The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states there are 18 million cosmetic surgeries per year. Many believe that plastic surgery became unpopular during the pandemic, but that’s not true.
Many people have cosmetic procedures during the COVID-19 era after some early hesitation. The pandemic was actually good for Houston plastic surgery.
When The Pandemic Started
When COVID-19 first broke in the US, there was a drop-off in some plastic surgeries. There were lockdowns in effect as well as social distancing, so many healthcare facilities suspended non-elective procedures.
The only plastic surgeries that could be done were essential and reconstructive. In some areas, some plastic surgery facilities had to close their doors.
But this shutdown didn’t last for long. By June 2020, many restrictions on cosmetic procedures were lifted, and these facilities reopened.
The Zoom Boom
You might wonder why someone would get plastic surgery during the pandemic. Isn’t having a non-essential surgery during this time strange? With the risks of being exposed to the virus, you might think that going under the knife is a bad idea.
However, if you have been on social media during the pandemic, you could see people working at home in their workout clothes. They might be sitting on their couch on their laptop when they ‘go to work.’
People are casual about their appearance during this time, so are they still interested in plastic surgery? Yes!
If you think about it, this isn’t surprising. If you were thinking about a facelift a few years ago, you could do it during the pandemic when you work from home. Your recovery can take place with few people seeing you. You also don’t need to take a vacation from work.
One of the biggest reasons people have gotten plastic surgeries during the pandemic is the ‘Zoom Boom.’ Millions of Americans have been using Zoom to have daily meetings with their co-workers as they do their jobs. They have been seeing themselves on video camera for hours per day and may have noticed things about their faces that they didn’t like.
For example, a computer camera may show your face’s lines, wrinkles and saggy skin. Zoom has been an impetus for those people to have cosmetic procedures, including facelifts and dermal fillers.
The Most Popular Pandemic Procedures
During the pandemic, a lot changed in plastic surgery. Some procedures have surged in popularity. Breast augmentation, liposuction, and eyelid surgery, facelifts, and rhinoplasties have always been popular. These procedures have stayed popular because working remotely lets people do their recoveries at home without downtime.
But there has been a big jump in the number of cosmetic procedures on the face, thanks to the Zoom Boom. Patients are asking for more facelifts, Botox, and injectable fillers. Chin liposuction also is a growing procedure. Working from home drove this trend, as did public masking. Many plastic surgeons offered more nonsurgical procedures, and some provided minor procedures on a drive-thru basis.
Many plastic surgeons reported an increase in facial procedures that could be done in one session, including Botox and injectable fillers. People wanted their procedures done in one sitting and didn’t mind if there was more bruising and swelling because they worked remotely and wearing masks in public.
Will The Zoom Boom Trend Continue?
Will the higher interest in facial plastic procedures continue as COVID-19 recedes and more Americans are vaccinated? It’s hard to say, but some in the industry believe it’s likely it will continue after the pandemic.
First, note that life probably won’t go entirely to the way it was before COVID. More businesses have increased profits and productivity by using a remote work model for many employees. Also, many enjoy talking to co-workers, friends, and relatives on Zoom and similar platforms.
Even when people socialize in person again, many Americans will probably continue to use this technology. They’ll continue to see their faces on cam, which could drive them to seek plastic surgery as a solution.
Another issue is that the oldest millennials are 38 as of 2021. With Gen Z and other new social media platforms, millennials aren’t the ‘kids’ anymore. They live in a largely online world and are approaching 40. Even if our lives go back to the way they were, social media and video platforms will continue to influence our behavior.
See Also: What Plastic Surgery Procedures Are Covered By Insurance?
Request a Plastic Surgery Consultation
Interested in a Houston plastic surgery consultation? Please set up a consultation with Dr. Ashley Steinberg today. She’ll talk to you about the benefits and risks of various procedures to determine if you’re a good candidate.
References
Will The Plastic Surgery Boom Last After The Pandemic? (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/will-the-plastic-surgery-boom-last-after-the-pandemic#
Demand For Plastic Surgery Rises During The Pandemic. (2020). Accessed at https://abcnews.go.com/Health/demand-plastic-surgery-coronavirus/story?id=71773172
