Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
05:16
Sleeve Gastrectomy in Mice using Surgical Clips
Published on: November 14, 2020
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Plastic Surgery With GLP-1-Related Content on TikTok
Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Open Forum
|July 28, 2026
Summary
TikTok is a growing source for health information, especially concerning weight loss medications like GLP-1 agonists and plastic surgery. While content quality is improving, creators should prioritize accurate, evidence-based information for better patient understanding.
Area of Science:
- Social Media and Health Communication
- Medical Aesthetics and Weight Management
- Digital Health Information Dissemination
Background:
- Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, are increasingly utilized for health information exchange.
- The rise of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists has coincided with heightened public interest in plastic surgery.
- Analyzing the quality and characteristics of online health content is crucial for informed decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate TikTok content pertaining to medical weight loss medications and plastic surgery.
- To assess the quality of health information shared on TikTok regarding GLP-1 agonists and cosmetic procedures.
- To understand the impact of content creator type and video characteristics on information quality.
Main Methods:
- TikTok was searched using relevant keywords in November 2025.
- The top 50 videos from each search result were analyzed for statistics and characteristics.
- The DISCERN tool was employed to grade the quality of video content.
Main Results:
- 101 videos met inclusion criteria, garnering over 12 million views.
- Physicians were the predominant content creators (57.4%), followed by patients (23.8%).
- Educational videos demonstrated significantly higher DISCERN scores, particularly in explaining treatment mechanisms, benefits, and outcomes.
Conclusions:
- TikTok serves as a significant channel for disseminating health information, with improving content quality.
- While creator type influences content, educational videos focusing on treatment details show higher quality.
- Healthcare providers should leverage social media to share qualified information, promote shared decision-making, and discuss the holistic impact of treatments like GLP-1 medications and plastic surgery on quality of life.