A Systematic Review of Medicolegal Social Media–Related Issues in Plastic Surgery

Social media has become a powerful tool in plastic surgery, offering opportunities to attract patients and share content. However, its use raises medicolegal challenges, including privacy, defamation, and professional boundaries. The impact of social media on lawsuits involving plastic surgeons remains underexplored. A systematic review of publicly available legal cases was conducted using WestLaw and Nexis Uni databases, covering January 2007 - January 2024. 135 unique cases were screened by three independent reviewers. Inclusion required involvement of social media and plastic surgeons or practices. Twenty-seven cases met criteria and were analyzed for plaintiff/defendant status, cause of action, use of anti-SLAPP statutes, and case outcomes. Of the 27 included cases, 17 were filed by plastic surgeons, seven by patients, two by practices, and one by a non-patient. Defamation was the most common claim (15/27). Plastic surgeons and patients were equally represented as defendants. Only three defamation cases resulted in court rulings favoring the plaintiff, and one case was settled in arbitration. Additional claims included invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark violation, and misappropriation of likeness. Cases highlighted risks associated with improper handling of patient photographs and employee-managed accounts. Plastic surgeons face growing medicolegal exposure related to social media. Defamation lawsuits against patients rarely succeed. Surgeons should avoid litigation as a primary strategy and instead mitigate risk through clear policies, professional conduct, and strong physician-patient communication. Proactive reputation management and adherence to ethical standards remain the most effective tools to reduce litigation in the social media era.