Online consultations may soon replace traditional office visits for those curious about plastic surgery. And, some plastic surgeons are using these virtual meetings to compete for patients.

In less than a year, SurgeonHouseCall.com has recruited more than 50 doctors to answer questions posted by visitors. Through the site, prospective cosmetic surgery patients can submit their photos and medical history information to a panel of surgeons, who offer advice about various procedures – as well as competing price quotes.

The site is a more elaborate version of what has existed in the past few years, with individual surgeons willing to answer questions from patients through their own Websites before an office visit takes place. Across the country, a number of doctors have begun offering preliminary consultations via Skype, telephone or email. Doing so can put a patient at ease before they schedule an office visit, say advocates of the trend, noting that shy patients also feel more comfortable with a virtual meeting before seeing a surgeon in person.

SurgeonHouseCall.com, however, raises the bar for online consultations by flooding cosmetic customers with information and diagnoses that may not be exactly safe, since there is a serious lack of face time, and since some of the surgeons may be less than qualified to perform the procedures in question.

And, although many of the doctors eventually insist on an office visit prior to performing any surgery, industry insiders question the ethics of diagnosing people through the Internet as a way of drawing them in.

“Nothing is more true and correct than actually seeing a doctor in person,” patient consultant Angela Segal told The New York Times, adding that only a thorough, in-person visit can show the doctor what he needs to see. “You expect the doctor to trust the pictures, which is ridiculous.”

The site’s founder, Dr. Jason L. Mussman, is not board certified in plastic surgery, but insists that patients benefit from his service by getting input from multiple sources before agreeing to an operation.

“It changes the first in-person consultation, empowering the patient with knowledge of the procedure, decreased anxiety level and financial readiness,” he told The New York Times.

According to the Times, the site currently has 55 plastic surgeons from around the country on hand to consult patients.

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Find out what plastic surgeons know

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons surveyed 276 of its members and found that 62 percent of them had undergone at least one cosmetic procedure. This most often included Botox injections and chemical peels.

Also, a third of these doctors had undergone an actual invasive surgery, with liposuction being the most common procedure.

Many of the surgeons in the survey were women. And, the findings may indicate that plastic surgeons can use themselves as examples for potential patients. After all, someone who is interested in a particular procedure can not only ask their surgeon for information, but also see a real-life example of the results!

Two brothers in Phoenix, Arizona—both of whom happen to be plastic surgeons—are now diving into the world of reality TV.

The brothers, Dr. Ali Mosharrafa and Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa, are part of the new makeover reality program called The Beauty Show.

The weekly, half-hour show documents the progress of two women who experience a six-week transformation, including plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, a fitness regimen, wardrobe overhaul, and of course, the requisite hair and make-up re-do.

The brothers believe the show will empower women to make the right medical decisions for themselves, and Dr. Tamir Mosharrafa, who is the former Chief Plastic Surgeon at Phoenix’s Good Samaritan Hospital said, “I would only take part in a show I believe was worthwhile and it had to be realistic and of the highest quality to promote plastic surgery instead of those who perform it.”

He adds that though he and his brother each work on a different contestant, it’s not a contest with winners or losers.

Reality makeover shows, like the short-lived program, The Swan, have been criticized for creating outward transformations without adequately dealing with the inner emotional issues the contestants face.

The Beauty Show hopes to circumvent this pitfall by selecting women who have overcome great personal odds and are deserving of a physical makeover. Executive producer Maria Camille says that the show is not sensationalized, but genuine and informative.

The Beauty Show will debut May 26th on Phoenix ION Network Cox Cable channel 17 and Direct TV channel 51, and is in consideration for syndication on all ION stations nationwide.

Recently, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery surveyed member surgeons about current trends in breast augmentation.

The results show a continued preference for natural looking results by both the plastic surgeons and their patients.

The average implant size used by most of the surgeons who responded to the survey is 300 – 400 cc’s, or about a full C cup.

The majority of the surgeons surveyed—more than 60%—place the implants under the chest muscle rather than on top of the muscle, again aiming for the most natural look possible.

The ASAPS survey also showed that 60% of member surgeons are still using saline implants, and revealed that when silicone gel was chosen over saline filling, the reason most often cited was “patient preference.”

Dr. Alan Gold, president of ASAPS, noted that good results actually depend more on “patient-appropriate” surgical techniques than on the type of implant chosen.