We are in an unprecedented era of visibility for aesthetic procedures. Anyone can go online and have immediate access to before and after photos, videos, and even procedure vlogs documenting the whole process from consultation to recovery. How then is a patient supposed to critically analyze this huge volume of content accurately? Read on to learn some insider information.
- Check the Lighting
- You may assume the lighting conditions between the before and after photos are the same, but you’ll be suprised just how many surgeons try to pass off changes in lighting to actual surgical improvements in a patient’s appearance. Overhead lighting can accentuate shadows on a patient’s face while bright and diffuse lighting can eliminate shadows – think tear troughs and dark under eye circles, or photos showing skin quality. The best way to check for lighting is the patient’s complexion and the catchlights in a patient’s eyes. If the patient’s complexion does not look consistent from before to after photo, start being skeptical that the lighting has not stayed consistent. From there, look carefully at the reflection in the patient’s eyes. Is the light source symmetric on both sides of the face and the same as the after photos? Only when you see that can you be sure that the lighting is consistent between before and after photos.
- Check the Angles
- Images should be taken from the same distance, at the same level, and same angle every time. Plastic surgeons are notorious for using facelift before and after photos where the patient has the chin down to scrunch neck wrinkles while the neck is extended in after photos to make the results look even more spectacular. The angle that a frontal view photo is taken can drastically alter the appearance of the eyes, nose and jawline to create the illusion of slimming and tapering and vice versa.
- Evaluate the Entire Body of Cases
- A single successful photo is not enough to judge surgical skill. Look for:
- Consistency: Multiple patients with similar outcomes indicate reproducibility. Ideally being able to identify before and afters of other patients with similar baseline anatomy or outcomes similar to your aesthetic ideals will bode favorably for the surgeon’s potential of success with your face.
- Variety: A surgeon experienced with diverse facial anatomies demonstrates versatility and adaptability.
Analyzing before-and-after photos is both an art and a science. By focusing on photographic consistency, symmetry, subtle details, authenticity, and reproducibility, patients can make informed decisions while understanding realistic outcomes. Always approach these images critically, and use them as one of several tools to evaluate a surgeon’s expertise.
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