The Lifestyle Lift Company Fined for Fake Online Reviews

I have blogged before how I am not necessarily a fan of the lifestyle lift (http://www.pickartplasticsurgeryblog.com/2008/01/lifestyle-lifts.html).  It's just a mini-facelift, and it's no different than what every plastic surgeon has been doing for the past 10-15 year.

Yet, I have always been amazed that this mediocre operation could create so much positive buzz.

Now I know how.  New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced last month that the cosmetic surgery company that promotes the Lifestyle Lift has agreed to a settlement over fake online reviews.  As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to stop publishing anonymous reviews of its offerings and to pay $300,000 in penalties to the state.

Apparently, Lifestyle Lift paid its employees to write positive reviews about the company on various websites.  These employees also apparently "attacked" legitimate internet posters who criticized its services, and even tried to get those reviews removed.  Cuomo's office says that its investigators came across internal e-mails that specifically instructed employees on what actions to take.

While $300,000 might be just a slap on the wrist, I hope that this story generates at least a little bad buzz about the Lifestyle Lift.  Could karmic justice be for real?