Unfortunately, this generation has developed into one that yearns for instant gratification. This potentially becomes dangerous when we enter the medical realm. Often people look to WebMD and other 'medical expert' sites in order to skip out on a doctors' visit. Specifically on the topic of plastic surgery, plastic surgeons are concerned for their patients because they are looking at 'Youtubers' that have no credentials for insight or come to a consultation with unrealistic expectations as a result of social media. Thus the battle between a doctorate degree and social media influencers.

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A study done in Sweden ‘…to compare the views held by patients and surgeons, towards social media and other internet resources, in relation to one commonly performed operation.’  Aesthetic breast augmentation was highlighted and over 600 patients that had looked into the surgery in the last year were given a questionnaire. Over 130 plastic surgeons were also given an alternate questionnaire

 

91.4% of the patients that took the questionnaire reported that they had searched online about the surgery

61.4% of patients looked for specific groups to confide in regarding the surgery

88.9% searched for pictures to look at the post-op results and 73.4% looked for adverse reviews on the surgeon they were looking into for the procedure

52.5% of the surgeons agreed that the internet has had a noticeable impact on their consultations. 81% of the surgeons

reported that social media has had an effect on their practice. 

 

Social media is imprinting an irreversible footprint on the way we interact with healthcare. It's important that we find reputable sources in anything we research because we have so much readily available to us.