#PlasticSurgery: A Comparative Deep Dive Analysis into Social Media and Plastic Surgery

Area of Science:

• Plastic surgery
• Social media analysis
• Digital communication

Background:

• Social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter are increasingly used for plastic surgery content.
• Previous research has focused heavily on Twitter, with limited comparative analysis of Instagram.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively and qualitatively compare plastic surgery content on Instagram and Twitter.
• To evaluate differences in post volume, engagement, and content characteristics between the two platforms.

Main Methods:

• Systematic querying of the #PlasticSurgery hashtag on Twitter and Instagram for 30 days.
• Analysis of account type, media content, patient identification, content themes, and post engagement.

Main Results:

• Instagram had higher post volume and engagement than Twitter.
• Plastic surgeons and clinics dominated both platforms.
• Instagram featured more patient-identifying information and promotional content, whereas Twitter posts were primarily educational.

Conclusions:

• Understanding platform-specific content strategies is crucial for physicians utilizing social media in plastic surgery.
• This study reveals key differences in how plastic surgery is presented on Instagram versus Twitter.