Court No before-and-after photos of cosmetic surgery

OLG Koblenz: Advertising also for registered interested parties inadmissible
Koblenz (law). Clinics are not allowed to advertise before-and-after photos for cosmetic surgery. This is inadmissible even if the reputation of the images requires prior registration, the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Koblenz ruled in a judgment announced on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 (Ref .: 9 U 1362/15).

There was a lawsuit of the Wettbewerbszentrale in Bad Homburg instead of a doctor who runs a beauty clinic in Rhineland-Palatinate. Among other things, he shows images of patients before and after the plastic surgery in the clinic on his website. However, the pictures can only be viewed when interested parties register for this.

Image: Gennadiy Poznyakov - fotolia

Nevertheless, the advertising is inadmissible, now ruled the Higher Regional Court Koblenz. Admittedly, since 2012, the promotion of medications with before-and-after images has been permitted under certain conditions, but the formerly general prohibition has been expressly retained for cosmetic surgery.

The inadmissibility of the photo comparison is not altered by the fact that the images can be viewed only after a registration. "The legislature has completely banned advertising with before-and-after images," emphasize the Koblenz judges in their ruling of June 8, 2016. mwo / fle