In cosmetic surgery, your results speak louder than any marketing copy ever could. Potential patients aren’t just looking for credentials or testimonials. They want to see proof. Real transformations. Before and after photos that showcase your skill and artistry.
But here’s the challenge most cosmetic surgeons face:
Creating a website that beautifully showcases patient results while maintaining HIPAA compliance, patient privacy, and professional presentation is incredibly complex. Generic website builders lack the specialized features you need. Basic photo galleries don’t handle consent forms, watermarking, or secure patient communication.
What you really need is a platform that understands the unique requirements of aesthetic medicine:
- HIPAA-compliant photo storage and sharing capabilities
- Professional before/after gallery systems with filtering and search
- Secure patient consent and authorization workflows
- Mobile-responsive design that showcases high-resolution imagery
- Integration with practice management and patient communication tools
- SEO optimization to attract new patients searching for your procedures
The best healthcare website platforms help you do exactly that:
- Display stunning before/after galleries that convert visitors into consultations
- Manage patient photo consent and privacy with automated workflows
- Organize thousands of images by procedure, provider, and patient demographics
- Share results securely with patients and on social media marketing campaigns
- Track lead sources and conversion rates from your visual content
These are the platforms I recommend to plastic surgeons and aesthetic practices that want to leverage their results to grow their practice.
(I’ve personally helped implement these solutions across dozens of cosmetic surgery practices)
The best part?
These platforms handle everything from basic website creation to complex patient management, so you can focus on delivering exceptional results rather than managing technology.
My Top Healthcare Website Platforms for 2025
- Symplast: Mobile-first practice management platform with integrated website builder and robust media management
- WordPress with Medical Before After Gallery Plugin: Maximum customization with specialized cosmetic surgery themes and advanced photo management
- Wix: User-friendly website builder with professional medical templates and powerful photo gallery features
Symplast
Best for established cosmetic surgery practices that want everything integrated in one platform
Pricing: From $300 per month; custom quotes and demos available
Symplast takes the top spot because it’s the only platform built from the ground up specifically for plastic surgery and aesthetic practices. Unlike generic website builders, every feature is designed with cosmetic surgery workflows in mind.
I’ve watched practices switch to Symplast and immediately see improvements in both their online presence and patient management efficiency, especially when it comes to managing and sharing before/after photos.
Mobile-First Platform Built by Plastic Surgeons
Symplast was founded by plastic surgeons in 2013, and it shows. The platform is mobile-first, meaning you can manage your entire practice from your smartphone or tablet without sacrificing functionality.
This is crucial for cosmetic surgery practices where you’re constantly taking photos, sharing results with patients, and managing consultations on the go. The platform includes everything: EHR, practice management, patient engagement, billing, and a comprehensive website builder.
Here’s what makes it special: when a patient uploads photos for a virtual consultation through your website, they automatically sync with their patient record. No duplicate data entry. No lost images.
Robust Media Management for Before/After Photos
This is where Symplast truly excels. The platform includes sophisticated media management specifically designed for cosmetic surgery practices. Over 50% of patients decide on a provider based on before/after photos, and Symplast makes managing these assets seamless.
Key features include:
- Cloud-based photo storage with HIPAA compliance
- Photo and video tagging for easy search and organization
- Automated consent form workflows for patient photo releases
- Album creation for different procedures and providers
- Direct social media export capabilities for marketing
- Watermarking and privacy protection features
The system handles photos from any source: professional cameras, 3D imaging systems, or smartphone captures. Everything is stored securely in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.
Patient App Integration
Symplast includes a dedicated patient mobile app that integrates seamlessly with your website. Patients can:
- View their own before/after photos securely
- Share approved images with family for decision-making
- Access educational content about their procedures
- Communicate directly with your practice through HIPAA-compliant messaging
- Book follow-up appointments and virtual consultations
This creates a complete patient experience that extends far beyond your website, improving engagement and satisfaction.
Practice Integration
Because Symplast is a complete practice management platform, your website integrates with every aspect of your practice:
- Patient records and photo galleries sync automatically
- Appointment scheduling connects directly to your calendar
- Payment processing handles cosmetic surgery packages and financing
- Marketing tools track ROI from your before/after galleries
- Analytics show which procedures and photos drive the most consultations
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Purpose-built for plastic surgery with comprehensive media management | Higher cost due to all-in-one nature |
| Mobile-first design works perfectly for aesthetic practices | May be overkill for very small practices |
| HIPAA-compliant photo storage and sharing built-in | Frequent updates can occasionally disrupt workflows |
| Complete practice integration eliminates double data entry | Requires staff training due to comprehensive feature set |
Symplast Alternative: Nextech
Nextech offers similar EHR and practice management features for aesthetic practices, including before/after photo management. However, Symplast’s mobile-first approach and patient app integration give it an edge for practices that want to leverage technology for better patient engagement.
Symplast also offers more robust marketing features and social media integration for showcasing results.
WordPress with Medical Before After Gallery Plugin
Best for practices that want maximum customization and control over their website design
Pricing: From $100-300 per month (hosting + premium themes + plugins); extensive free options available
WordPress gives you complete control over your cosmetic surgery website design and functionality. When combined with specialized medical themes and the Medical Before After Gallery plugin, it becomes a powerful platform for showcasing patient results.
I recommend this option for practices that want a truly custom website experience and have some technical resources available.
Specialized Cosmetic Surgery Themes
WordPress offers dozens of premium themes designed specifically for plastic surgery and cosmetic practices. Popular options include:
- Renewal – Clean, aesthetically pleasing design with WPBakery page builder and premium plugins
- Medina – Multiple homepage layouts with dedicated plastic surgery templates
- Plastic Surgery Theme by SKT – Elementor-based with Interactive Procedure Simulator and 3D imaging integration
These themes include everything you need: procedure pages, doctor profiles, patient testimonials, and most importantly, sophisticated before/after gallery layouts.
Medical Before After Gallery Plugin
This specialized WordPress plugin is designed specifically for medical professionals and cosmetic surgery practices. It provides:
Free Features:
- Basic before/after gallery functionality
- Category filtering by procedure type
- Image cropping and optimization
- Responsive design for mobile devices
- Before/after view switching with smooth transitions
- Modal case navigation for detailed viewing
Pro Features ($99-199/year):
- Sub-category support for complex procedure organization
- Multiple before/after pairs per case
- Advanced filtering by age, gender, and procedure type
- Watermarking capabilities for brand protection
- Additional image carousels for comprehensive case documentation
- Sensitive content warnings for appropriate procedures
- Detailed case information and procedure notes
Complete SEO Control
WordPress excels at search engine optimization, which is crucial for cosmetic surgery practices. You have complete control over:
- Page titles and meta descriptions for each procedure
- Image alt text and SEO optimization for photo galleries
- Local SEO for geographic targeting
- Content marketing through integrated blogging
- Schema markup for medical practices
- Site speed optimization for large image galleries
This level of SEO control can significantly improve your visibility when potential patients search for procedures in your area.
Unlimited Customization Possibilities
With WordPress, you can create exactly the website you envision:
- Custom page layouts for different procedures
- Interactive elements and animations
- Integration with any third-party tools or services
- Advanced photo gallery layouts and presentations
- Custom forms for consultations and patient intake
- E-commerce functionality for selling skincare products
The platform also offers thousands of plugins for additional functionality, from appointment scheduling to live chat to social media integration.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited customization and design control | Requires more technical knowledge or developer support |
| Excellent SEO capabilities for attracting new patients | Need to manage hosting, security, and updates |
| Cost-effective for comprehensive features | Can become complex with many plugins |
| Extensive plugin ecosystem for additional functionality | No built-in practice management integration |
WordPress Alternative: Squarespace
Squarespace offers beautiful, professional templates with excellent photo gallery capabilities. However, it lacks the specialized medical plugins and SEO control that WordPress provides. WordPress is better suited for practices that want to leverage their before/after galleries for serious patient acquisition.
Wix
Best for practices that want professional results without technical complexity
Pricing: From $17 per month for Core plan; free plan available with limitations
Wix offers the perfect balance of professional design capabilities and user-friendly simplicity. With dedicated medical templates and powerful photo gallery features, it’s an excellent choice for cosmetic surgery practices that want a stunning website without the complexity.
I recommend Wix for practices that want to get online quickly with a professional appearance while still having room to grow and customize.
Medical-Specific Templates with Gallery Focus
Wix offers several templates designed specifically for cosmetic surgery practices, featuring:
- Clean, modern designs that emphasize visual content
- Built-in before/after gallery sections
- Professional color schemes (whites, golds, soft blues)
- Mobile-responsive layouts optimized for photo viewing
- Procedure-focused page structures
- Doctor and staff profile sections
These templates are designed with the understanding that visual results are crucial in cosmetic surgery marketing. The layouts prioritize high-quality image display while maintaining professional aesthetics.
Advanced Photo Gallery Features
Wix includes sophisticated gallery capabilities that work well for before/after photos:
Gallery Types:
- Grid layouts for procedure overviews
- Slider galleries for dramatic transformations
- Lightbox viewing for detailed examination
- Masonry layouts for varied image sizes
- Strip galleries for timeline progressions
Management Features:
- Drag-and-drop photo organization
- Custom image titles and descriptions
- Category filtering by procedure type
- Watermark application for brand protection
- SEO optimization for individual images
- Social media sharing integration
Professional Design Tools
Wix provides design flexibility without requiring coding knowledge:
- Advanced design editor with precise positioning
- Animation and transition effects for galleries
- Custom color schemes and branding
- Professional typography options
- Video integration for procedure explanations
- Interactive elements and hover effects
The platform also includes AI-powered design suggestions that can automatically create layouts optimized for your content and industry.
Built-in Marketing and SEO Features
Wix includes comprehensive marketing tools specifically valuable for cosmetic surgery practices:
- SEO wizard for optimizing gallery pages
- Social media integration for sharing results
- Email marketing for patient follow-up campaigns
- Analytics tracking for gallery performance
- Local business optimization for geographic targeting
- Lead capture forms integrated with galleries
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| User-friendly drag-and-drop interface requiring no coding | Less customization than WordPress |
| Professional medical templates with gallery focus | No built-in practice management features |
| Strong built-in SEO and marketing tools | Limited third-party integrations |
| Affordable pricing with comprehensive features | Photo storage limits on lower-tier plans |
Wix Alternative: Squarespace
Squarespace offers even more sophisticated design templates and excellent photo presentation capabilities. However, Wix provides better value for money and more flexibility for medical practices. Wix also offers better customer support and more medical-specific features.
Other Tools We Use in Our Cosmetic Surgery Website Workflow
Creating and maintaining a cosmetic surgery website requires more than just a website platform and photo galleries.
At the practices I work with, we use additional tools to maximize the impact of before/after galleries:
- Canva Pro for creating social media content from before/after photos
- Google Analytics 4 for tracking which galleries drive the most consultations
- Mailchimp for email campaigns featuring procedure results
- RealSelf integration for sharing verified before/after photos
- Instagram Business for social media marketing with patient results
- HIPAA-compliant cloud storage like Box or Google Workspace for additional photo backup
Each of these platforms excels in different areas, but they all solve the core challenge: creating a professional cosmetic surgery website that effectively showcases your before/after results while maintaining patient privacy and compliance.
Symplast is my top recommendation for established practices that want everything integrated in one mobile-first platform designed specifically for aesthetic medicine.
WordPress with Medical Before After Gallery Plugin offers the most customization and SEO control for practices that want to dominate local search results and create truly unique online experiences.
Wix delivers professional design quality with user-friendly simplicity, perfect for practices that want beautiful results without technical complexity.
The key is choosing the platform that matches your practice’s technical resources, growth plans, and patient volume. All three options will dramatically improve your ability to showcase results and convert website visitors into consultations.
Start with a demo or free trial of your preferred platform and test how easy it is to upload, organize, and display before/after photos. The right choice will feel intuitive and make your results the star of your online presence.
