Fw: Plastic surgeons in online war

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----- Original Message ----- From: Myrl Jeffcoat

myrlj@...

Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 12:26 AM

Subject: Plastic surgeons in online war

Thank you for sending us the following. . .Myrl

Plastic surgeons in online war

by Cheong Yong-hwanOctorber 14, 2002 Cosmetic surgery clinics, particularly in Seoul's most affluent districts, are enthusiastically engaged in what some observers have dubbed "cyber advertising warfare." The director of one Seoul clinic recently turned on his computer around midnight to place an ad on an Internet portal site that was selling the prime online ad space. If a user of the site enters any of several key phrases, for example "nose job," a banner ad for the cosmetic surgery clinic appears at the top of that user's screen. These "keyword ads" are considered very effective and cosmetic surgery clinics are using them to attract customers. The director who got up at midnight found another clinic had beat him to it. "I am very worried," he said. "I couldn't place the ad, and there is so much competition these days."According to sources in the industry, nearly 200 cosmetic surgery clinics concentrated in Seoul's Gangnam district are engaged in a life-and-death struggle to market themselves over the Internet, which has become the information source of first reference for the 20-30 year olds who make up most of their clientele. The number of clinics in Gangnam has jumped dramatically over the last few years, and the competition is forcing some out of the market. Twelve Gangnam clinics have closed so far this year. Guk Gwang-shik, director of the Association of Cosmetic Surgery Practitioners, said, "The authorities limit our advertising in newspapers and magazines. New clinics find 60-70 percent of their customers through the Internet." A clinic near the Gangnam subway station emphasizes the importance of Internet ads. "Internet advertising is a must," the director said. "It costs us about 10 million won ($8,000) a month, but we are not about to cut our advertising budget." Moon Ji-hyun, of the public relations firm Doctor Crezio, which specializes in public relations for medical practices, said that a big clinic, one with 10 or more doctors, can easily spend 30 million won a month on advertising. "Some spend another 30 million won to build their home pages," said Ms. Moon.Intense public relations battles take place on the hundreds of online cosmetic surgery message boards, where people serious about getting a tummy tuck or breast implants gather to exchange information and compare clinics. There is a forum for every cosmetic surgery-related topic under the sun ?and many are run by public relations firms representing cosmetic surgery clinics. Because of the stiff competition the forums can sometimes turn nasty, and messages posted on some of the forums deriding certain doctors or clinics have led to lawsuits. A clinic that recently suffered a sudden decline in business has asked the police to find out who posted a message reading "I suffered from the aftereffects of surgery at this clinic" on an Internet message board. A representative of the clinic said the clinic may sue whoever wrote the message.

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----- Original Message -----

From: " Kathi " <pureheart@...>

Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 8:57 PM

Subject: Re: Plastic surgeons in online war

> In a message dated 10/15/2002 7:56:37 AM Central Daylight Time,

> pureheart@... writes:

>

> A clinic that recently suffered a sudden decline

> in business has asked the police to find out who posted a message

> reading " I suffered

> from the aftereffects of surgery at this clinic " on an Internet

> message

> board. A representative of the clinic said the clinic may sue whoever

> wrote the

> message.

>

>

>

> If it's true, how can they sue? We suppose to just keep quite, if we are

> harmed by one of these clinics? Who ever it was may have had the right

> to speak the truth! It's called Freedom of Speech and

> Truth, to protect someone else from harm!

>

> dua~~~

>

> " Don't worry about the world coming to an

> end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. "

> [ Schultz]

>

> Silicone Suckered

>

>

>