Dr. Emil Kohan, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, has launched the Choose Knowledge First Pledge, a personal initiative encouraging individuals to slow down and make informed decisions before pursuing cosmetic procedures or other appearance-related changes. The pledge aims to counter the influence of social media and fleeting beauty trends by promoting education, personal responsibility, and long-term thinking.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 1.6 million cosmetic surgical procedures were performed in the United States in 2024, alongside millions of minimally invasive procedures. Research has also linked frequent exposure to appearance-focused social media content with greater body dissatisfaction, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Dr. Kohan's initiative addresses these issues by emphasizing patient education and realistic expectations as essential components of cosmetic care.
"Patients don't want to become someone else," Dr. Kohan said. "They want to look like the best version of themselves." He believes this philosophy extends beyond aesthetic medicine, noting that "science and creativity should work together. The best decisions come from combining good information with thoughtful reflection."
The Choose Knowledge First Pledge outlines seven personal commitments Dr. Kohan is making to reflect the initiative's values: continuing learning throughout his career, encouraging questions before decisions, prioritizing individualized care, choosing long-term outcomes, communicating honestly, contributing to education, and leading by example. "The details matter," he said. "Small decisions can have a major impact on the final result."
In addition to the pledge, Dr. Kohan provides a do-it-yourself toolkit with practical steps anyone can take without spending money. Suggestions include writing down reasons for considering a major change, waiting 48 hours before appearance-related decisions influenced by social media, learning something new for 15 minutes daily, and comparing today's goals with where one wants to be in five years. The toolkit also encourages following educational resources instead of trend-focused accounts and spending one day each week without comparing oneself to others online.
A 30-day progress tracker invites participants to daily check off actions such as learning something new, pausing before important decisions, asking thoughtful questions, and focusing on personal goals. Weekly reflection questions help assess changes in perspective and decision-making. Dr. Kohan hopes the initiative sparks conversations about thoughtful decision-making, realistic expectations, lifelong learning, and personal responsibility. "The goal is always to get better," he said. "That's how meaningful progress happens."
