Northwestern Doctors Propose Rules To Stop 'Circus-Like' Plastic Surgery Videos

CHICAGO, IL — Videos of plastic surgery being shared on various social media sites are getting out of of hand, according to doctors at Northwestern Medicine. The doctors have written the first code of ethical behavior for sharing plastic surgery on social media, published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal Thursday. In a media release, Northwestern Medicine said plastic surgeons have even gone so far as to put on costumes, dance, and even juggle breast implants during live surgery videos.

“This the first step in taking the circus tent down and developing ethical rules for making and sharing plastic surgery videos,” said Dr. Clark Schierle, a senior author of the new ethics code and a Northwestern Medicine plastic surgeon.

“There is increasingly vulgar content by a growing number of plastic surgeons that is not in the best interest of the patient.” (For more local news, subscribe to free email news alerts and a daily newsletter for your hometown Patch.)

Schierle said no official ASPS guidelines exist regarding video sharing on social media platforms, and the need is growing based on ethical concerns.

Some plastic surgeons have gained large followings on Snapchat and Instagram by broadcasting live surgery videos that include dressing in costumes, dancing, and flaunting removed body tissue. Schierle said a board-certified plastic surgeon in Miami was the first to post theatrical videos several years ago, and others have been copying him.

"[They] are jumping on this bandwagon, trying to replicate his success. The crazier, more obscene and edgy the better as far as grabbing attention on social media.”

Schierle said he saw an image of a plastic surgeon cradling an abdominal tummy tuck specimen in his arms, with a Snapchat filter of an “infant’s” face on it.

“This is inappropriate handling of human tissue for entertainment purposes,” he said.

The ethical conduct guidelines are based on respect for the autonomy of the patient, promoting what's best for the patient, doing them no harm, and justice. Related principles include disclosure and informed consent.

Finding the line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior isn’t easy, Schierle said.

“It’s like pornography. I know it when I see it, but how do I define it?”

Schierle said the surgeons are not filming the videos for educational purposes.

“It’s about notoriety. It’s about showing the most outrageous content to attract more viewers and build your business.”

Schierle explained the videos can also misrepresent the risks involved with undergoing a surgical procedure.

“When surgeons are dancing in the operating room, people may misperceive surgery as this lighthearted event,” said the ethics code's first author Robert Dorfman, a third-year medical student at Northwestern Medicine.

“Yet there are risks associated with going under the knife, such as infection, excessive bleeding or possibly blood clots. The videos may be giving some people false illusions of what surgery is actually like.”

The newly-proposed guidelines will be voted on at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting Friday.

Photo via Pixabay