![]() | |
Type of business | Private |
---|---|
Type of site | Review Site |
Founded | 2006 |
Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
CEO | Minou Clark |
Key people |
|
Industry | Beauty |
Services | Health information services |
Employees | 46 (January 2025) |
URL | realself.com |
Registration | Optional |
Current status | Active |
RealSelf is an American healthcare marketplace where consumers research aesthetic treatments and connect with physicians. The website primarily targets plastic surgery, dermatology and minimally-invasive treatments. There are 30,000 registered doctors and practices. The site has more than 2 million reviews and had 94 million visitors in 2017. [1] RealSelf’s website has been compared in the media to Yelp, [2] Avvo, [3] and TripAdvisor [4] due to its emphasis on user-generated content and connecting consumers to businesses through its marketplace. [5]
RealSelf was founded in 2006 by Tom Seery, a former executive at Expedia. Seery told Geekwire he noticed a gap in the market where consumers could find quality information about travel-related businesses but minimal, "one-sided marketing" about expensive medical procedures. [6]
RealSelf was initially self-funded by Seery. In 2008, the company raised close to $2 million in funding from angel investors, including Rich Barton. [7] RealSelf was one of Inc. 500's fastest growing private companies from 2012–2015, peaking at #306. [8] Traffic rose 270% from 2013 to 2019. [9]
In 2018, the company raised $40 million in Series C funding from Elephant. [10] [11]
RealSelf.com is a website where viewers can review treatments and find a plastic surgeon or an aesthetics physician to perform procedures. [12] RealSelf also covers topics in dermatology, dentistry, and even LASIK. The site features reviews, real patient before & after photos, forums, editorial content, consumer questions, and answers. Treatments are rated "Worth It", "Not Worth It", with an option to talk about their experience.
Consumers post reviews, photos, and questions in a discussion format, and also post questions to providers. RealSelf also hosts a directory of doctors organized by specialty, the treatment offered, and location. Consumers can contact doctors through the site, who sometimes have special offers available. RealSelf also has an iOS app.
The site has over 2 million reviews of doctors and treatments. [13]
RealSelf operates on a commercial model and allows doctors with active, valid medical licenses to have a profile. Physicians must meet RealSelf's standards for board certification to claim a profile.
The American Board of Medical Specialties and its member boards are the agencies that award board certification once a doctor has completed a residency for a specialty or fellowship for a sub-specialty. [14] Board certification does not mean the doctor has completed any plastic surgery training, [15] but RealSelf lists each provider's official specialty and board certifications on their profile.
Doctors and practices (including plastic surgery centers, med spas, dermatology offices, and cosmetic dentistry practices) publicize their services through their profile, which aggregates their before and after photos, patient reviews, and answers to consumer questions. Doctors and practices can pay for targeted exposure through ads, which are labeled as "Sponsored." [16]
All doctors with RealSelf profiles have access to free dispute resolution when they think a review violates the review guidelines. Doctors cannot pay to alter or remove consumer reviews. [17]
In September 2024, RealSelf announced the hiring of its first female CEO, Minou Clark, who will oversee its global operations.
RealSelf's founder, Tom Seery, still serves as Executive Chairman. Seery is a frequent speaker at conferences, including meetings of the Aesthetic and Anti-aging Medicine World Congress, [18] the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, IMCAS World Congress [19] and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. [20] He is also on the advisory board of Buerck Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington. [21]
Board members include Andrew Hunt, founder of Warby Parker and Elephant; and Mike Slade of Second Avenue Partners, Judy Verses of Wiley & Sons, Lizette Williams of Facebook. [22]
RealSelf is a two-sided marketplace that is free for consumers. Registration is required to submit content. Medical professionals are only required to have a medical license to claim a free profile and can self-verify their qualifications and experience. Profiles can be upgraded via a paid membership. Medical professionals cannot achieve "Verified" status without prior payment to RealSelf.com. They may also buy advertising that appears on the site. All professionals on RealSelf must meet participation guidelines before they can be listed. [23] They can only buy ads and post content in specialties where they hold qualifications. [24] RealSelf refer to their doctors as "cosmetic doctors" as they may only have a medical license and are not recognized as plastic surgeons or any type of board-certified surgeon.
All reviews, questions and forums undergo moderation before they are posted. RealSelf does not allow doctors to remove consumer reviews. [25] RealSelf does not publicize their moderation algorithm. [26] Other review websites, such as Yelp and TripAdvisor, also do not publish their moderation algorithm, with Yelp stating to the Irish Times that "we don't disclose precise details about the recommendation software to prevent people from gaming the system." [27]
RealSelf is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. [28] The company has won workplace awards from Entrepreneur, [29] Glassdoor, [30] Puget Sound Business Journal, [31] Geekwire and Seattle Business Magazine. [32]
RealSelf releases a yearly Most Worth It list of procedures, RealSelf Hall of Fame, RealSelf 100 and RealSelf 500 awards for doctors. [33] The awards are free and are based on ratings from consumers.
RealSelf sponsors medical relief to Dehradun, India as part of their “Beyond Scars” partnership with ReSurge International. [34] The trips primarily work to provide plastic and reconstructive work to burn patients, which affect 6-7M people in India annually. [35] RealSelf employees have also volunteered at Camp Karma in India.
Obstetrics and gynaecology is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics and gynaecology. The specialization is an important part of care for women's health.
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin. It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medical doctor who manages diseases related to skin, hair, nails, and some cosmetic problems.
A general practitioner (GP) or family physician is a doctor who is a consultant in general practice.
A podiatrist is a medical professional devoted to the treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and related structures of the leg. The term originated in North America but has now become the accepted term in the English-speaking world for all practitioners of podiatric medicine. The word chiropodist was previously used in the United States, but it is now regarded as antiquated.
Podiatry, or podiatric medicine and surgery, is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle and lower limb. The healthcare professional is known as a podiatrist. The US podiatric medical school curriculum includes lower extremity anatomy, general human anatomy, physiology, general medicine, physical assessment, biochemistry, neurobiology, pathophysiology, genetics and embryology, microbiology, histology, pharmacology, women's health, physical rehabilitation, sports medicine, research, ethics and jurisprudence, biomechanics, general principles of orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and foot and ankle surgery.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a surgical specialty focusing on reconstructive surgery of the face, facial trauma surgery, the mouth, head and neck, and jaws, as well as facial plastic surgery including cleft lip and cleft palate surgery.
Family medicine is a medical specialty within primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages, genders, diseases, and parts of the body. The specialist, who is usually a primary care physician, is named a family physician. It is often referred to as general practice and a practitioner as a general practitioner. Historically, their role was once performed by any doctor with qualifications from a medical school and who works in the community. However, since the 1950s, family medicine / general practice has become a specialty in its own right, with specific training requirements tailored to each country. The names of the specialty emphasize its holistic nature and/or its roots in the family. It is based on knowledge of the patient in the context of the family and the community, focusing on disease prevention and health promotion. According to the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA), the aim of family medicine is "promoting personal, comprehensive and continuing care for the individual in the context of the family and the community". The issues of values underlying this practice are usually known as primary care ethics.
A medical specialty is a branch of medical practice that is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy. Examples include those branches of medicine that deal exclusively with children (pediatrics), cancer (oncology), laboratory medicine (pathology), or primary care. After completing medical school or other basic training, physicians or surgeons and other clinicians usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple-year residency to become a specialist.
Allergan, Inc. was an American global pharmaceutical company focused on eye care, neurosciences, medical dermatology, medical aesthetics, breast enhancement, obesity intervention and urologics. Allergan, Inc. was formed in 1948, incorporated in 1950 and became a public company in 1970. It ceased operation in 2015 when it was acquired by Irish-based Actavis plc, who then renamed the group as Allergan plc.
Hand surgery deals with both surgical and non-surgical treatment of conditions and problems that may take place in the hand or upper extremity including injury and infection. Hand surgery may be practiced by post graduates of orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery and MCh Hand surgery.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a non-profit organization established in 1933 which represents 24 broad areas of specialty medicine. ABMS is the largest and most widely recognized physician-led specialty certification organization in the United States. The other certification organizations in the United States are the American Board of Physician Specialties and American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the official certifying body for the American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS) is a non-profit umbrella organization for sixteen medical specialty boards that certifies and re-certifies physicians in fourteen medical specialties in the United States and Canada. It is one of three certifying bodies in the United States in addition to the American Board of Medical Specialties, and American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. The ABPS oversees Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) certification in the United States. The ABPS assists its Member Boards in developing and implementing educational and professional standards to evaluate and certify physician specialists. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Robert Kotler, M.D. FACS, born in 1942, is an American ear, nose, and throat surgeon. He has performed more than 10,000 major cosmetic procedures, with over 40 years in private practice, and was a featured surgeon in the first season of the E! cosmetic surgery series Dr. 90210.
The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) is a voluntary association founded to unite licensed physicians who practice aesthetic medicine, by assisting in their professional and personal development.
The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) was established in 1929 as the Contractors License Bureau under the Department of Professional and Vocational Standards. Today it is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA).
Healthgrades Marketplace, LLC, known as Healthgrades, is a US company that provides information about physicians, hospitals, and healthcare providers. Healthgrades is part of RVO Health, a partnership between Red Ventures and Optum, part of UnitedHealth Group. Healthgrades has amassed information on over three million U.S. health care providers. The company was founded by Kerry Hicks, David Hicks, Peter Fatianow, John Neal, and Sarah Lochran, and is based in Denver, Colorado. Jeff Hallock serves as RVO Health's CEO. According to USA Today, Healthgrades is the first comprehensive physician rating and comparison database. The application is part of a trend in health technology in the United States towards consumer-driven healthcare.
The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) who specialize in the use of surgery to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease (surgeons). The board is one 18 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). As of 2011, 1,279 osteopathic physicians held active certification with the AOBS. The AOBS is one of two certifying boards for surgeons in the United States; the other certifying board is the American Board of Surgery of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Fellows of the AOBS are eligible for full membership in major U.S. surgical societies such as the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Board certified surgeons of the AOBS are also eligible for membership in the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery.
The American Osteopathic Boards of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AOBOO) is a joint organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of the eye (ophthalmologists) and to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, and throat (otolaryngologists). The boards belong to the 18 medical specialty certifying boards approved by the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association. As of December 2011, 736 osteopathic ophthalmologists and otolaryngologists held active certification with the AOBOO.
Allergan plc is an American, Irish-domiciled pharmaceutical company that acquires, develops, manufactures and markets brand name drugs and medical devices in the areas of medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system, and gastroenterology. The company is the maker of Botox.
Dr. Rashmi Shetty is an Indian board certified dermatologist, teacher, author, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in aesthetic and clinical dermatology. She is known for her transformative yet subtle results with facial enhancement procedures and is a pioneer in bringing injectables and laser technologies to India.