RealSelf

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.{{cite web |last1=Stiffler |first1=Lisa |title=Working Geek: To botox or not to botox? RealSelf's Tom Seery helps consumers find their answer |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/working-geek-botox-not-botox-realselfs-tom-seery-helps-consumers-find-answer/ |website=Geekwire |date=3 January 2019 |publisher=Geekwire, LLC |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

RealSelf was initially self-funded by Seery. In 2008, the company raised close to $2 million in funding from angel investors, including Rich Barton.{{cite web |last1=Lerman |first1=Rachel |title=RealSelf raises $40 million for online plastic surgery review site |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/realself-raises-40-million-for-online-plastic-surgery-review-site/ |website=Seattle Times |date=19 April 2018 |accessdate=31 May 2019}} RealSelf was one of Inc. 500's fastest growing private companies from 2012–2015, peaking at #306.{{cite web |title=RealSelf |url=https://www.inc.com/profile/realself |website=Inc. |publisher=Manuseto Ventures |accessdate=31 May 2019}} Traffic rose 270% from 2013 to 2019.{{cite web |last1=Rao |first1=Priya |title=How brands are using editorial content to take the stigma out of beauty procedures |url=https://www.glossy.co/new-face-of-beauty/how-brands-are-using-editorial-content-to-take-the-stigma-out-of-beauty-procedures |website=Glossy |date=30 October 2018 |publisher=Digiday Media |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

In 2018, the company raised $40 million in Series C funding from Elephant.{{cite web |last1=Soper |first1=Taylor |title=After 10 years, RealSelf raises $40M to 'hit the gas' and take cosmetic treatment review platform global |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/12-years-realself-raises-40m-hit-gas-take-cosmetic-treatment-review-platform-global/ |website=Geekwire |date=19 April 2018 |publisher=Geekwire, LLC |accessdate=31 May 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/52631-29 |title=RealSelf |website=PitchBook |publisher=PitchBook Data |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

RealSelf.com is a website where viewers can review treatments and find a plastic surgeon or an aesthetics physician to perform procedures.{{cite web|last1=Griffith|first1=Erin|title=Meet RealSelf: the profitable, under-the-radar pla|url=http://pando.com/2013/01/23/realself-makes-plastic-surgery-transparent/|website=Pando.com}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Soper |first1=Taylor |title=RealSelf CTO and product leader to depart, following earlier layoffs in January |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/realself-cto-product-leader-depart-following-earlier-layoffs-january/ |website=Geekwire |date=8 March 2019 |publisher=Geekwire, LLC |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

RealSelf operates on a commercial model and allows doctors with active, valid medical licenses to have a profile. Physicians must meet RealSelf's [https://www.realself.com/company/standards 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.url=https://www.abms.org/board-certification/ What is ABMS Board Certification? Board certification does not mean the doctor has completed any plastic surgery training,https://www.abms.org/member-boards/specialty-subspecialty-certificates/ Specialty and Subspecialty Certificates 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."{{cite web |last1=Soper |first1=Taylor |title=RealSelf cuts 14% of staff, blames Google search algorithm change for slowing traffic |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2019/realself-cuts-14-staff-blames-google-search-algorithm-change-slowing-traffic/ |website=Geekwire |date=22 January 2019 |publisher=Geekwire, LLC |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

All doctors with RealSelf profiles have access to free dispute resolution when they think a review violates the [https://www.realself.com/community-guidelines#ReviewGuidelines review guidelines]. Doctors cannot pay to alter or remove consumer reviews.{{cite web |title=Does RealSelf Moderate Content? |url=https://help.realself.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005666326-Does-RealSelf-Moderate-Content- |website=RealSelf Support |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

In September 2024, RealSelf announced the hiring of its [https://www.adweek.com/media/realself-minou-clark-ceo/ 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,{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Nat |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About RealSelf CEO Tom Seery |url=https://moneyinc.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-realself-ceo-tom-seery/ |website=Money, Inc. |date=26 April 2018 |accessdate=31 May 2019}} the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, IMCAS World Congress{{cite web |title=IMCAS World Congress Speaker List |url=https://www.imcas.com/en/exhibit/imcas-world-congress-2016/speakers |website=IMCAS |publisher=International Master Course on Aging Science |accessdate=31 May 2019}} and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.{{cite web |title=WPS Enrichment Retreat 2017 |url=https://www.plasticsurgery.org/for-medical-professionals/community/women-plastic-surgeons-forum/wps-retreat-2017 |website=American Society of Plastic Surgeons |accessdate=31 May 2019}} He is also on the advisory board of Buerck Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington.{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Nat |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About RealSelf CEO Tom Seery |url=https://moneyinc.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-realself-ceo-tom-seery/ |website=Money, Inc. |date=26 April 2018 |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://getkite.co/companies/realself/team |website=KITE |title=RealSelf |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

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.{{cite web |title=Healthcare Professional Listing Criteria |url=https://www.realself.com/professionals/policies/criteria |website=RealSelf |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} They can only buy ads and post content in specialties where they hold qualifications.{{cite web |title=RealSelf Standards for Doctors & Other Providers |url=https://atwork.realself.com/realself-doctor-standards/ |website=RealSelf |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=Making Smart Choices |url=https://atwork.realself.com/members/ |website=RealSelf |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} RealSelf does not publicize their moderation algorithm.{{cite web |title=Does RealSelf Moderate Content? |url=https://help.realself.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005666326-Does-RealSelf-Moderate-Content- |website=RealSelf Support |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} 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."{{cite web |last1=Boran |first1=Marie |title=Online reviews: what you read isn't always what you get |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/online-reviews-what-you-read-isn-t-always-what-you-get-1.2868035 |website=Irish Times |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

RealSelf is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.{{cite web |title=RealSelf, Inc. |url=https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/seattle/profile/health-care-referral/real-self-inc-1296-22674843 |website=Better Business Bureau |publisher=BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} The company has won workplace awards from Entrepreneur,{{cite web |title=Large-Sized Companies: The Best Company Cultures in 2017 |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/289225 |website=Entrepreneur |accessdate=31 May 2019}} Glassdoor,{{cite web |title=Best Small and Medium Companies to Work For 2017 |url=https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/Best-Small-and-Medium-Companies-to-Work-For-2017-LST_KQ0,48.htm |website=Glassdoor |publisher=Glassdoor, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} Puget Sound Business Journal,{{cite web |last1=Monk |first1=Becky |title=Washington's Best Workplaces with 250-plus workers make culture a priority |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2016/06/16/washingtons-best-workplaces-with-250-plus-workers.html |website=Puget Sound Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals |accessdate=31 May 2019}} Geekwire and Seattle Business Magazine.{{cite web |last1=Lind |first1=Treva |title=100 Best Companies to Work For Snapshot: RealSelf |url=https://www.seattlebusinessmag.com/100-best-companies-work-snapshot-realself |website=Seattle Business |date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Tiger Oak Media |accessdate=31 May 2019}}

RealSelf releases a yearly Most Worth It list of procedures, RealSelf Hall of Fame, RealSelf 100 and RealSelf 500 awards for doctors.{{cite web |title=The RealSelf 100 & 500 Hall of Fame |url=https://www.realself.com/halloffame |website=RealSelf |publisher=RealSelf, Inc. |accessdate=31 May 2019}} 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.{{cite web |title=RealSelf to launch Beyond Scars to address India's burn epidemic |url=http://www.cosmedicindia.com/realself-to-launch-beyond-scars-to-address-indias-burn-epidemic/ |website=Cosmedic India |accessdate=31 May 2019}} The trips primarily work to provide plastic and reconstructive work to burn patients, which affect 6-7M people in India annually.{{cite journal |last1=Gupta |first1=J.L. |title=National programme for prevention of burn injuries |journal=Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery |volume=43 |issue=Suppl |pages=S6–S10 |pmc=3038407 |year=2010 |pmid=21321659 |doi=10.4103/0970-0358.70716 |doi-access=free }} RealSelf employees have also volunteered at Camp Karma in India.

• Web MD
• Healthgrades
• Vitals
• Zocdoc
• CareDash
• Aesthetic medicine
• Ruli

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.realself.com}}

Category:Online marketplaces of the United States

Category:American medical websites

Category:Internet properties established in 2006