealSelf was a huge scam, just like Yelp is, but at least Yelp is no longer so obvious about it.
When I was trying to select between a couple of doctors, I reached out to a few review writers. However, the responses I got were NOT from happy former patients, as their reviews wanted you to believe, but from office coordinators in the doctors' own office! This was very shady and made me question the authenticity of the reviews on RealSelf.
Another issue I found with RealSelf is that they let basic MD's call themselves plastic surgeons, even when they don't even have ANY specialty skills in surgery, let alone plastic surgery credentials. It was shocking to see that even dentists could advertise their Liposuction business on RealSelf without any kind of actual plastic surgery board certification. This made me feel like RealSelf was not a reliable source for finding the right doctor for my cosmetic needs.
Overall, my experience with RealSelf was not a good one. I would not recommend using this website to find a doctor for your cosmetic needs. It is important to do your own research and find a reliable source for reviews and recommendations.
Is RealSelf Legit?
RealSelf earns a trustworthiness rating of 51%
Think twice and be always careful when sharing sensitive information.
RealSelf has received 2 positive reviews on our site. This is a good sign and indicates a safe and reliable experience for customers who choose to work with the company.
The age of RealSelf's domain suggests that they have had sufficient time to establish a reputation as a reliable source of information and services. This can provide reassurance to potential customers seeking quality products or services.
Realself.com has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.
Several positive reviews for RealSelf have been found on various review sites. While this may be a good sign, it is important to approach these reviews with caution and consider the possibility of fake or biased reviews.
We looked up RealSelf and found that the website is receiving a high amount of traffic. This could be a sign of a popular and trustworthy website, but it is still important to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of the site before sharing any personal or financial information
However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:
- RealSelf protects their ownership data, a common and legal practice. However, from our perspective, this lack of transparency can impede trust and accountability, which are essential for establishing a credible and respected business entity.
RealSelf: A Dangerous Game of Deception and Misinformation in Cosmetic Surgery
I gotta say, I was pretty excited when I stumbled upon RealSelf. I was looking to get some work done and I thought, "Hey, what better way to find a good surgeon than to read reviews from people who have actually been there?" So, I started browsing and I found a surgeon who had a ton of five-star reviews. I mean, this guy was practically a rockstar on RealSelf. So, I booked my appointment and I was all set to go.
But then, just a few days before my procedure, I stumbled upon a thread of comments on RealSelf that were not posted under the surgeon's reviews. These comments were from patients who had actually had work done by this surgeon and let me tell you, they were not happy campers. In fact, their operations had been botched and they were left with some serious problems. I was shocked. I mean, how could this be? This guy had all these glowing reviews and yet there were people out there who had been seriously hurt by him.
So, I did some digging and I found out that these negative reviews had actually been deleted by RealSelf. That's right, they were just gone. And it wasn't just this surgeon, either. I found out that there were other surgeons on RealSelf who had negative reviews deleted as well. It was like RealSelf was trying to protect these guys or something.
Needless to say, I cancelled my surgery. I wasn't about to take any chances with a surgeon who had a history of botching operations. But here's the thing: I didn't get my money back. That's right, I had paid 20,000 pounds for this surgery and I didn't get a single penny back. And I'm not the only one, either. There are other people out there who have been burned by RealSelf and the surgeons they promote.
Now, don't get me wrong. RealSelf can be a useful tool for people who are looking to get work done. But you have to be careful. You can't just trust the reviews blindly. There are some serious issues with RealSelf and the way they promote certain surgeons. It's like they're in bed with these guys or something.
I think it's pretty obvious that there are some unhealthy links between RealSelf and cosmetic surgery practitioners. These guys are making a ton of money off of unsuspecting, vulnerable people. And it's not just the money, either. These surgeons are playing with people's lives. They're performing operations that can have serious consequences if they're not done right.
So, what's the solution? Well, I think we need to start holding RealSelf and these surgeons accountable. We need to demand transparency and honesty. We need to make sure that people are getting the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and their bodies. And we need to make sure that these surgeons are held to a higher standard. Because right now, it's the patients who are paying the price. And that's just not right.
RealSelf Reviews: Are They Trustworthy?
I recently used RealSelf to find a Beverly Hills ocular surgeon for a procedure I was interested in. I was impressed by the hundreds of positive reviews that the surgeon had on the site, and I felt confident in my decision to move forward with the surgery. However, as the surgery date approached, I began to notice some negative reviews that had been left by previous patients.
These negative reviews included complaints about poor communication, unsatisfactory results, and even hostile behavior from the surgeon. Despite my reservations, I decided to go ahead with the surgery, but unfortunately, I did experience some of these negative consequences. My results were less than optimal, and when I tried to express my concerns to the surgeon, he became defensive and unresponsive.
To my surprise, I later discovered that the negative reviews that I had seen before my surgery had disappeared from the RealSelf site. I also noticed a pattern in the positive reviews that made me question their legitimacy. It seems that doctors are able to pay for sponsored ads on the site, and they can even have negative reviews removed by claiming that they are fake or violate the terms of the agreement.
As a consumer, I feel that this model is corrupt and unfair. Women, in particular, are being harmed by this system, as they are often the ones seeking out these types of procedures. It's important for people to be able to trust the reviews that they read on sites like RealSelf, and it's concerning to think that doctors may be able to manipulate the system in this way.
Overall, I would caution anyone who is considering using RealSelf to do their research carefully and to take all reviews with a grain of salt. While there are certainly legitimate reviews on the site, it's clear that there are also some issues with the way that the system is set up. As consumers, we need to be vigilant and make sure that we are getting accurate information before making important decisions about our health and well-being.
RealSelf Review: Helpful Resource for Plastic Surgery, but Beware of Biases and Misleading Answers
RealSelf is a website where you can ask questions about plastic surgery and get answers from plastic surgeons. However, it is important to keep in mind that the people who will answer your questions are plastic surgeons, so if you are considering alternative methods to surgery, you may not get a truthful answer.
For example, there was a question about the effectiveness of Volufiline in creams to increase the size or firmness of breasts. Every answer that was given claimed that no creams exist that do this, but that only surgery will accomplish an increase in size or firmness of breasts. Some even claimed that there has been no research that proves it. These answers were entirely misleading because there are studies and cases where Volufiline has caused an increase in adipocytes which lead to an increase in breast size, notably one published on the web by Sederma.
It is important to note that medical practitioners are not immune from recommending only the kind of work they do and denying the efficacy of alternative methods that are aimed at achieving the same thing. Therefore, it is crucial to read the answers, do your research, and then make up your mind.
The only benefit of surgery is that it is quick. However, there are many risks associated with surgery, such as infection, bleeding, and scarring. Additionally, surgery is expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Therefore, it is important to consider all options before making a decision.
Overall, RealSelf can be a helpful resource for those considering plastic surgery. However, it is important to keep in mind that the answers you receive may not always be truthful or unbiased. Therefore, it is crucial to do your own research and make an informed decision.
RealSelf Review: A Helpful Resource for Cosmetic Procedures, But with a Few Frustrations
RealSelf is a website that I used a few years ago when I was getting ready to have a breast augmentation. It was super helpful for me and I think it could be really helpful for anyone who is looking for information about a cosmetic procedure, trying to find a plastic surgeon, or just wants to share their own experience with others. However, I have noticed that the website has gone through a redesign recently and it's not as easy to find information as it used to be.
As a user, all I really want to know is who are all the doctors in my city who perform breast augmentations, what are their prices, and what are their reviews. I also want to be able to find a list of similar questions that other people have asked if I have a question of my own. This information is still available on the website, but it takes a bit more navigating to find what you're looking for now.
There are also some frustrating elements of the user experience on RealSelf. For example, if you submit a question, you can't edit it and it has to be reviewed before it can be asked. I think they should listen to feedback from users and make changes to make the website more user-friendly.
Overall, I still think RealSelf is a great resource for anyone who is interested in cosmetic procedures. It's just not as easy to use as it used to be.
Warning: Bad Experience with Dr. Gary Brownstein from Cherry Hill Cosmetic Surgery - Refused Refund and Poor Customer Service
I had a really bad experience with Dr. Gary Brownstein from www.cherryhillcosmeticsurgery.com. I was really excited to get an upper body lift procedure done, and I paid him $7300.00 for it. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma insitu, which is an early stage of breast cancer, and I had to cancel the procedure. I had to get a lump removed from my breast by an oncologist, and after that, Dr. Brownstein refused to proceed with the upper body lift. He said that my cancellation and other factors cost $7300.00, even though I offered him more money to cover the cancellation.
What's worse is that he won't refund my money, even though I paid in cash and have the receipts to prove it. He wanted a higher fee if I used a credit card or paid by check, so I paid in cash. I feel like he's more interested in my money than my well-being.
I gave him a bad review on realself.com, but he still has five stars on the site. I think the site is fixed. My review was up for one week and then it was pulled. I don't think that's fair.
If you want more information about this doctor, feel free to contact me. I don't want anyone else to go through what I went through.
Fake reviews to consumers. They delete true reviews.
My friends and family can’t find my reviews, pictures, and the healing process of my surgical procedure. Over the past twelve weeks, I have updated several times to share my experience with Dr. Restifo in Orange CT. My surgery hasn’t been 100% great! I can only see my reviews when I log in from my phone. I can’t find my reviews/pictures from any other computer.
His reviews are ***** five stars, and that’s the main reason I hired him to do the procedure. That is not the case here! My review isn’t showing! How come I can only read the reviews and see the pictures when I log in to my profile? Dodgy, no?
Desired outcome: Take the website down and providers who isn't showing real and true reviews.
False verification
Realself has a surgeon listed as "verified" who is currently under review by his licensing board for malpractice. There are also videos of him on Instagram speaking sexually about patients and a video of a med tech attempting to perform a surgical procedure while this doctor watches. As a nurse I can promise you that this is not only illegal but unethical. This doctor is Arian Mowlavi and his clinic is Dr. Laguna in Laguna Beach California.
Desired outcome: This surgeon needs to be removed from this website. You have a duty to inform your clients and by having him "verified" you are promoting harm and sexual harassment.
Aiding and Abetting Evil
This site is a health hazard to the public. They let surgeons have tons of fake glowing 5 star reviews up and then remove the authentic ones with life destroying results or push them to the bottom of the algorithm so all you see first are the good ones. I found my surgeon on realself researching rhinoplasty. He disfigured me and was an arrogant dismissive [censored] afterwards. I couldn't believe it because He had nothing but 5 star reviews on realself. I started looking closer and realized the majority of them have no pictures and the account was made the same day the review was posted. They all sound exactly the same talking about how unbelievably perfect the results are, what a genius God-like being the surgeon is, and how beautiful the office is. BARF!
Biased reviews
I found a plastic surgeon who had stellar reviews on their site. I got botched completely. I posted lots of before/after pictures and a truthful review. After a couple of weeks Realself remover my review and blocked my account. No explanation ever given. The dr has very bad ratings on yelp but the bad reviews on google and Realself do not stay. That is because Realself and google can be paid off, yelp cannot. I am spending 57, 000 to fix what this dr did to have surgery in the summer. Yet Realself banned my reviews with pictures. They are crooks. Do not trust them!
Forum
I have provided the company With solid proof of lies of the patients- one patient there is proof she has blackmailed the surgeon and has written on line that the surgeon has had his Leience removed due to too many court cases- this is not true and so unfair to have on line' they reply saying that they check there own code of conduct but they do not. Even when evidence is given off lies from patients reviews are not deleted. They lie to everyone monitoring them that they have check everything out
When they have not
I can give evidence of all that I am stating proofing blackmail and libellous posts that are not investigated or removed
beware!
I know how their website works.
The more you pay them, the better your rating and reviews are. Yes, everything can be bought, even a great reputation. Bad reviews are blocked or may be just deleted if they don't like it. Nobody needs your truth.
So I'm not sure you can trust these guys because lots of reviews are very unbiased and have nothing to do with real situations that occur when you're dealing with doctors.
You decide.
unethical
I wrote a negative review on a doctor who botched me and even tho it is the most recent it appeared 3 from the last of the reviews. Many of them were 6 years or older yet mine was 9 days you would think it would be at the top. I read many of the same scenarios. My conclusion? Site is bias and sides with the butchering doctors. I wouldnt trust this site, I used this site to find the doctor because they rated him so high. A class action lawsuit should be filed against this company
keeping my account hostage
This company publishes doctors profiles and I joined their "free " listing. When I discovered the true nature of their business in which they coax doctors to pay them money to become "PRO' or "Dr Spotlight" listings, I asked that they delete my profile ... but they REFUSED. I also found false reviews posted by patients or competitors on my "free" profile, and the website refused to remove them... inspite of all the evidence I submitted. It seems they just take the patient's (or false impersonator's) word for what they write, and disregard all other evidence provided that shows that these posts are FAKE and DEFAMATORY, including medical records, hospital reports, patient photographs, screenshots of communication with the patient...etc. Apparently they do not care that the "free listing" doctor's reputation gets trashed in the meantime. By publishing an accusation, they are promoting that accusation, and sharing in inflicting damage on the "accused", so they are party to that accusation.
In view of their policy, I requested closure of my account, and that they refrain from accepting any more reviews and delete the old ones. In a flagrant violation of the Privacy Act, they refused! It was MY profile, but suddenly they decided it was "Public Property!" and refused to delete it.
Of course the more Doctor accounts they have, the better their website will attract patients, the more ads they will get, and the higher the chance of making the doctors pay to get in the "spotlight" ...BUT they can't force a doctor to have his profile posted!. This infringes on the privacy and constitutional rights of doctors.
Please find attached screenshots of the emails exchanged with their staff, in which they flatly refused to delete my profile or stop accepting any reviews on my practice.
removed my review
I was not satisfied with the result so I left a negative review and RealSelf removed it.
Then I left another reviews and the same thing happened.
Let me start from the very beginning! Before I decided to use RealSelf I read the reviews and because there was only positive feedback I thought that they were reliable and professional company. But they were not. And when I tried to share my experience with others they simply removed everything. They leave only positive reviews or there is a huge possibility that all good reviews are written by them.
I want to warn everyone about RealSelf, they are highly unprofessional, horrible and unreliable! Avoid them!
covering up criminal doctors
(I have shared his post elsewhere hoping I can perhaps save someone's life since being blocked from RealSelf)
I continuously tried to warn other prospective patients about a doctor Gavin M. Dry, listed with high reviews who is a convicted drug addict and has killed a patient. RealSelf continuously deletes my posts. They contain no profanity, simply asking people to read this doctors convictions and listing them as I have below. DO NOT TRUST THIS SITE
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/kirkland-plastic-surgeon-agrees-pay-125000-settle-dea-drug-diversion-claims
http://komonews.com/archive/dr-still-practicing-after-writing-hundreds-of-fake-prescriptions
http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/FEATURE-NEWS/SEATTLE-AREA-TV-PERSONALITY-PLASTIC-SURGEON-AGREES-TO-PAY-FINE-TO-SETTLE-DEA-DRUG-DIVERSION-CLAIMS-1685500
http://kboi2.com/news/local/washington-state-takes-action-against-two-plastic-surgeons
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/1500/NewsReleases/2015/15-179-DisciplineNewsRelease.pdf
my review was deleted!
I had a very bad experience with RealSelf so I decided to leave a honest review to warn other people, but these scam artists deleted it right away! You'll see only positive feedback on their site, because they delete everything negative people post! That is not right! Many people get scammed and fooled because they think that RealSelf is a reliable company! When I contacted them and asked about my review they said it was not correct and that there were mistakes and etc.! Liars! They deleted it because there was truth about how dishonest and unprofessional they really are!
I'd like to hear a bit more about this. In particular the details of what you were posting and the resulting experience details.
scam site!
A couple of months ago, I posted a detailed review of a very bad doctor. It immediately attracted people who were considering the same doctor. Several weeks later the review was deleted and my account was banned. RealSelf customer service never contacted me and explained the reason. Only later I found out that the doctor I wrote the review about contacted them, and paid some money for deleting the review. Don't trust this website! There you will find only positive reviews, which are written by their employees. All the negative ones get deleted. What a scam site!
Hi the same thing happened to me! I had reviews with pictures and they banned my account and deleted my review! I am sure the dr paid them off. How did you get proof that the dr paid them off?
I'm curious if you have anything verifiable about the doctor making requests for the review to be removed and their compliance. If you do I'd love to here more. If not I'd still love to hear the path chain that led to this conclusion.
About RealSelf
RealSelf is a trusted source of information for those seeking to enhance their appearance, as it provides unbiased reviews and ratings from real patients who have undergone similar procedures. The platform also offers a Q&A section where users can ask questions and receive answers from medical professionals and other users who have undergone similar treatments.
One of the most significant advantages of RealSelf is that it allows users to connect with medical professionals in their area. This feature enables individuals to find the best cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists, and other specialists who can help them achieve their desired results. The platform also provides users with the opportunity to view before and after photos of real patients, giving them a realistic idea of what to expect from their chosen procedure.
RealSelf is an excellent resource for those who are considering cosmetic treatments, as it provides a wealth of information and resources to help them make informed decisions. The platform is easy to use, and its user-friendly interface makes it easy for individuals to navigate and find the information they need.
Overall, RealSelf is a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their appearance through cosmetic treatments. It provides a wealth of information, resources, and connections to medical professionals, making it an essential resource for those seeking to achieve their cosmetic goals.
Overview of RealSelf complaint handling
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Checked and verified by Nick This contact information is personally checked and verified by the ComplaintsBoard representative. Learn moreJun 13, 2024
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