21
Mar
2012
21
Mar
2012
Like many in the industry, I tend to keep an eye on the deal website Groupon with a mixture of fascination and suspicion. On the one hand, its effectiveness in drumming up business is to be applauded; however, I can’t help noting its moral and ethical pitfalls, especially regarding responsible Cosmetic Surgery advertising.
Initially catering to businesses with excess products or used to drum up publicity for new businesses, their appearance within the aesthetic industry has been a quick and highly controversial endeavour.
It seems their foothold in the aesthetic industry marketplace is well and truly cemented with the emergence of a string of deals rising to above £1,000 for a variety of cosmetic procedures.
Previously, Groupon had mostly catered to the (arguably) more trivial beauty side of the cosmetic marketplace concentrating on laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, laser teeth whitening etc. However, a recent deal branched into a more serious range of medical procedures such as Bodytite, eye surgery and a hair transplant.
Early last year the site caused controversy when it offered a deal worth £5,000 towards ANY Cosmetic procedure including rhinoplasty, breast implants, facelift and blepharoplasty for only £1,999 at the Birkdale Clinic.
Below, is one of the most expensive Groupon cosmetic surgery deals we’ve ever seen for one specific treatment... a whopping £1,400, not your average online shopping checkout total!
Other pricey deals include Lasik eye surgery for £1,295, IPL treatment for £999 and a hair transplant for £999.
Whilst, these prices fall below the average amount charged in clinics nationwide, it begs the question of advertising standards, or the lack thereof, in the industry – especially in a high-pressure situation where the clock is literally counting down at the side of your screen, it’s hardly the most conducive forum for rational thinking and thorough research into the treatment being advertised.
I don’t know about you but the description of this deal doesn’t fill me with confidence, whilst the surgery’s location in relation to public transport links may be important does it really deserve so much attention?
Would any other forum offer such trivialisation of a medical procedure like the description seen here: “When the constituents of the human body throw a big party it’s a team effort, with finger food, assorted tissues and haemogolo-sticks, apart from the fats that won’t move a muscle. Give insipid lipids the boot.”?
In any other situation, a serious reduction in average price such as this would make a consumer pause and question why is this so. But Groupon, with its reputation for quick-draw bargains, doesn’t induce this line of thinking.
BAAPS (the British Association of Associated Plastic Surgeons) have warned against the belittling effect of Groupon Former BAAPS President Adam Searle said: “This is a practice I unreservedly and utterly condemn.”
It is important that you do your homework as you should on anything that can affect not only your appearance but your health and safety as well. Felmont F. Eaves, MD, President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery warns: “Cost is always a factor, but it should never be the deciding factor in cosmetic surgery.”
Again, we encourage you to ask all the same probing questions you would when considering treatment in any clinic: Who will be performing the procedure? Are they qualified? What is/isn’t included in the treatment?
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