Platform Comparison
Radius vs. RealSelf: A Better Way to Grow Your Practice
Why top practices are choosing deposit-based patient acquisition over traditional pay-per-lead platforms.
The Problem with Traditional Lead Platforms
RealSelf and similar platforms were revolutionary when they launched. Finally, patients had a place to research procedures and find surgeons. But as the platform matured, the incentives shifted.
What Surgeons Say About RealSelf
"Every doctor has 5 stars... then I check Google and Yelp, and it's a different universe."
"We pay thousands per month and most leads never respond or are just price shopping."
"The platform seems to favor whoever pays the most for sponsored placement."
— Paraphrased from Reddit discussions with surgeons and practice managers
The core issues:
- Pay-to-play visibility - Surgeons who pay more get seen more, regardless of quality
- Low-quality leads - Anyone can submit an inquiry with no commitment
- Review concerns - Questions about whether negative reviews are moderated fairly
- High costs - Monthly fees plus per-lead charges add up fast
- No qualification - You don't know if leads are serious until you spend time on them
A Different Approach: Deposit-Based Acquisition
What if instead of paying for every lead (serious or not), you only engaged with patients who demonstrated real commitment?
That's the Radius model:
Pre-Qualified Patients
Patients submit photos and describe their goals before you spend any time. You know exactly what they want.
Deposit Commitment
Patients who accept your quote put down a deposit. This filters out tire-kickers and ensures serious intent.
Video Consultations
Respond with personalized video on your schedule. No blocked consultation times for patients who don't show.
Transparent Platform
No pay-to-play visibility. Your portfolio and patient outcomes speak for themselves.
The Economics Make Sense
Let's compare a typical scenario:
| Metric | Traditional Platform | Radius |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform cost | $500-2,000 | Varies by plan |
| Leads per month | 50 | 20 |
| Response rate | 40% | 100% (deposit required) |
| Consultation no-show rate | 65% | 15% |
| Consultations completed | 7 | 17 |
| Booking rate from consult | 30% | 50% |
| Procedures booked | 2 | 8-9 |
The math is clear: fewer, higher-quality leads outperform a flood of unqualified inquiries.
Who Should Consider Switching?
Radius works best for practices that:
- Value their time - Don't want to chase unresponsive leads
- Have strong before/after portfolios - Let results speak for themselves
- Are frustrated with no-shows - Ready to solve the problem at its root
- Want transparency - Prefer platforms that don't favor highest bidders
- Are open to virtual consultations - Comfortable with video-based initial consultations
Not a Complete Replacement (Yet)
We'll be honest: RealSelf has a massive audience that Radius is still building. If you're focused purely on volume, RealSelf's reach is hard to match.
But if you care about:
- Lead quality over quantity
- Reducing wasted consultation time
- Connecting with committed patients
- A more transparent platform
Then Radius is worth exploring—either as a supplement or a primary channel.