This case study analyzes the collaboration between Growth Marketing Studios and “Professional Plastic Surgery.” While exceptional results were achieved in a short period, it serves as a fundamental lesson on the risks associated with unilaterally modifying digital media strategies and the severe consequences of violating the operational protocols of platforms like Google Ads.
Client: Professional Plastic Surgery
Industry: Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery
Services: SEO, Google Ads (PPC), Integrated Media Strategy Agency: Growth Marketing Studios
Active Management Period: August 2021 – November 2021
In August 2021, Growth Marketing Studios was retained by Professional Plastic Surgery at a critical juncture. The clinic’s Google Ads account had been suspended, causing a drastic drop in patient acquisition. Our strategic intervention revitalized the account, achieving near-total market dominance within just one month. However, the campaign was abruptly halted due to changes made by the client without prior consultation, resulting in a new account suspension and a sustained long-term loss of performance.
Professional Plastic Surgery faced a visibility crisis. Their primary acquisition channel was inactive due to previous non-compliance with Google Ads policies. The objective was twofold:
Remediate and reactivate the account by strictly adhering to the policies and patents that support Google Ads.
Rapidly boost sales through an optimized strategy integrating paid and organic traffic.
Our approach centered on an “Across Media” strategy, designed to create synergy between SEO and PPC, ensuring both channels converged efficiently on the website.
Account Remediation and Compliance: A thorough audit of the suspended account was conducted. Campaigns were restructured, ad copy was adjusted, and landing pages were optimized to ensure full compliance with Google’s healthcare advertising regulations.
Integrated Push: Following reactivation, a comprehensive approach was implemented to simultaneously boost organic and paid traffic.
The strategy proved highly effective immediately. Beginning in September 2021, the account experienced exponential growth.
Key Metrics (September 2021):
Monthly Visits: 3,322
Traffic Share: 89%
This 89% “Traffic Share” is crucial. It meant that out of 100% of relevant searches for the procedures offered by the clinic, 89% of the time the user ended up on the Professional Plastic Surgery website—demonstrating almost complete dominance of the digital market.
Growth continued through October and early November, evidencing the sustained effectiveness of the “Across Media” strategy.
Despite the demonstrated success, in November 2021 (culminating around November 26th), the clinic’s internal team began implementing significant changes to the Google Ads account without consulting Growth Marketing Studios. These modifications altered the core components of the optimized strategy.
The consequence was immediate: Google Ads suspended the account again, and traffic plummeted.
It is essential to understand how modern advertising platforms operate. When multiple drastic changes are made to the core values of a Google Ads account (such as bidding strategies, targeting, budgets, or creatives) in a short period, operational guidelines are violated, and automatic alerts are triggered:
Disruption of Machine Learning: Smart Bidding strategies require time and consistency to collect data and optimize performance. Constant changes restart the “Learning Phase,” preventing optimization, creating instability, and increasing costs.
“Circumventing Systems” Alert: Google may interpret massive and rapid changes as an attempt to manipulate the ad auction or evade policy review processes. This is one of the most severe violations of Google’s terms of service.
Suspicious Activity: Erratic changes can be interpreted by security systems as unauthorized activity or an attempt to abuse the advertising network, leading to preventative suspensions.
Faced with the violation of the strategy’s integrity and the impossibility of guaranteeing results under those volatile conditions, Growth Marketing Studios made the professional decision to cease operations with the client.
We include this case study to emphasize a vital lesson in digital marketing. From the interruption of the strategy in November 2021 to the present day (August 2025), Professional Plastic Surgery has been unable to recover the traffic levels or market share achieved under specialized management.
| Metric | Sept 2021 (Peak GMS Management) | Aug 2025 (Current State) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Organic Traffic | 3.3K | 2K | -39% |
| Traffic Share | 89% | 5% | -84 pts |
Semrush analysis in August 2025, showing a 5% Traffic Share and a sustained inability to surpass the 2021 peak.
This case study is presented as an enriching experience on what NOT to do when retaining a media agency.
When a specialized agency is hired, the success of the strategy depends entirely on maintaining its integrity. Platforms like Google Ads are complex ecosystems governed by algorithms and strict policies. Modifications made without the proper technical expertise expose the company to severe penalties, loss of investment, and, as this case demonstrates, a competitive setback that can be very difficult to overcome.
YouTube is the world’s second-largest search engine after Google, making it a powerful channel for patient acquisition in the medical field. This example highlights a content campaign designed specifically for YouTube, built around long-tail keywords such as “Hey, I smoke uh THC. Is that okay?” or “any nicotine product… is not a good thing to have“.
By targeting informational-intent searches, the campaign ensures that prospective patients actively seeking answers and insights are directed toward authoritative, clinic-focused video content.
The first step is not to panic or attempt random fixes. Contact a certified Google Ads professional who can audit the account, identify the violation, and create a reinstatement strategy. Acting without expertise may worsen the penalty or prolong the downtime.
With a properly optimized campaign, results can begin appearing within days, but meaningful data and measurable patient leads typically stabilize within 30 days. In our case study, we achieved 89% traffic share in just one month.
Never attempt unauthorized changes, quick hacks, or third-party “shortcuts.” These can violate Google’s protocols further and trigger longer suspensions. Instead, follow a structured recovery plan managed by specialists.
With a comprehensive cross-media strategy, recovery can be very fast. In the case study, the clinic went from zero presence to over 3,300 monthly visits in less than 30 days.
Because even minor, unauthorized changes to a well-built campaign can dismantle performance overnight. Once Google’s trust is broken, regaining it is a long and difficult process.
DIY fixes often lead to further violations, permanent account bans, or wasted ad spend. Specialized management ensures compliance, faster reinstatement, and protection of long-term results.
The damage can be long-term. In our case study, years after unauthorized interference, the clinic still hasn’t regained its 2021 performance peak. Strategic mistakes can have lasting consequences.
Partnering with a specialized medical marketing agency. Experts understand compliance, patient-safety regulations, and Google’s strict policies—ensuring not just rapid growth, but sustainable long-term visibility.
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Commercial Disclosure: This case study is presented for illustrative and commercial purposes only. It highlights marketing performance within a specific timeframe and does not disclose confidential or proprietary client information. All performance data referenced can be obtained through publicly available tools and resources on the Internet. Any business names, metrics, or outcomes mentioned are used strictly to demonstrate Growth Marketing Studios’ expertise in digital marketing. This content should not be interpreted as legal, financial, or medical advice, and results are not guaranteed. By publishing this case study, Growth Marketing Studios affirms its commitment to transparency while safeguarding sensitive client data.