georgina h Meg

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

My review has been taken down!!

My reviews on RS have been taken down! I private messaged another patient who had contacted me and told her about THIS SITE (pissed consumer) and as a result, they wrote to tell me that my entire month by month blog has been removed!

So ANOTHER person trying to give a less than 100%- everything's-perfect- review has been hidden from view. RS are a genuinely dangerous company.

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Preferred solution: RS taken down

User's recommendation: so many overwhelmingly excellent reviews should worry you

Avanelle Vox

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

*** and more manipulative than YELP, that also filters/deletes true negative reviews for Bu$inesses!!

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Realself - *** and more manipulative than YELP, that also filters/deletes true negative...
Realself - *** and more manipulative than YELP, that also filters/deletes true... - Image 2

*** and more manipulative than YELP, that also filters/deletes true negative reviews for Businesses!! Aesthex Surgeons/kamakshi zeidler in Campbell have been butchering/scamming me and other patients that are complaining about getting abandoned after getting botched.

Other patiens who sound genuine and can corroborate their nightmares have been getting deleted by FakeSelf fake rating business!

They also remove any benign comments under their promoted shill reviews! You literally can't say anything, and they have the most joke "terms and policy" that not even themselves can explain or will when you try to ask and reason with them.

They also along with kamakshi zeidler push harmful mutilating procedures through predatory lies, brainwashing and creating dysphoria!

Now you know not to trust the five review practices they sell!

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Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Never trust Fakeself (realself shills)

georgina h Gek

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

RS reviews are suspiciously all delighted with results

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Post surgery, went on RS to find others with my complications and to find out how others got on with my symptoms. FAR too many reviews are all singing and dancing; positively gleeful with happiness at their results.

Makes you feel like your less than positive symptoms are seriously awful and as though you are a lone wolf. Now I understand why. HIGHLY misleading, skewed view of surgery given, therefore, by RS which I consider unethical. I started off giving my review about my Dr a 3/5 which sent my review to the very bottom of the list of his (100% positive reviews).

So I changed it to 5/5 (but kept my comments truthful) which sent me back up to the first in the review queue.

APPALLING site - and given the serious nature of surgery, it ought to be totally transparent to allow US to decide with whom/if we want to undergo surgery. It should be shut down.

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Cons:
  • But only the positive ones

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: ask yourself why 99% of reviews are so positive

Avelina Jjl

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

The only website with the information I needed.

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To find reviews about the dermatologist I planned to see for my skin condition, RealSelf was the only website that had any.

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User's recommendation: Do your research before visiting a new doctor.

Joshua H Reb

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

Terrible Company

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They refuse to take me off their website. They have listed me as not taking new patients until I give them $450$ a month. They also refuse to take down many fake reviews on the site which I have proven are not from my patients.

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Loss:
$30

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Avoid at all costs

Jeromie Dyd

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Portsmouth, England

Ignored and dismissed

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Joined Real Self for the purpose of asking a complex technical question to plastic surgeons and specialised surgeons. In a nut shell my question was shunted from department to department and eventually ignored completely.

Instead, I'm bombarded with spam email selling various proceedures, some of which I will never be interested in because they are controversial. Real Self is a sales organisation, nothing else.

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User's recommendation: Do your own research and contact a surgeon directly. Avoid Real Self.

Anthony C Kzi

To remove profile and review

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I would like to remove my profile and my review. I've made several attempts but to no avail.

I've sent request via email.

My profile name is "Tasteful 20352". Thank you

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Cons:
  • Hard to contact

Preferred solution: My profile and review removed

Haley S Gub
map-marker Santa Monica, California

WORST site ever!

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Will hound you and can't change preferences! DO NOT give e-mails or ph to these ppl, you'll be harassed, endlessly.

I tried for days over & over to change preferences.

I can't login, can't change password either. Site won't take old or new passwords.

I've changed to new passwords 12 times & still can't sign in.

Also can't contact them to remove from bc need password & login to change doesn't work. I'm not only person had this issue.

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Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: DON'T use this Site! DO NO give any e-mail or ph num to them!

Elaine H Deu

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Dayton, Ohio

Real self will not reveal Real self will not remove my post

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Real self please contact me because I want to remove a doctors review. I am the patient.

Please contact me so I can remove this rating. I have tried everything please contact me at ehendren9@***.com

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Preferred solution: Have my review of Dr. Donath removed from the real self site

Anonymous
map-marker Melbourne, Victoria

Bad experience

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Deleted negative reviews and harms vulnerable people

Also does not allow users to delete their pictures

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AtlantaENT

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Seattle, Washington

Upset with Real Self

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They are a dishonest organization whose sales person did not follow through with what was promised but still charged nearly $400 / month with no ability to cancel before 3 months.

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Loss:
$1000

Preferred solution: Full refund

Emon Pls

RealSelf and its paid doctors engaged in Predatory Marketing

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I had the Biltmore Lift 6 months ago with Dr. Harley after finding him on RealSelf.com and seeing all the positive reviews.

The surgery itself went fine, but as early as 2 weeks after surgery I began to notice my jowls were returning. At 5 months my face was more gaunt and jowls more noticeable then before the surgery. In addition, I had post surgical complications which have required medical attention. The facelift was not only a failure but also caused large bags under my eyes which now require another surgery to fix.

Dr. Harley has never taken responsibility for the poor work nor assisted me in any way with either the medical issues or the cosmetic issued resulting from the surgery. How much have I lost so far? $6400 for the surgery, $2500 in travel expenses, $2500 in follow up medical care, and corrections.

$5000 pending for the surgical revision I have scheduled. Because of my experience I tried to update my review of the surgery online. Because it was negative, I was immediately attacked by other reviewers who were clearly friends or employees of the doctor's. Some, I found out were receiving free services.

Real Self responded by blocking my access to the site. When I asked what I had done specifically to be blocked from sharing or discussing my experience they would not tell me. I created a new profile and again attempted to post my real experience with the doctor and once it again my review was removed and I was blocked without explanation. Dr.

Harley's business is almost entirely all patients who have found him on RealSelf. I found out that 80% of the positive reviews are posted 1 week to 1.5 months after surgery before the skin laxity returns and the patient sees it did not work. Because the site removes all of the negative reviews, the public only sees positive reviews so they book their surgery and the cycle continues. Dr.

Harley and RealSelf are engaged in predatory marketing and fraud. There is an unusually high percentage of Dr. Harley's patients who end up with lip palsy from the surgery, but you will not see that posted in reviews, only in discussing the surgery privately with unhappy patients. The site should be taken down.

Plastic surgery should not be sold on "reviews" like a blender you are buying on Amazon. This is surgery - its risky, its permanent and there should be marketing regulations in place to keep predators like RealSelf and Dr. Harley from at best taking advantage of people and at worst, harming them. Please complain to the Washington Attorney General (RealSelf is based in Seattle) and to the FTC.

There are several pages out there that discuss the fraud being perpetuated by RealSelf and its doctors. I've already filed my complaints and am now seeking out journalists who may be interested in investigating it further.

View full review
Loss:
$9000
Cons:
  • Predatory and fraudulent marketing
  • Fake positive reviews and deleted honest negative reviews
Reason of review:
Fraud, predatory marketing

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

105 comments
Guest

I have a scar across my entire forehead where he lifted my brows. I was going to call to see if he could help but where is he?

Guest

Is this thread still active? I would like to know more about this vision disturbance.

This is very concerning as my cousin just had a Biltmore Lift plus other stuff and is experiencing severe vision disturbance, a weird eye that doesn't close, a lump on the white of the eye, and some other stuff.

Her jowls are already dropping, or so she thinks. Thanks for any information you can provide

Kami Rtk

Sorry to hear about the problems you had, that must be rough for you, so thank you for sharing your story. Did you have anything else besides a facelift that caused the eye issue (fillers, fat graft)?

Most importantly, however, please share where you got the information of the high % of lip palsy so I can validate.

I am considering going to him because he gets high reviews on all sites (healthgrades, Yelp, Google) and I’ve talked to two people who had great reviews for years afterwards (I know that results and mileage varies by individual), but I’d like to go in with my eyes wide open. Thanks again for telling about your experience.

Guest

This is fortycankissit. I am happy with my result.

This is plastic surgery. True results really take a year or longer to see. My eyes turned out beautifully. They fully function and close.

The first year was really, really rough. I was accused of defending my doctor when I was just as scared because the healing took a long time for me! I wanted to give him time and see how things progressed before I just blasted him on Realself. I am glad that I gave him that time because I love my results.

It was totally worth every penny. My neck is still firm and tight. My lip palsy resolved after filler was removed. That filler can rest on the nerve and can also migrate.

Just an FYI. Dr. Harley does 3-5 of these a day at several days a week and 52 weeks a year. Do the math.

He is a Vandy grad with a ton of credentials. He is good at what he does. We are ladies, this is our face. It is scary to go through the healing and not be sure what the baseline is.

All I can suggest is to give yourself time and as another poster suggested, go with a doctor you trust. I trust Dr. Harley 100% with my face, eyes and anything else. He took pristine care of me, listened, answered calls.

His staff nurses were sweethearts. I am not looking forward to more aging, but I am looking forward to seeing him again when I need it! I hope this helps without causing a storm.

Take care to all who had good or bad results. I wish all of you the very best.

Guest

I had simiar experience with Life Style Lift. That lift was supposed to last for years and within a year it almost vanished.

I now have bags under my eyes. My eyelids were also burned and are still red when he he did laser skin resurfacing as part of the lift.

Many of these physicians see dollar signs rather than the first rule of medicine “...do no harm.” I will say I looked very good immediately after the surgery but it was not worth $11,000. Never again.

Guest

Hello to original poster - I can't thank you enough.. I dug deep and found this thread.

I had given a deposit for the Biltmore Lift and thank God I saw this. Cancelled. I would rather pay more and have a full procedure than risk adverse results. Thank you thank you thank you.

By the way, the poster that keeps trolling you is not a very good writer. I can tell just by the way you write and handle yourself that you are being forthright. Also Dr H is very, very nice.

I don't think you are saying otherwise. He is super sweet but that is irrelevant if the results are not good.

Guest

TWO YEAR UPDATE: I am very happy with my outcome. My neck is holding well.

I did lose some facial volume, but a small amount of filler has helped that in the upper cheeks. Would I do it again? In the upper 40's; YES! If I was aging badly in my 50's or older, I would go for the more invasive lifts.

Dr. Harley did a great job and I feel good about myself. Sorry so many people had trouble. I am really surprised with all of the others I have contacted who also are very happy several years down the road.

Best of luck and do your due diligence. Make sure you aren't reading the diatribe of someone who has an axe to grind due to not getting something free and really pay attention to the issues people are mentioning and what they are suggesting as solutions.

Guest

Thank you for your honesty. I was wondering what/why realself contacts me and not the doc office.

Guest

facelift reviewsshould be mandatory updated after 2 years or not even allowed until 24 months have passed. It takes 1 year for a facelift to heal and to return to what it will look like for several years.

Do the practice Deep Plane or SMAS lifts........this should be talked about....ARE THEY A BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON? YOUR KIDDING YOURSELF IF YOU DONT GO TO ONE.....

Guest

Thanks for confirming, I have always been skeptical about this website, I found it impossible to be so precise in reviewing all the comments from consumers, I hardly found any negative. Today after reading your post, I am now going to research more through other websites.

Surgery is not a procedure to full around with, it is a serious topic where it is involving one's life, and surgeons that just look at it like a casino, a patient to them is just another jackpot!

They should be monitored more by the licensing and government agencies. Please beware and don't risk with surgeon s that do fake reviews.

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Anonymous
map-marker Miami, Florida

Can't delete reviews, terrible customer service

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I left a review but realized that I needed to delete it. This website provides absoutely NO way to delete your reviews.

You have to email them. And when I emailed them, I got stuck in a horrible feedback loop of "Thanks for contacting us, someone will be with you shortly" emails. This has been a nightmare.

I just want to delete a review. Nothing should ever be this hard.

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User's recommendation: Can't delete reviews once submitted

Tatiana N Uur

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer

No advertising was provided but Real Self charged me almost $1000 monthly

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I signed a contract with Real Self on advertising my of medical aesthetic services 5 months ago. Before signing the contract with them, they reassured me that I will be getting a great return from this advertising and I should not worry about getting a great response from potential patients.

I told them that I do not have time to do any work myself that hiring them to help me to boost my business. I told them that I expect them to do it themselves for the money I pay them and rather not start advertising if they expect me to do something before they take on the advertising task. One month passed, and nothing happened. The Real Self representative Melissa Wren, when I reached out to her, was reassuring me that I should wait to get the momentum.

I was patiently waiting for 4 months, but nothing happened. I received not a single call or request about my medical aesthetic services that I was offering. Meanwhile, The Real Self were really quick at collecting my money but did no advertising work at all whatsoever.

They did not show any proof that they created any ads at all.Providers of services, be aware of Real Self deceptive practices and stay away from them! Patient also be aware of this company false advertising if you see any...

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Loss:
$5

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Providers and patients do not believe Real Self

Bridget w Vmh

This site is not managed

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If you write something on the site you can't delete it afterwards, this is very wrong because sometimes patients are annoyed one minute and happy the next when the swelling gone down.

They also never remove reviews that you can prove are wrong, they are just really nasty company and probably are ran by a cosmetic surgery company that is trying to keep good reviews for its self and bad for everyone else.

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Pros:
  • Information for patients

Preferred solution: Apology

Anonymous
map-marker Longmont, Colorado

DO NOT BELIEVE in Realself

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Realself is a total fraud. They post if you pay.

DO NOT believe in anything they say or post. BE CAREFUL

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About

Summary

RealSelf, Inc. specializes in providing information services in the sphere of cosmetic treatments and aesthetics medicine. The company was founded by Tom Seery in 2006. Its headquarters is based in Seattle, Washington. Comprehensive information reagrding dentistry, dermatology, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, and aesthetics is available on the company website. All RealSelf doctors are certified. They provide tips, insights, and review how to treat breast augmentation, Brazilian butt lift, laser hair removal, mommy makeover, and skin lightening. The company also helps to find a physician to perform required procedures. RealSelf sponsors ReSurge 2014 Quy Nhon international medical team.

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