Facebook, Twitter Connect Plastic Surgeons To Patients

Facebook, Twitter and other social networks have given surgeons an easy way to reach the public. Find out more on this week’s Plastic Surgery News.

Plastic surgeons across America are making more and more use of social networking. Venues such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are giving surgeons a new way to educate the public. They have the opportunity to make people more familiar with certain surgical procedures and less afraid of them.

For example, Dr. Donna Martin of South Beach Dermatology said she now uses Twitter to share information about skin conditions and skin-related products on the market. Or, a doctor could post a web cast of an operation while still keeping the patient’s identity private.

And, Facebook could make it easier for doctors to generate a large group of potential patients. Of course, not all surgeons advocate this. Dr. Erika Schwartz of Cinergy Health said using social networking is an example of a method that is unacceptable if it doesn’t directly serve the patient.

So, whether or not social networking is good for the world of plastic surgery will depend on which surgeon.