Increasing a Dermatologist's Footprint on Instagram: An Analysis of Top Influencers Performing Nonsurgical Cosmetic Procedures.

Background Patients use social media to find information about cosmetic procedures, yet dermatologists historically lack a social media presence. Misleading information from nonexperts is potentially harmful. Objective To identify the top influencers posting about nonsurgical cosmetic procedures on Instagram, verify their credentials, and analyze their content to empower dermatologists to effectively join the online conversation, combat harmful misinformation, and preserve the expertise and influence of board-certified dermatologists. Methods and materials Using the Klear marketing platform, Instagram influencers with more than 50,000 followers were identified. Influence rating, top posts, and other metrics were extracted using proprietary algorithms. Results Ninety nine influencers were identified. Of the top 10, 70% were board-certified plastic surgeons. Physicians not board-certified in a core cosmetic specialty had the highest influencer rating and number of followers. The most popular posts were of before and after photographs and personal posts. Conclusion Dermatologists may be able to increase their Instagram footprint by posting frequently, especially of before and after and personal photographs, using hashtags, Instagram live and Instagram television, and Instagram stories. It is important for the dermatology community to find a way to ethically navigate social media to have a seat at the table and meet patients where they are.