71% of Austin Plastic Surgeons Are Invisible to AI. Gemini Could Not Name a Single One

Executive Summary

We scanned 48 plastic surgery practices in Austin, Texas across three leading AI platforms: ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The results reveal a sharp divide: while plastic surgeons are more visible overall than other industries we have tested, one entire AI platform sees nothing at all.

14 out of 48 practices appeared in at least one AI response. But the headline-grabbing finding is this: Gemini could not name a single plastic surgeon from our sample. Every mention came from either ChatGPT or Claude. Not once did Gemini recognize an Austin-area plastic surgery practice.

Methodology

This study is based on structured AI visibility scans conducted in March 2026.

• Sample: 48 plastic surgery practices in Austin, Texas (top 48 by Google review count)
• Sourcing: practices identified via Google Places API, deduplicated by domain and confirmed for active web presence
• Models tested: ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude
• Prompts: natural-language questions about Austin plastic surgery services (see below), with no prompt engineering or specialty modifiers
• Scoring: each practice received a visibility score (0-100) based on appearance frequency, mention quality, and cross-model consistency

The Questions We Asked AI

We crafted questions that mirror how real patients search for plastic surgery, whether they are exploring cosmetic options, preparing for a consultation, or simply comparing practices across the Austin metro.

Every prompt was sent to all three AI platforms exactly as written. Responses were analyzed for specific practice and surgeon mentions, recommendation context, and level of detail.

Overall Visibility Findings

Appearance Rate by Model Count

Of the 48 plastic surgery practices tested, here is how many appeared in AI responses:

34 practices (71%) were completely absent from AI. Nine appeared in just one model (almost always Claude). Five practices were recognized by two models (ChatGPT and Claude). Strikingly, not a single practice appeared in all three models, because Gemini mentioned zero practices from our entire sample.

How Each AI Model Sees the Market

The most dramatic finding of this scan is the complete divergence between models. Claude was by far the most active, ChatGPT showed moderate awareness, and Gemini was entirely blind to the Austin plastic surgery market:

Claude recognized 12 practices from our sample, making it the most informed model for this industry by a significant margin. ChatGPT mentioned 7. Gemini, despite being given the same prompts in the same format, could not identify a single Austin-area plastic surgeon from our sample of 48.

Visibility Score Distribution

With an average score of 8/100, plastic surgeons score higher than roofers (3) but still face widespread invisibility. The distribution shows a clear split between the small group of visible practices and the large invisible majority.

Most Visible Practices

The top 5 practices by visibility score:

Even the highest score (50/100) falls short of what we have seen in other industries where top practices scored 64 or higher. This suggests that while more plastic surgeons are visible, no single practice has achieved dominant AI recognition across all platforms.

Google Reviews Have No Impact on AI Recommendations

The pattern we have documented across every industry holds true here as well: Google review counts have no bearing on whether AI recommends a plastic surgery practice.

Multi-Model Disagreement

With a 100% disagreement rate, the three AI models each gave patients an entirely different picture of Austin plastic surgery. This is especially significant because one model had nothing to say at all.

ChatGPT and Claude shared 5 practices in common but each also had unique recommendations. Claude was the broadest, mentioning 12 practices from our sample. For patients researching plastic surgery, the AI platform they choose fundamentally shapes which surgeons they discover.

Competitive Density

Across all AI responses, we identified 71 unique practices and surgeons mentioned by at least one model. This is the highest competitive density of any industry we have scanned, reflecting the broader awareness AI has of the plastic surgery field.

Most Frequently Recommended

Dr. Jennifer Walden led all recommendations with 98 mentions, followed closely by Austin Plastic Surgery Institute at 92. The competitive field is more balanced than roofers, where a single company dominated with 343 mentions.

AI’s Narrow Lens

According to industry data, there are approximately 200 plastic surgery practices and surgeons operating in the Austin metro area. Across all AI responses in this study, the models collectively referenced 71 unique names.

What This Means for Plastic Surgeons

The data reveals both challenges and opportunities:

• Gemini is a blind spot for the entire industry. Google's AI model could not identify a single plastic surgeon from our top-reviewed sample. If a patient uses Gemini to research cosmetic surgery, they will not find any of these 48 practices.
• Claude is the most informed model for plastic surgery. With 12 practices recognized (vs. ChatGPT's 7), Claude has the widest awareness of Austin plastic surgeons. Patients using Claude get the most comprehensive local recommendations.
• More surgeons are visible, but no one dominates. The highest score (50/100) is lower than top scores in other industries. This means no single practice has achieved the kind of dominant AI recognition that Austin Roofing and Construction achieved for roofers (64) or Rolle Oral (68) for dentists.
• Reviews are completely irrelevant. Practices with 800+ reviews are invisible while those with under 100 reviews lead the visibility rankings. AI training data, not review platforms, determines recognition.
• Cross-model visibility matters more. The 5 practices that appeared in both ChatGPT and Claude scored significantly higher than those appearing in only one platform.

This report does not prescribe strategies for improving AI placement. No guaranteed method exists to influence AI recommendations. However, understanding which platforms know about your practice is the essential first step.

See Your Own Visibility

This report provides a market-level view of the Austin plastic surgery industry. Your specific situation may differ.

• You could be one of the 29% that AI already recognizes
• Competitors may be visible on platforms you have not checked
• AI may describe your specialties inaccurately or reference outdated credentials

The only way to find out is to scan your own practice.