barbara
09-15-2011, 02:32 PM
Excerpt from USA Today story "Cosmetic surgery gets cheaper, faster, scarier". Good message here - Don't rely on company testimonials when making important decisions.
By Jayne O'Donnell
Lifestyle Lift founder David Kent says, "There are no guarantees in medicine or surgery," but that the company wants every patient to be satisfied. In a recent recruitment letter to plastic surgeons, Kent said the 39-location company, which advertises heavily on TV, plans to open 40 more clinics nationwide.
With marketers playing a key role at some cosmetic surgery centers, former patients and lawyers say some of the clinics' claims about the low risk, dramatic results and short recuperation time are misstated. Lifestyle Lift's marketing practices, which are under investigation by the Florida attorney general, are "backed up by tons and tons of research," says CEO Gordon Quick. Still, Florida's attorney general has more than 60 complaints about the company, including several contesting its claims about fast recoveries, minimal pain and results that take years off one's appearance.
Two years ago, Lifestyle Lift settled a lawsuit by then-New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo charging that the company was writing its own online testimonials for existing websites and at least 10 sites it created to appear consumer-generated.
In its settlement agreement, the attorney general's office revealed internal e-mails, including one directing a Lifestyle Lift employee to "Put your wig and skirt on and tell them about the great experience you had" on the independent site RealSelf.com. Lifestyle Lift says it was simply posting the contents of letters it received from happy patients, although the settlement agreement says evidence shows many of the postings were written entirely by employees.
By Jayne O'Donnell
Lifestyle Lift founder David Kent says, "There are no guarantees in medicine or surgery," but that the company wants every patient to be satisfied. In a recent recruitment letter to plastic surgeons, Kent said the 39-location company, which advertises heavily on TV, plans to open 40 more clinics nationwide.
With marketers playing a key role at some cosmetic surgery centers, former patients and lawyers say some of the clinics' claims about the low risk, dramatic results and short recuperation time are misstated. Lifestyle Lift's marketing practices, which are under investigation by the Florida attorney general, are "backed up by tons and tons of research," says CEO Gordon Quick. Still, Florida's attorney general has more than 60 complaints about the company, including several contesting its claims about fast recoveries, minimal pain and results that take years off one's appearance.
Two years ago, Lifestyle Lift settled a lawsuit by then-New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo charging that the company was writing its own online testimonials for existing websites and at least 10 sites it created to appear consumer-generated.
In its settlement agreement, the attorney general's office revealed internal e-mails, including one directing a Lifestyle Lift employee to "Put your wig and skirt on and tell them about the great experience you had" on the independent site RealSelf.com. Lifestyle Lift says it was simply posting the contents of letters it received from happy patients, although the settlement agreement says evidence shows many of the postings were written entirely by employees.