Cosmetic Surgery & The Internet

Posted Tuesday, September 11, 2007 to PROFILES > Plastic Surgery

Posted by The Original Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine

With over 800 million internet sites, the World Wide Web is an invaluable tool for finding information on cosmetic surgery. Sally Waddington explains some simple steps on how to use the web.

The explosion of the World Wide Web in the past 5 years has meant a wealth of information is now available to practically everyone - without having to leave the house or office. All you need is a computer, a modem, a telephone line and a web browser (a program that allows you to search and 'browse' the web). The downside is that this information can overwhelm even the most technologically aware user. Without a proper idea of what to do, it is possible and highly likely that you could spend many hours fruitlessly searching, and end up with very little useful information. Also, as there is no moderating force for the multitude of sites that make up the Web, it is hard to differentiate the reliable information from the garbage. However, with the answers to a few basic questions, your task will be a lot easier.

What exactly is the internet? What's the World Wide Web? And what's the difference?

The Internet, created by the US government in the 1960s for military purposes, is a unique system of linking computers from anywhere in the world into one collective mass, enabling the exchange of information. By connecting computers to phone and data lines, the Internet allows communication between any number of computers, anywhere in the world, at any time.

Although they are often referred to as one and the same, the Internet and the World Wide Web are actually very different. The Web is simply the area of the Internet where people place information for the perusal of millions of other users. The difficulty lies in choosing the information you want from what you don't - which could be likened to finding one page in a book over 800 million pages long - virtually impossible without some kind of indexing system.

What can I use the web for?

Simply due to its sheer size, there is bound to be information somewhere on the Web on whatever topic you're interested in. Most importantly for prospective patients of a cosmetic procedure, the Web provides a wide range of information on all procedures you may be interested in - offering details on what they involve, length of the surgery, recovery needs, even showing before & after pictures. The Web can also help you find surgeons in your area, useful products, discussion groups with other patients and/or doctors and bring you the latest in technology. Individual surgeons have web sites that accept your email inquiries and digital images and may even give a brief comment on your individual requirements.

It is important not to go into cosmetic surgery blindly - to know what the procedure entails, and make sure it is something you are ready for. The Web can be a great starting point for you to uncover preliminary information on your procedure and help you make an informed decision.

How do I find what I'm looking for?

Finding what you're looking for on the Web can be an impossible task if you don't know how to go about it. Since there is no regulatory force controlling and categorizing the Web, there is no one place you can go to search all the information available. However, there are two different types of searching tools to assist you in finding the information you're after.

Firstly, there are search engines - with these tools, the user types in a key phrase, word or title pertaining to what they want to find out, and the search engine automatically scans the pages in its database, and lists all sites containing those words. For example, if you were looking for information on rhinoplasty, you would enter "rhinoplasty" in the search box, and the engine would find all sites including that word. This can be good to provide a large collection of possible sites, however, is often time consuming while you wade through the mass of sites, finding what applies and what doesn't. The search engines' databases are usually compiled automatically by software that searches the Web every two or three weeks and adds any new sites. For this reason, you are often given sites that may not be completely appropriate, simply because they contain your key word. Using our "rhinoplasty" example, you may be given links to sites with reports on which latest Hollywood star has had a nose job, rather than details on the procedure itself. However, with clever usage of search words you should find what you are after. If the search for "rhinoplasty" gave you too many sites to wade through or the wrong type, use other words to broaden or define your search. For example search also for cosmetic surgery, facial rejuvenation, facial surgery, nose surgery etc. Most search engines also give tips on how to customize your search even further.

You may prefer to use a directory - usually man-made catalogs of useful sites on the Web. Large sites like yahoo.com offer a choice of a number of broad subjects. Once you have chosen one of these, another group of headings is offered, and onwards until you are provided with a list of sites relevant to what you're looking for. This is particularly useful when you are not sure exactly what you need - you may have a general idea but cannot think of a particular phrase or title that will provide you with the results you need. Also, as the lists are compiled by humans, the sites you are given are more likely to be applicable.

What are the best Directories/Search Engines?

There are many different searching tools on the Web. Your web browser will usually very easily connect you to a search engine, however it is still helpful to know some of the largest or best on offer.

Some of the larger directories are www.looksmart.com, www.snap.com and www.yahoo.com. The largest search engines are www.altavista.com, www.northernlight.com, and www.excite.com. These engines also check the legitimacy of businesses listed (NOTE: not their quality but only that they actually exist). You can also do a natural language search, such as www.askjeeves.com or www.electricmonk.com, where the user types in a question (for example, "What is the recovery time for rhinoplasty?") and is given a list of sites answering that question. There are also search engines for the medical field such as www.medexplorer.com or www.medwebp/us.com that search the medical sites on the Web.

There are many help sites on the Web offering the basics on searching and using the Web. Some good ones include the search engine guide in the help section of LookSmart (www.looksmart.com/he/p/searchengs.htmn, or the New to the Net pages at Netscape (home.netscape.com/netcenter/newnet). These pages can help you get started.

Something else to keep in mind ...

One more important thing to remember is there is no controlling body to determine what can and cannot be put on the Web. Using the cosmetic surgery example, anybody anywhere can design a web page and submit it, claiming to be a fully licensed and experienced doctor, when in reality they may not be. It is vital to check the information you find - make sure you have at least two sources giving the same information (and it's better if the two sites aren't connected in any way), and don't trust a doctor who cannot provide evidence of their license and experience. BE CAREFUL - cosmetic surgery is serious, so make sure you are making a balanced and informed decision.

The World Wide Web can be an enormous, scary and daunting place for the first time user, or anyone just not sure what to do.Take the time to learn how to best use it, and you will find a wealth of information at your fingertips, assisting you in making the important decisions about your cosmetic procedure.