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CONSUMER TRENDS REPORT

Trending Treatments
& How She Decides

No one deserves the latest consumer trends more than you, one of the most invested providers on RealSelf.

And no one knows the latest consumer trends more than us, the world’s largest aesthetic community.

So here’s your first inside look at what we’ve discovered recently about popular treatments and what influences your patients — and potential patients.

What's trending?

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What's trending?

With 10 million RealSelf visitors each month1, we uncover a lot about what consumers are interested in on a daily basis. This section of your Aesthetic Consumer Report reveals the:

Top surgical procedures (regional and national)

Top medaesthetic treatments (regional and national)

Treatments generating the most Q&As

Ready? Let’s dive in.

Top surgical treatments

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WHAT'S TRENDING?

Mommy makeover problem areas dominate the surgical top 10.

National

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

TOP 10 SURGICAL PROCEDURES BY CONSUMER ACTIVITY 2

Your Region*

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

Fastest growing surgical treatments

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*Includes your metro and surrounding area

For details on specific treatment types, see the About Our Data section

WHAT'S TRENDING?

Year over year, facelifts have grown 9% in popularity.

National

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING SURGICAL PROCEDURES 3

Your Region*

1

Breast Augmentation

2

Tummy Tuck

3

Rhinoplasty
  1. Breast Implants
  2. Brazilian Butt Lift
  3. Liposuction
  4. Eyelid Surgery
  5. Breast Reduction
  6. Mommy Makeover
  7. Facelift

Top minimally invasive treatments

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*Includes your metro and surrounding area

For details on specific treatment types, see the About Our Data section

WHAT'S TRENDING?

Whether freezing or heating away fat, lipolysis is big business.

National

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure
  2. Trending Procedure
  3. Trending Procedure
  4. Trending Procedure
  5. Trending Procedure
  6. Trending Procedure
  7. Trending Procedure

TOP 10 MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES BY CONSUMER ACTIVITY 4

Your Region*

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

Fastest growing minimally invasive treatments

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*Includes your metro and surrounding area

For details on specific treatment types, see the About Our Data section

WHAT'S TRENDING?

Year over year, microneedling (+80%) shows the most growth.

National

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

TOP 10 FASTEST GROWING MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURES 5

Your Region*

1

Trending Procedure

2

Trending Procedure

3

Trending Procedure
  1. Trending Procedure 4
  2. Trending Procedure 5
  3. Trending Procedure 6
  4. Trending Procedure 7
  5. Trending Procedure 8
  6. Trending Procedure 9
  7. Trending Procedure 10

Top “Ask A Doctor” treatments

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*Includes your metro and surrounding area

For details on specific treatment types, see the About Our Data section

WHAT'S TRENDING?

Consumers have “nose job” questions — do you have the answers?

TRENDING “ASK A DOCTOR” TREATMENTS 6

Rhinoplasty

34,403 Questions

Breast Augmentation

29,517 Questions

Tummy Tuck

27,685 Questions

Breast Implants

21,199 Questions

Brazilian Butt Lift

16,145 Questions

Eyelid Surgery

13,463 Questions

Liposuction

12,828 Questions

Breast Reduction

10,623 Questions

Breast Implant Revision

9,313 Questions

Braces

8,948 Questions

How she decides

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User avatar

“How do I minimize bruising from a rhinoplasty? I am considering a nose job, but am worried about bruising afterwards. Tips for reducing bruises are really helpful.” Ask A Doctor question

How she decides

Our data scientists analyzed survey responses from consumers actively shopping for treatments on RealSelf. Here’s what consumers say about their mindset during each stage of the patient experience:

1.

Starting her research on treatments

2.

Choosing a shortlist of providers

3.

Contacting providers for a consult

4.

Getting a consult and treatment

First up: why patient education needs to start before consumers contact you.

Consumers starting their research

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HOW SHE DECIDES

Consumer uncertainty can prolong initial research.

Uncertainty diminishes as consumers research which treatment to get.
However, 1 in 3 consumers are still unsure even after 3 months.

TREATMENT UNCERTAINTY OVER TIME 7

Why surgical takes longer

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User avatar

“I’ve considered breast implants since I was 18 but every time I get close I chicken out. The more I read, the more I become skeptical…I don’t want to make the wrong decision!” RealSelf review

HOW SHE DECIDES

With surgical, higher costs and risk cause hesitation.

While the financial aspect is the biggest barrier overall, more emotional
concerns increase the longer patients research a procedure.

TOP BARRIERS TO CHOOSING A TREATMENT VS RESEARCH DURATION 7

Shortlisting providers

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User avatar

“I want someone who will explain every detail of the procedures, including the how and why and the expected outcome for ME.” Survey response, RealSelf consumer

HOW SHE DECIDES

Reviews inspire trust far more than your credentials.

In fact, consumers see reviews as a far more accurate trust barometer than even board certifications.

HOW CONSUMERS DECIDE IF A PROVIDER IS TRUSTWORTHY 8

27%
Before & after
photos
68%
Reviews
15%
Board
certification

Reviews vs word of mouth

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HOW SHE DECIDES

Reviews are 3x more influential than recommendations.

As important as 1:1 word of mouth is, online reviews amplify the power of recommendations when consumers are deciding which providers to contact.

INFLUENCES WHEN CHOOSING WHOM TO CONTACT 9

17%
Personal
referrals
52%
Reviews

Travel: How far is too far?

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User avatar

“I start with research for an expert in the field, check their website, then rely on RealSelf for patient reviews. I don’t always trust the doctor’s website reviews.” Survey response, RealSelf consumer

HOW SHE DECIDES

For surgical, consumers are willing to travel.

45% of consumers want to stay close to home, yet nearly 30% are willing to travel 2 or more hours for the right surgical provider.

Contacting providers

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User avatar

“I’ve visited 3 local plastic surgeons. Still, I have seen nothing but great reviews for a doctor in a different state, and have decided to use him!” Survey response, RealSelf consumer

HOW SHE DECIDES

90% of consumers contact 3 or fewer providers.

Your potential patients don’t play the numbers game when they reach the contact phase. In fact, 4 out of 10 contact only one provider.

NUMBER OF PROVIDERS CONTACTED 11

10%

19%

28%

43%

Expected follow-up time and method

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User avatar

“[My doctor] was the first one I met with and there was no reason to meet with others. I knew right then he was the one I wanted to do my breast augmentation.” RealSelf review

HOW SHE DECIDES

Converting contacts starts with meeting their expectations.

Consumers have preferences for when and how you respond to their initial contact:
1 out of 3 expect a same-day reply, with email the preferred contact method.

PREFERRED RESPONSE METHOD 12

Email icon

49%

Email response

Phone icon

32%

Phone response

Message icon

8%

Text or instant message

Other icon

11%

No preference

Booking consults and treatments

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User avatar

“From my first inquiry, I felt like it was the place I needed. The patient coordinator called and emailed back right away. Another office I contacted took 3 days to respond.” RealSelf Review

HOW SHE DECIDES

Competition doesn’t stop at the consult phase.

In fact, a significant portion of consumers schedule a consult with multiple providers to compare experience, bedside manner, and more.

33% of consumers who’ve booked a consult also have one scheduled with a competitor14

Figure of a woman
Figure of a man
Figure of another woman

Sealing the deal

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User avatar

“I had consultations with 3 different surgeons before deciding. When I met him, he treated me with so much respect and I just knew he was right for me.” RealSelf review, StarJune

HOW SHE DECIDES

Reassurance during consults sets you apart from competitors.

Want to overcome consumer uncertainty and fear?

Answer questions and showcase your experience.

CHOOSING A PROVIDER POST-CONSULT 16

Breast augmentation

Tummy tuck

Facial plastic surgery

Facial injections

Made me feel comfortable

70%

63%

54%

54%

Experience or education

66%

70%

62%

46%

Gave detailed consult

66%

64%

62%

48%

Good team/staff

58%

48%

37%

33%

Reviews

57%

60%

47%

28%

Before and after photos

51%

53%

40%

13%

Fast response to consult inquiry

39%

45%

28%

28%

Recommendation or referral

32%

41%

34%

37%

Price

31%

43%

32%

18%

Location

24%

37%

20%

28%

Sealing the deal: Breast augmentation

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400ccs of bedside manner? Just what the doctor ordered.

Before & after photos get consumers in the door. But feeling at ease is what convinces breast aug consumers to schedule their surgery before they leave.

With tummy tucks, “the right figure” doesn’t mean low price.

Surprisingly, cost only ranks 8th for tummy tuck consumers. Meanwhile, your experience and thoroughly answering questions rank 1st and 2nd.

“Location, location, location”?
Not so much.

For facial plastic surgery consumers, giving a detailed consult and highlighting your education matter 3x more than your office location.

For facial fillers, photographic evidence doesn’t move the needle.

Pictures might be worth a thousand words, but before & after photos say little to facial injectables consumers coming in for a consult.

Go from insight to action with just one call.

Our data scientists are hard at work on your next Consumer Trends Report.

In the meantime, contact your dedicated RealSelf Advocate for actionable tips on this report, including:

Spotlighting in increasingly popular procedures.

Facelifts

+9% growth

Microneedling

+80% growth

(Micro)Dermabrasion

+43% growth

Answering trending “Ask a Doctor” questions.

Rhinoplasty

34,000+ questions

Breast augmentation

29,000+ questions

Tummy tuck

27,000 questions

Converting consumer attention into consults.

Reviews are 3x as influential as referrals.

42% of surgical patients will travel 2+ hours.

59% of contacts expect a follow-up within 24 hours.

Contact your RealSelf Advocate:
(206) 624-9357

ABOUT OUR DATA

We have the numbers — and now you do too.

Each month, 10 million consumers visit RealSelf to research and contact leading providers like you1. That leads to consumers interacting with reviews, photos, and Q&As more than 80 million times per month16. And our data scientists track and analyze it all.


We also frequently field surveys to consumers using RealSelf across the stages of research, contact, and consult. In fact, in 2017 we had more 15,000 completed surveys from consumers who contacted a provider through RealSelf. 17

CONSUMER TRENDS REPORT SOURCES:

  1. Google Analytics, March 2017.
  2. RealSelf site usage data, Q3-Q4 2017.
  3. RealSelf site usage data, Q3-Q4 2017 vs Q3-Q4 2016.
  4. RealSelf site usage data, Q3-Q4 2017.
  5. RealSelf site usage data, Q3-Q4 2017 vs Q3-Q4 2016.
  6. RealSelf site usage data, Q4 2017.
  7. RealSelf consumer survey data, Q1-Q2 2017.
  8. RealSelf consumer survey data, June 2016.
  9. RealSelf consumer survey data, July-August 2016.
  1. RealSelf consumer survey data, Q1 2017.
  2. RealSelf consumer survey data, March 2016.
  3. RealSelf consumer survey data, December 2017.
  4. RealSelf consumer survey data, March-April 2017.
  5. RealSelf consumer survey, June-October 2017.
  6. RealSelf consumer surveys, 2017.
  7. RealSelf internal data, June 2017.
  8. RealSelf internal data, February 2018.

ABOUT OUR DATA

How we define different surgical treatments.

Breast Augmentation/Lift: Breast Implants (including Eurosilicone, Ideal, Mentor, Nagor, Natrelle, Sientra, and Strattice), Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Breast Implant Revision, Breast Fat Transfer, Breast Lift with Implants.

Breast Reduction: Breast Reduction, Male Breast Reduction.

Butt Enhancement: Brazilian Butt Lift, Brazilian Butt Lift Revision, Butt Augmentation, Butt Implants, Butt Lift.

Cheek Surgery: Buccal Fat Removal, Cheek Augmentation.

Chin Enhancement: Chin Implant, Chin Surgery.

Ear Surgery: Ear Lobe Surgery, Ear Surgery.

Eyelid Surgery: Asian Eyelid Surgery, Eyelid Retraction Repair, Eyelid Surgery.

Facelift: Brow Lift, Cheek Lift, Contour Thread Lift, Deep Plane Facelift, Facelift (including Lift by Sono Bello, QuickLift, Silhouette Soft), Facelift Revision, Forehead Lift, Lower Face Lift, MACS Facelift, Mini Lift, Neck Lift, SMAS Facelift.

Lip Surgery: Lip Implants, Lip Lift, Lip Reduction, Lip Surgery.

Liposuction: Abdominal Etching, Chin Liposuction, Liposculpture, Liposuction (including SAFElipo), Liposuction Revision, Power-Assisted Liposuction, Tumescent Liposuction.

Rhinoplasty/Nose Surgery: African American Rhinoplasty, Asian Rhinoplasty, Nose Surgery, Revision Rhinoplasty, Rhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Sinus Surgery.

Surgical Vaginal Rejuvenation: Clitoral Hood Reduction, Labia Augmentation, Labiaplasty, Neovagina, Perineoplasty, Vaginal Rejuvenation, Vaginoplasty.

Tummy Tuck: Belly Button Surgery, Drainless Tummy Tuck, Male Tummy Tuck, Mini Tummy Tuck, Monsplasty, Panniculectomy, Tummy Tuck, Tummy Tuck Revision.

ABOUT OUR DATA

How we define different minimally invasive treatments.

Acne Treatment: Acne Scars Treatment, Accutane, Acne Surgery, Acne Treatment, Isolaz, Spironolactone For Acne, Tazorac.

Anti-Aging: PRP Injections, Vampire Facelift.

Beauty Treatments: Facial, Retin-A.

Chemical Peels: Blue Peel, Chemical Peel, Cosmelan, Glycolic Peel, Green Peel, Jessner Peel, Laser Peel, Phenol Peel, Salicylic Peel, SilkPeel, TCA Peel, Vi Peel.

Dermatology [General]: Age Spots Treatment, Birthmark Removal, Dermatology, Sun Damage.

Facial Lasers: Active FX, Affirm Laser, BroadBand Light, CO2 Laser, Clear & Brilliant, Coolaser, Deep FX, eMatrix, Excel V, Fractional Laser, Fraxel Laser, Fraxel Repair, Halo Laser, IPL, LED Skin Treatment, Laser Genesis, Laser Resurfacing, Laser Surgery, Laser Treatment, Lux 1540, MiXto Laser, Nordlys Hybrid System, Pearl Laser, Photodynamic Therapy, Photofacial, Pico Genesis, Pixel Laser, PrecisionTx, ProFractional Laser, Pulsed Dye Laser, ReFirme, ResurFX, Resurfacing Perfected, SmartXide, Smoothbeam Laser, ThermiSmooth, Total FX, Tria Age Defying Laser, V Beam, Venus Viva, Yag Laser.

Fillers: Aquamid, ArteFill, Bellafill, Belotero, Bio-Alcamid, Collagen Injection, Elevess, Ellanse, Evolence, Hyaluronidase, Injectable Fillers, Juvederm, Laviv, Liquid Facelift, Macrolane, Non Surgical Nose Job, Perfectha, Perlane, Prevelle, Radiesse, ReDexis, Restylane, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, Restylane Silk, Sculptra Aesthetic, Silicone Injection Removal, Silicone Injections, Silikon 1000, Teosyal, Volbella, Vollure, Voluma.

Hair Removal: Electrolysis, GentleLase, Laser Hair Removal, Lightsheer Laser.

Hair Restoration: Artas Robotic Hair Transplant, Eyebrow Transplant, FUE Hair Transplant, Hair Loss Treatment, Hair Transplant, NeoGraft, PRP for Hair Loss, Scalp Micropigmentation.

(Micro)Dermabrasion: Dermabrasion, HydraFacial, Microdermabrasion.

Microneedling: Cosmetic Acupuncture, Dermapen, Infini RF, Intracel, Microneedling, Rejuvapen, Vivace.

Non-Surgical Fat Reduction: Aqualyx, Body Jet, Cool Lipo, CoolMini, CoolSculpting, Exilis, HydraSolve, i-Lipo, Kybella, Laser Liposuction, LipoZap, Lipodissolve, Liposonix, Lipotherme, Mesotherapy, SculpSure, Slim Lipo, Smart Lipo, SmartLipo MPX, truSculpt 3D, UltraShape, UltraShape Power, Vanquish, Vaser Liposuction, Venus Freeze, Zerona.

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening: AccuLift, FaceTite, Fractora RF, Non-Surgical Face Lift, Non-Surgical Neck Lift, Pelleve, Portrait, Profound RF, Radiage, Skin Tightening, Skintyte, Thermage, ThermiTight, Titan, TriPollar, Ultherapy.

Scar Treatment: Scar Removal, Scars Treatment.

Skin Pigmentation Treatment: Hyperpigmentation, Hypopigmentation, Melasma Treatment, Vitiligo.

Tattoo Removal: Enlighten, PicoSure. PicoWay, Tattoo Removal.

Toxins: Botox, Botox for Migraines, Dysport, Xeomin.

Vein Treatment: Asclera, ClariVein, Sclerotherapy, Varithena, Vein Treatment, VenaSeal.

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