How TrustScore Works
Our proprietary rating system analyzes hundreds of signals to identify truly exceptional medical spas — not just the ones with the most 5-star reviews.
The Problem with Star Ratings
Traditional review platforms show simple star averages. But a 4.8-star rating from 20 reviews isn't the same as 4.8 stars from 500 reviews. And unfortunately, fake reviews have become a serious problem:
- Businesses can purchase fake positive reviews
- Competitors can leave fake negative reviews
- A burst of reviews after a "review campaign" looks the same as organic growth
- One-time reviewers with no history are treated equally to established contributors
Our Approach
TrustScore evaluates each review individually, then aggregates them using statistical methods that reward genuine quality and penalize suspicious patterns.
Review Quality
We analyze each reviewer's credibility (account history, contribution level, photos uploaded), the depth of their review text, and consistency over time.
Rating Analysis
Beyond simple averages, we use Bayesian statistics to account for sample size, analyze rating distribution patterns, and track recent trends.
Business Signals
Established businesses with consistent review flow, owner engagement with feedback, and years of operation earn higher trust.
Authenticity Detection
Our algorithm specifically looks for patterns that suggest manipulation:
- Review bursts — sudden spikes in reviews compared to normal activity
- Weak profiles — high percentage of reviews from accounts with no history
- Unnatural distributions — 95%+ five-star ratings from new accounts
- Duplicate content — similar review text across multiple reviewers
Important: We protect businesses from "positive attacks" — when competitors flood a business with fake positive reviews to trigger our fraud detection. Our algorithm separates trusted "core" reviews from suspicious ones.
What the Scores Mean
Outstanding quality with highly authentic reviews
Consistently high quality and trustworthy reviews
Above average with reliable review history
Only places with TrustScore 75+ and at least 20 reviews appear in our listings.
Curated, Not Comprehensive
Unlike traditional directories that list every business, BeautyPlaces is a curated guide. We intentionally show only the top-rated places — typically the top 15-20% by TrustScore in each area.
Think of us as a Michelin Guide for medical spas: being listed here means something. We'd rather show you 15 excellent options than 100 mediocre ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can businesses pay to improve their TrustScore?
No. TrustScore is calculated entirely from public review data. We don't accept payment to modify scores or rankings.
How often is TrustScore updated?
We recalculate scores regularly as new reviews come in. A business's score reflects their current reputation, not historical performance alone.
Why isn't my favorite place listed?
A place might not appear if it has fewer than 20 reviews, a TrustScore below 75, or hasn't been indexed yet. We're continuously expanding coverage.
Where does the review data come from?
We aggregate publicly available review data from multiple platforms. TrustScore is our own metric — it's not taken from any single source.