In the first study to evaluate YouTube videos on facial plastic surgery procedures, scientists have found that most are misleading marketing campaigns posted by non-qualified medical professionals.
The people who turn to YouTube as a source for education on facial plastic surgery receive a false understanding that does not include the risks or alternative options, said lead author Boris Paskhover, an assistant professor at Rutgers University. “Videos on facial plastic surgery may be marketing campaigns and may not fully be intended as educational,” he added.
Researchers evaluated 240 top-viewed videos with 160 million views.
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They evaluated the videos using DISCERN criteria, a scale for assessing the quality of medical information presented online or in other media, which takes into account risks, a discussion of non-surgical options and the validity of the information presented.
Majority of videos did not include professionals qualified in the procedures portrayed, including 94 videos with no medical professional at all.