Inside Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology Discussions

Visit Medical Spa MD's lively physician community forums and you'll step into an brouhaha that's more than just infrequent in plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology discussions, it's unheard of.

Frustrated by what many cosmetic dermatologists see as an incomprehensible and infuriating lack of support from cosmetic laser and IPL companies, they've taken their anger public in a kind of free-for-all tongue-lashing that you don't usually see from plastic surgeons where 'names are named' and fingers are pointed directly at identified individuals that are running prominent laser and IPL manufacturing 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 dermatologists that are acting as luminaries and educators. It's as though the physicians 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 plastic surgeons from hidden reprisals.

The web sites hosting these cosmetic 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 site's number of nasty-grams", says the editor of Medical Spa MD, "but to censor public discourse is not what we're about. The plastic surgeons on the site are responsible for what they post directly and stating their opinion 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 cosmetic surgeons 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 plastic surgeons 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 money. Many plastic surgeons who are opening new cosmetic clinics and looking for new IPL and laser technology are finding their way into these forums, asking their more experienced peers for advice. IPL and laser manufacturers who aren't involved can't expect to win the propaganda wars.

Medical Spa MD is a community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 3,500 physician members. Medical Spa MD offers laser clinic training and provides information on non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.