Visit Medical Spa MD's plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology forums and you'll step into an unlikely brouhaha that's more than just uncommon in cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery circles, it's unheard of.
Growing increasingly frustrated by what physicians see as an manufactured silence and infuriating lack of clinical support from cosmetic laser and IPL companies, doctors have taken their anger public in a kind of free-for-all dog pile that you don't usually see from cosmetic surgeons. A publicly viewed outing where 'names are named' and fingers are pointed directly at the management teams of cosmetic laser and IPL companies.
In a few cases strings of emails have been published that detail conversations (or lack thereof) that have taken place, publicly embarrassing executives and even fellow cosmetic surgeons that are acting as luminaries and educators. It's as though the cosmetic dermatologists have decided to take the gloves off and play hard ball really hard ball.
Of course there's still some pragmatism and horse sense left. Most of the cosmetic dermatologists comments that are left are made anonymously and the forums that host these discussions generally try to protect the cosmetic dermatologists from hidden reprisals.
The web sites hosting these plastic surgeons forums have some headaches of their own. Medical Spa MD, the most prominent forum for physicians in cosmetic medicine, has been served with a substantial number of letters and threats from lawyers for daring to make these forum discussions public.
"We've received more than the usual web site's number of nasty-grams", says the publisher of Medical Spa MD, "but to censor public discourse between physicians is not what we're about. The plastic surgeons on the site are responsible for what they post directly and commenting that they're not receiving sufficient support is just that, their opinion."
The issues are tangled by the types of support answers that the most vocal physicians are demanding, leaving the IPL and laser companies in the uncomfortable position of seeming to be alienating their physicians as customers, or providing information for treatments that could easily be considered off-label use by the FDA, opening them up to potentially hazardous liability claims from patients and the very cosmetic dermatologists who are demanding the answers.
The problems are not likely to go away. Information that's spread publicly on the web has a long shelf life and it's obvious that technology companies are beginning to take notice. In some cases laser companies have actively joined in the discussion forums and are proactively addressing concerns of doctors as soon as they're posted, leaving a lasting impression of proactive customer support. These tactics seem to be working. IPL and laser manufactures who are active on the forums have a much lower incidence of negative comments.
In the end it will come down to market demands. Many cosmetic surgeons who are opening new cosmetic medical clinics and investigating IPL and laser technology are finding their way into these forums and asking their more experienced peers for advice. IPL and laser manufacturers who aren't part of the discussion can't expect to win the propaganda wars.
About the Author:
Medical Spa MD is a physician community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with 2,000+ physician members. Medical Spa MD hosts Forums for Plastic Surgeons & Cosmetic Dermatologists and provides information on non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.
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