“Before” and “after”

The use of images of patients in healthcare and plastic surgery on Facebook

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the production and circulation of “before” and “after” images, which seek to illustrate and emphasize changes that occur in bodies after aesthetic procedures, weight loss and/or muscle mass gain. The present study is part of the project entitled “New forms of knowledge circulation and access to biomedical technologies: contemporary scenarios for bodily and subjective transformations”, which aims to reflect on bodily transformations in contexts where the search for procedures represents above all a search for the self-improvement, with emphasis on body contours and physical performance. Therefore, it is essential to observe the interactions and production of public discourses around biomedical technologies considered to be innovative. Regarding the methodology, this work focuses on discourses about plastic surgery, established and broadcast among users gathered in 77 groups on the subject, on the social network Facebook. The aim is: a) to understand the field of plastic surgery in Brazil, based on the expectations and experiences of patients; b) map the groups that address the theme, on the social network Facebook; c) investigate the phenomenon of “before” and “after”; and d) mapping the controversies surrounding the use of “before” and “after” images in the health area. The insertion in the groups took place in September 2020 and the data were collected until June 2021. After monitoring the publications and comments, a set of mobilized categories was reached and the identification of the central themes debated by the users. It seeks to explore not only the controversial nature of the use of “before” and “after” images, which refer to the production of strict and excluding regulations regarding the desired body standards; but it also seeks to bring into play the instabilities involved in the process of exposing these images, especially on social networks.