RealSelf Celebrates 10th Anniversary

SEATTLE, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RealSelf, the largest and most trusted online community for consumers to learn and share experiences about elective cosmetic procedures, is celebrating this month the 10-year anniversary of the company's launch.

Today, more than 80 million people each year visit RealSelf to learn about 400 different aesthetic treatments and connect with doctors, clinicians and other providers. RealSelf users have viewed 1 billion pages of content over the past year. To date, the community of thousands of cosmetic physicians have provided 1.75 million expert insights in response to consumer questions.

RealSelf pioneered a community that gives patients a voice and a forum to share their unbiased experiences, reviews and opinions of cosmetic procedures and physicians. Today, the RealSelf "Worth It Rating" reveals the real story of the satisfaction consumers have in the elective services offered by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and medspas. Over its lifetime, RealSelf has successfully defended against legal action led by companies upset by the reviews posted about their products. In 2008, RealSelf was sued in federal court by Lifestyle Lift, a branded facelift advertised on late night infomercials. When this attempt failed, consumers continued to post reviews about the procedure, and in 2015, Lifestyle Lift ceased operation.

"At RealSelf, we've elevated the decision-making process associated with cosmetic surgery and other elective treatments," notes Tom Seery, Founder/CEO of RealSelf. "By bringing together real people and medical experts—and introducing unprecedented transparency—we've seen a decision, that was once never discussed, become an open conversation that helps people make safer, informed decisions about improvements they're considering for their body, face and smile."

In recognizing the 10 year milestone, the company has put together a timeline (MEDIA ATTACHED) that marks 10 defining moments in the last decade that represent the conversation around cosmetic procedures evolving beyond whispers and entering the mainstream.

TIMELINE HIGHLIGHTS:

• IN THE MEDIA: From the 2008 New York Magazine cover story "The New New Face" that explored the remarkable advance in facial rejuvenation, to the debut of E!'s Botched, and the 2015 TIME magazine cover story "Nip. Tuck. Or Else," it's clear that the mainstream media has overcome any hang-ups about showcasing the prevalence of cosmetic treatments.
• FAMOUS FACES: Celebrities who openly acknowledge their own procedures—from Jane Fonda in 2011 to Kylie Jenner in 2016—have helped diminish the taboo associated with these decisions, creating a culture of wider acceptance and less judgment.
• WHAT'S AHEAD: With stigma falling away and technology continuing to make a range of treatment options safer, more affordable and more accessible, RealSelf projects that spending on medical aesthetic procedures will surpass $25B in 2021.

About RealSelf
RealSelf is the largest and most trusted online community for consumers to learn and share experiences about elective cosmetic procedures and clinician-administered treatments. More than 9 million people visit RealSelf each month to find out which treatments and providers live up to their promise of being "Worth It." RealSelf is powered by unbiased experiences shared by consumers for hundreds of treatments, ranging from simple skincare to highly considered cosmetic surgery. Offering millions of photos and medical expert answers, RealSelf has become the essential resource and service for those seeking to find the the right doctor or clinic.

Infographic - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161017/429483-INFO

SOURCE RealSelf

Related Links

http://www.realself.com