Rhytidectomy: A Realself Social Media Analysis

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Patient-Reported Outcomes
• Social Media Analysis

Background:

• Social media platforms are increasingly used by patients to share satisfaction levels with cosmetic procedures.
• Limited research exists on patient-reported satisfaction specifically for rhytidectomy (facelift) surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient-reported satisfaction with rhytidectomy using online reviews.
• To identify key factors influencing patient decisions and satisfaction with facelift surgery.

Main Methods:

• Extracted data from 1876 rhytidectomy reviews on RealSelf from April 2017 to June 2019.
• Analyzed patient demographics, reasons for surgery, surgeon choice factors, and satisfaction scores ('Worth It' ratings).

Main Results:

• The majority of reviewers were females aged 60-69.
• Positive surgeon personality and effective consultation (addressing patient questions) were primary reasons for surgeon selection.
• Overall, 96.9% of patients found the rhytidectomy procedure 'Worth It.'
• Desired outcomes included a younger, fresher appearance, natural results, and increased confidence.

Conclusions:

• Rhytidectomy surgery demonstrates high patient satisfaction, consistent with existing literature.
• Patient choice of a facelift surgeon is significantly influenced by personality and emotional connection established during consultation.
• Negative outcomes were associated with scarring, temporary results, or unsatisfactory aesthetic results.