Don’t Be Fooled by Photography Shenanigans

During a recent international plastic surgery conference in New York City there was an extensive lecture on how common it is for pre- and post-op photos to be falsified in one way or another. These are the photographs on surgeons’ websites and in print ads. It is unfortunate, but with the advent of digital photography and the ability to use Photoshop, it is not too surprising that this sort of sleight of hand is occurring.

In some cases, the lack of standardization between the pre- and post-operative photos is inadvertent. In some practices, various employees are assigned to take photos and there is no standardization between photographers. Some surgeons do not invest in proper lighting or equipment, and are thus unable to provide high-quality photographs. On the other hand, there are some unscrupulous practitioners who purposely alter their photos so that the post-operative results appear better than they are in reality. This can be done by altering the amount of flash that is used or the shutter speed of the camera.  The most offensive practice is using photos from other sources, showcasing procedures that the surgeon does, but the pictures shown are not their actual patients.

Patient positioning can also be used to fool the unsuspecting. A type of facelift that is heavily marketed on television, radio, and print ads by a large corporation has been successfully prosecuted by the attorneys general in both New York and Florida for this type of malfeasance. In the pre-op photos, the patient’s chin is always slightly retruded and down. The patient is never smiling. In the post-op photos, the patients are smiling, with their chins forward and slightly upwardly tilted, all of which improve the appearance of the patient. You may also notice pre- and post-op tummy tuck patients forcibly protruding their abdomens in the pre-op and inhaling deeply in the post-op photo, creating a much flatter mid-section.

There are too many examples of these shenanigans to list in one article. As always, do your homework and cast a critical eye at the pre- and post-operative photographs. It will serve you well in the long run. If the results look too good to be true, they probably are.

Patti Flint, M.D., P.C. is a board certified plastic surgeon that strives to ensure that all of her patients are thoroughly educated about the plastic surgery procedures they desire so that they can make a confident, well-informed decision. She is a devoted and experienced professional whose focus is to help her clients feel more beautiful and confident by delivering natural results. Learn more about Dr. Flint and read our reviews. 

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