For weeks, a researcher investigated 200 aesthetic clinic websites in the UK to see whether they explained: what the procedure entails; how you will be recovering; who is the ideal candidate; and what the inherent risks are. She messaged me on Connectively (which is a platform where journalists and researchers reach out to working professionals for quotes) and asked for me to provide input about her findings based on my medical position.
I read her data before I answered; 96 out of the 200 were sites that did not offer information about risk nor suitability of the treatment. 77 of the 200 had all four of the basics (what it involves, recovery, suitability, and risk information) on a single page. Just over half offer you a chance to book the treatment before looking up any information about it. 6 of the 200 give you a chance to ask a question before entering your telephone and e-mail.
Six out of two hundred.
What I Actually Told Her
“A clinic’s website is not doing its job if a patient has to call just to learn the specific risks of a given procedure, whether they might be a poor candidate for it, and the name and credentials of whoever is actually performing the treatment. If a page cannot answer those questions within a few minutes, that gap is more about the clinic’s priorities than its web design.”
I would tell that to each of the 200 clinics she reviewed.
The Part I Can’t Stop Thinking About
It is the booking number. 51% will take your deposit or book your consultation without you first reading a word about risk or candidacy. No, this is not unintentional. At some marketing meeting, someone decided the book button belongs above the information you need to have.
My stance has been on the opposite side for some time. The pricing is plainly posted on my website: agulloplasticsurgery.com/fees. This is an actual list of starting figures that are all-inclusive (excluding only your prescriptions) available before any conversation or call takes place. This is not because price is the singular factor to consider, it is not, nor should it be, but websites that necessitate a phone call before revealing the cost of a procedure were designed to snag patients before they have had adequate time to contemplate it.
Where This Goes From Here
Not sure if a UK audit changes anything for the clinics included. What it does confirm about my practice though: share the information and prices openly. That leaves the consultation to discuss the patient rather than extracting basic details by phone.
Ready to Talk?
Call (915) 590-7900, text the consult line at 1-866-814-0038, or check my published prices at agulloplasticsurgery.com/fees before you ever pick up the phone. Find me as @RealDrWorldWide on Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, @Agullo on X, or @AgulloPlasticSurgery on Facebook. #StayBeautiful
Companion reads: the patient-facing version on agulloplasticsurgery.com and the practice story on swplasticsurgery.com.