Visit Medical Spa MD's plastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology forums and you'll step into an unlikely brouhaha that's more than just uncommon in cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery circles, it's unheard of.
Frustrated by what many cosmetic surgeons see as an incomprehensible and infuriating lack of support from cosmetic laser and IPL companies, they've taken their anger public in a kind of free-for-all tongue-lashing that you don't usually see from cosmetic dermatologists where 'names are named' and fingers are pointed directly at identified individuals that are running prominent laser and IPL manufacturing companies.
In a few cases strings of emails have been published that detail conversations (or lack thereof) that have taken place, publicly embarrassing executives and even fellow cosmetic dermatologists that are acting as luminaries and educators. It's as though the physicians have decided to take the gloves off and play hard ball really hard ball.
There's still some common sense left. Most of the physicians comments are made anonymously and the medical discussion forums that host these discussions protect the plastic surgeons who wish to remain under some level of secrecy.
The sites hosting these physicians forums have had some public headaches of their own. Medical Spa MD, the webs most prominent forum for physicians in cosmetic medicine has been served with letters and threats from lawyers for daring to make these forum discussions public. So far it hasn't worked.
"We've received more than the usual site's number of nasty-grams", says the editor of Medical Spa MD, "but to censor public discourse is not what we're about. The plastic surgeons on the site are responsible for what they post directly and stating their opinion that they're not receiving sufficient support is just that, their opinion."
The issues are tangled by the types of support answers that the most vocal cosmetic dermatologists are demanding, leaving the IPL and laser companies in the uncomfortable position of seeming to be alienating their cosmetic surgeons as customers, or providing information for treatments that could easily be considered off-label use by the FDA, opening them up to potentially hazardous liability claims from patients and the very cosmetic surgeons who are demanding the answers.
The topic is not likely to die down anytime soon. Information that's disseminated on the web has a long life and it's obvious that technology companies are taking notice. In some cases they've actively joined in the discussion forums and proactively address concerns of individuals as soon as they're posted, leaving an impression of active customer support. These tactics seem to be working as the IPL and laser manufactures who are active have a much lower incidence of negative comments from cosmetic surgeons who see their calls for support go unheeded.
In the end it will come down to money. Many plastic surgeons who are opening new cosmetic clinics and looking for new IPL and laser technology are finding their way into these forums, asking their more experienced peers for advice. IPL and laser manufacturers who aren't involved can't expect to win the propaganda wars. - 15437
About the Author:
Medical Spa MD is a physician community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 2,000 physician members. Medical Spa MD hosts Forums for Plastic Surgeons & Cosmetic Dermatologists and provides information on non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.
