The Great Nipples Debate: A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words
Have you heard the debate about Nipple Pictures on Social Media?
Massive social media platform Facebook has forbidden photos of breastfeeding. The reason for this is that they often show exposed nipples.
Many people, especially Mums, are quite upset by this. They argue both that the move suggests breastfeeding is ‘wrong’ and that it implies breastfeeding nipples photos are on a par with pornography.
If you would like to research more about this, The Guardian recently ran a campaign which features some really interesting comments in its discussion thread.
For this blog, however, we would like to draw attention to the fact that some of the points which are being raised in the breastfeeding photos debate can equally be applied to Cosmetic Surgery pictures.
Cosmetic Surgery Photos Online & Social Media
Facebook actually have many policies forbidding the public from posting a range of images of nudity and ‘sexually explicit’ content. This is not a bad thing. On Social Media, images (like all content forms) spread so quickly and users cannot easily pick and choose what they are shown. Removing offensive sexually explicit images and those of an obscene nature makes sense.
But surely it all comes down to context?
Aurora Clinics work really hard as a Cosmetic Surgery company to be upfront and open with patients. Videos and photography are a fantastic medium for doing this; helping to show the realities of surgery and potentially achievable results.
In cosmetic surgery a picture really is worth a thousand words as no amount of talking through a procedure or providing information sheets for research is quite the same as actually seeing this. This is not so easy when strict policies censor all images of breasts, nipples and other nudity.
There is a clear and obvious difference between a clinical image – posed against a background in a rigid still-frame position to show the patient at all angles before and after surgery – and a sexually enticing photograph.
It is similar to arguing that information pages about cosmetic surgery procedures are pornographic because they contain words related to bodily parts, sometimes intimate ones.
The sole purpose is to inform, educate and aid research. The language is chosen for this purpose and, other than the subject matter involved, there is no further blurring of boundaries in any respect.
Sensitive Handling of Body Photographs
The handling of body photographs online is always going to be a tricky issue. There are certain factors which need to be carefully considered:
- Obtaining consent and retaining the anonymity of the subject involved, if requested
- More explicit images should be avoided
- Surgical images (i.e. those of surgery actually being performed or with obvious scars or stitching) may be deemed too explicit for mainstream social media too. When we use them, we tend to keep them to internal pages rather than as Featured Images or use Warning Messages as disclaimers that there will be surgical footage involved
- The frequency of these kinds of images should be considered as social media streams images and content through feeds and people use social media for fun, even the most avid cosmetic surgery researcher is unlikely to want to bombard with this kind of pictures
- Not everybody is doing research or wants to see these types of pictures. It depends very much on your fan-base, their interests and what they want so this should always be established first. Pictures should accompany a good balance of informative written or audio content too.
If presented with careful consideration and respect for the audience, pictures can be a powerful tool for helping prospective patients learn more about procedures, identify problems, empathise with others and get realistic expectations of results. They allow you to research the work of surgeons before getting up the courage to make that initial contact.
Some topics, like Inverted Nipple Correction, are relatively obscure and patients often feel embarrassed ‘googling’ or calling to inquire about. So providing information via social media can be a good way to make much-needed information more accessible.
Inverted Nipple Correction at The Private Clinic
The Private Clinic sees over 15,000 new patients every year and performs over 10,000 procedures, with one of the highest –patients’ satisfaction in the sector, Trustpilot 9.4, 5-star rating, 93% would recommend us to their friends and family. We are a multi-award winning provider and have been voted the Aesthetic award for Best UK Clinic Group 2017. The Private Clinic prides itself on its commitment to Medical Expertise, Patient Care and Satisfaction, Honest advice and most importantly Results. We are above all committed to Quality. Please feel free to contact us for any advice or to book a consultation with one of our expert Breast surgeons.
At The Private Clinic, Nipple Surgery is one of our specialisms, and we have a number of BAAPS registered surgeons who offer the treatment. For more information on any of the nipple surgery procedures above, or to book a consultation, please contact us on 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form.