Reality TV seals deal for cosmetic surgery patients
A small study by researchers at Yale, the first to examine the effect of plastic surgery reality shows on decision-making by patients, suggests the shows influence the decision to undergo cosmetic procedures.
To determine whether shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "Dr. 90210" affect patient behavior, researchers polled 42 first-time patients who sought a consultation at Yale's plastic surgery clinic about how often they watched such shows, which have proliferated in recent years.
Plastic surgeon John Persing and his colleagues found that 57 percent of patients, whose average age was 36, regularly watched one or more reality shows; only 12 percent said they had never seen one.
These frequent viewers cited the TV shows as a significant factor in their decision to consult a surgeon, and were more knowledgeable about procedures than those who said they rarely or never watched the programs. The only area in which there was little difference in patient knowledge was cost, which is rarely addressed on many shows.
Ethnic and racial differences emerged as well, Persing and his colleagues found. About 75 percent of Hispanics, who accounted for roughly a third of those surveyed, said they were frequent viewers, as were 70 percent of blacks, who accounted for a quarter of those polled. By comparison, only 36 percent of whites, who made up 33 percent of the group, said they often watched the shows. Nearly all were female.
The study did not establish causality -- whether viewing the reality shows frequently made one more likely to undergo surgery. The study appears in the July issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.