FYI – This is the one we decided to make.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookArchive for the ‘Advertising Truth’ category
Dr D’s CosmeticSurgeryTruth.com T Shirts – Production Design
September 2nd, 2010Dr D’s CosmeticSurgeryTruth.com T Shirts – Tribal Design
August 22nd, 2010Sauna Belt Infomercial Rant
August 19th, 2010Walking through the doctor’s lounge at the hospital there was an “info-mercial” playing for some weight loss belt called the “Sauna Belt.”
People are losing inches around the waist in an hour. Yeah, that’s the effect of compressing and heating your fat. Measure your waist in another hour (without the belt) and it will be back. They say it is due to sweating. Are people naive enough to believe they can lose inches in an hour by sweating and have it stay off?
This sells to the average American who wants results and wants to do nothing to achieve them. Am I just jaded or will this thing sell?
Medicine is regulated, but this piece of garbage isn’t. Go figure.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Originally posted 2006-01-03 09:44:00.
Share on FacebookZerona Company Propaganda on Twitter
June 11th, 2010I have made my opinion on Zerona known previously here at the blog.
Nevertheless, in Twitterland the other day I received the following tweet from some Zerona marketer:
Unlike Lipo, Zerona kills no cells and there is no recovery time after the procedure.
So being the conscientious Twitter user I tweeted the following:
@misc_ZERONA_COMPANY Unlike Zerona, lipo actually works.
They returned:
@drdisaia Hi Dr. here is a double blind, randomized, multi-site and placebo controlled study confirming our results
My response:
@misc_ZERONA_COMPANY Yeah and Zerona has a 25% satisfaction rating: http://www.realself.com/Zerona/reviews
That seemed to shut them up at least as seen on my twitter account.
The Zerona propaganda is entering the social media stream. Watch out that you are not nailed with any of the steaming pile of BS that they are rocking.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookInland Empire Magazine – Cosmetic Ads Assessed
April 7th, 2010In the past I have warned about those choosing cosmetic surgery practitioners solely from advertisements. Recently I went out of town to a convention not too far from home (Ontario, Ca.) In the hotel was a copy of Inland Empire magazine (March 2010) in which ten advertisements of doctors/medical groups offering cosmetic medical/surgical services were displayed. I did an informal assessment of these advertisers looking online to validate specialty training when possible.
Here are the survey results of the ten advertisers:
1 Cosmetic Surgeon with no findings under board certification with the American Board of Medical Specialists.
2 Board Certified Plastic Surgeons with American Board of Plastic Surgery certifications.
1 Facial Plastic Surgeon with no findings under board certification with the American Board of Medical Specialists.
3 Medical Groups with no doctor’s name mentioned.
2 Dermatology groups with board certified doctors
1 Herbalist
My point is as a consumer reading through these advertisements, you are far more likely to fall into the hands of a non-plastic surgeon (or one without verifiable specialty board certification) than a “real” plastic surgeon if you just rely upon that which is printed. The larger better-looking ads are frequently of the less trained individuals. Please do your research before you choose to have a procedure with any surgeon. Much of this can be done online as my link below explains.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Related:
Dr D’s “Checking Out your Surgeon Online” Page
Share on FacebookLap Band Radio Commercials…and the Truth
March 18th, 2010As I have mentioned before, I spend far too much time commuting these days and listening to talk radio. Medical radio commercials seem to tick me off more than others when they stretch the truth out toward the next planet.
Lap Band surgery has been advertised heavily lately. A woman in a commercial lost 102 pounds. OK, except this is completely uncharacteristic of the average Lap Band patient.
I see Bariatric patients in my practice and have seen them for over a decade. The truth of the matter is that the results of Lap Band surgery vary enormously. The average patient who I have seen loses 35-50 pounds. Some lose none. Be careful of that which you hear and see in these advertisements. If you expect to lose over 100 pounds, you will likely be disappointed.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookBill Handel, Weight Loss Endorsements and the Truth?
February 11th, 2010I spend far too much time commuting these days and listening to talk radio. The other day I was dial surfing and listening to Bill Handel on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles. Over the past few weeks, he has been endorsing a bariatric surgery company hyping the weight loss it afforded him. OK. I have some experience with bariatric surgery patients. When operated properly these patients tend to lose weight.
Ten minutes after one of these spots runs, another Handel spot comes on. Now he is pitching a diet program for weight loss again proclaiming to the heavens about the weight loss.
OK Bill, don’t you think that is a bit bogus to be hocking both of these at the same time? Bariatric surgery patients hardly need a diet plan to lose weight as the surgery provides them that low body fat.
Do any of you take endorsements seriously? Am I just jaded?
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookThe Dawn of the Mommy Makeover
February 10th, 2010In the last decade or so plastic surgery has seen an increase in the “marketing BS factor” with the propagation of quite a few terms more geared toward promotion than medicine. “Mommy Makeover” is one of those terms. It does not refer to any particular operation, but to any of a series of procedures usually geared toward the correction of the changes of pregnancy.
These can include Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, Breast Augmentation and Breast lift.
If you go to a number of surgeons for consultations for such surgery be sure that you get details of the individual operations planned and more importantly a clear description of risks and benefits of the planned procedures.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookLatisse – The Straight Story
January 26th, 2010Bimatoprost ophthalmic solution is marketed as Latisse and Lumigan by Allergan. It was originally approved for glaucoma in 2001 and like other drugs in the past was found to have a marketable side effect namely that of lash growth. I am not sure if an equivalent generic drug is available.
Here’s the FDA document from the advisory committee on the additional approval for eyelash growth.
It is interesting when pharmaceutical companies market essentially identical drugs under different names. It means the marketing produces increased profits.
The drug when used for lash growth may cause pigment changes in the eyelid and may decrease eye pressure. Patients using it should take care to read the package insert and inform their proscribing doctor of any changes in their vision.
I have proscribed it to a few patients and they seem happy that it does work.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
Share on FacebookDermal Fillers – The Truth
December 18th, 2009Questions regarding early interventions to ward off aging are common here at the blog. One of the most common considerations is that of dermal fillers. The market in fillers has exploded over the last 10-15 years. They are being marketing heavily and looked at with more interest in this down economy.
The concept of fillers is simple: plump up tissue that seems too small or saggy. This works to an extent although we have all seen the results when maybe too much has been used…the dreaded trout pout. In reality many early lip injections (even well done ones) look kinda large until they settle down that is unless they are planned in stages to be more discreet.
There are several categories of fillers. The safest also lasts the least amount of time, the hyaluronic acid fillers. These include Hylaform, Captique, Restylane, Perlane, Prevelle and Juvederm. They can be used in most areas and when used properly have a low chance of forming lumps or bumps. Perlane, Prevelle and Juvederm are “cross linked” to last a little longer, but the longevity here is in the 4-6 month range.
Some newer semi-permanent fillers have been introduced that can last up to a year. Radiesse is one such filler with some limitations. It is more likely to form lumps and bumps and is better injected in sessions with small amounts added each time. It is best used in thicker tissues such as the chin and the laugh lines to decrease the chance of lumpiness.
The permanent fillers are not safe. Stay the hell away from them! Silicone injections can be a nightmare in many cases as we have described it before. Checks posts here tagged “Injection Hell” to read more about this if you wish.
The bottom line on fillers is take it easy on the amount and go to a reputable injector to make the experience as safe as it can be.
Best Regards,
John Di Saia MD
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