In today’s age of quickly changing technology, many patients are turning to their computers for quick information about medical diagnoses or cosmetic surgery procedures. The Internet is a vast source of information and includes videos, articles, blogs, questionnaires and more to help patients determine their medical diagnoses, understand treatment options and learn how to prevent a myriad of conditions. However, a very serious question must be answered. How accurate is all of this information?
Finding Quality Newport Beach Cosmetic Procedures
Several years ago, a study was published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal that looked at the amount and veracity of information on melanoma that could be found on YouTube. At that point, nearly 40% of patients reported that they researched their condition and treatment online. While the majority of videos that could be found were accurate and were put out by reputable sources, numerous videos were inaccurate and were put together by individuals who did not have the correct information on the disease. Of course, as the years have passed, even more patients turn to the Internet for their medical information.
One or two inaccurate posts online can have patients in an anxious mess, worried that they have a terrible, incurable condition. On the other hand, another post could downplay the symptoms that a patient is experiencing, leading to the patient not getting the treatment that he or she needs. While some doctors recommend strongly against online medical research, it seems that there is no way to stop this from happening at this point. Individuals must be very careful with their research.
Even more importantly, cosmetic surgery patients should set up an appointment with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, such as Dr. Tavoussi, to discuss their concerns or to learn more about their desired procedures. This will ensure that information is received first-hand and is accurate. Although many other physicians, including family practice doctors and OB/GYNs, are beginning to provide certain cosmetic procedures, their performance may be subpar because they do not have the same training and experience as cosmetic surgeons do.