#Botox 101: Subgroup Analysis of Twitter's Top 101 Neurotoxin Influencers.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies demonstrate that board-certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists are underrepresented in posting public-directed marketing content about botulinum toxin A on YouTube. However, educational content and peer-to-peer social media influence regarding the topic of neurotoxins has not been studied. Twitter is a social media platform that has emerged as a unique network for public education and for the exchange of ideas among physicians.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to identify Twitter's top social media influencers on #botox, to describe their characteristics and to relate their social media influence to academic influence.

METHODS

Twitter influence scores for the topic search #botox were collected in January 2019 with Right Relevance software. #Botox was the only neurotoxin term with sufficient activity to generate an influencer list. The user accounts associated with top influencers were connected to individual names, identification as a plastic surgeon or dermatologist, board certification status, location, and academic h-index.

RESULTS

The top 101 Twitter influencers on #botox are presented. Seventy-five percent of influencers are physically located in the United States. Academic h-index of #botox social media influencers ranged from 0 to 62 (mean, 8.6).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that the top #botox social media influencers on Twitter and primarily board-certified or eligible plastic surgeons located in the United States. This study also elucidates the influencer network within which other plastic surgeons and dermatologists can interact to augment their own influence within the social media network. This is the first study to describe social media influencers in this way.