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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that 18 million Americans had cosmetic surgery in 2019. You might think that some people would hesitate to have plastic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In reality, though, many Americans are choosing to have surgical and non-surgical cosmetic surgery after some initial hesitancy.
When COVID-19 first broke out in the United States, plastic surgery did drop off substantially. With lockdowns and social distance protocols, many surgical centers and healthcare facilities stopped elective procedures.
Plastic surgeries were temporarily limited to reconstructive and essential only. In a few cities, some plastic surgery centers either had to close temporarily.
However, this phase didn't last long. By mid-2020, restrictions on plastic surgeries were lifted, many plastic surgery facilities reopened, and more people than ever wanted to consider their options.
Some may wonder who would get plastic surgery during COVID? You may think that having non-essential surgeries during lockdowns and COVID is strange. If you checked your social media feeds, you might see people working from home in their PJs, not brushing their hair, before 'going to the office' on their laptop in the living room.
If people are so casual about their appearance, could they still be interested in plastic surgery? The answer is yes!
When you look at it more closely, it makes sense. Anyone who had considered a facelift before, for example, could now have their procedure when they worked from home. No worries about taking time off or having the office see you after having the work done. They could work from home during their recovery.
And for people who didn't have to drive to work, buy lunch, or work clothes, they sometimes had more money to spend on other things.
But most believe one of the biggest drivers of the boom of plastic surgery during COVID was the Zoom Boom. When millions of workers transitioned to online meetings and work, many saw themselves in their computer video camera all day. So they probably saw some lines, wrinkles, and other things they didn't like.
Naturally, some of them started to consider plastic surgery.
A lot changed in plastic surgery in 2020, including the most popular procedures. Portland breast augmentation has long been a popular choice, as were liposuction, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, and facelifts. Those procedures were still popular because working from home allowed people to recover more quickly.
But the numbers jumped in facial cosmetic procedures, thanks to Zoom, it's believed. Patients began to request facelifts, chin liposuction and Botox, and injectable fillers. Working from home helped encourage this trend, but so did wearing masks in public. Many practices expanded their nonsurgical procedures; a few even began to offer drive-thru service!
Some plastic surgeons also saw an increase in one-sitting facial procedures that didn't require multiple visits, such as fillers and Botox. People wanted to get it all done in 'one shot' and didn't mind if they had more swelling because they worked at home and wore masks outside.
Many wonder if the greater interest in plastic surgery, precisely facial procedures, will continue when the pandemic fades as more people are vaccinated. This is hard to predict, but some believe it's likely that these trends will continue after life gets back to normal.
First, consider that it's unlikely that life will go back to exactly as it was before. More companies have boosted productivity and profits by using a telecommute model for many workers. People enjoy chatting on Zoom and other video platforms. Even when socializing face-to-face is common again, many probably will continue with this technology in their lives.
Another factor is that millennials are getting older; the oldest members were 38 as of 2021. With Gen Z and new social platforms such as TikTok, they know they aren't 'the kids' anymore. Unlike generations in the past, they are looking at 40 years old in a primarily online world. Even if life does get back to how it was, social media will still dominate people's lives.
Have you been thinking about having plastic surgery during the COVID-19 era? Dr. Aric Aghayan is proud to serve Portland area patients at his practice, Après Plastic Surgery. He will meet with you for your Portland cosmetic procedure consultation today. He'll go over the options, your goals, and more to determine if you're an ideal candidate for a plastic surgery procedure.
You won't regret your decision!
References
Plastic Surgery Boom During Quarantine. (2020). Accessed at https://www.elle.com/beauty/makeup-skin-care/a35759379/plastic-surgery-boom-during-quarantine/
Will The Plastic Surgery Trend Last After The Pandemic? (n.d.). Accessed at https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/will-the-plastic-surgery-boom-last-after-the-pandemic
Plastic Surgery Popularity During Coronavirus Booms. (January 2020). Accessed at https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/plastic-surgery-popularity-coronavirus-pandemic-zoom-boom
Enjoy the pinnacle of cosmetic surgery expertise with board-certified Portland Plastic Surgeon Dr. Aric Aghayan at Après Plastic Surgery. With a legacy of over 1600 successful body contouring procedures, Dr. Aghayan stands as the foremost specialist in advanced body contouring technology and treatment options. Take the next big step on your beauty journey by scheduling a comprehensive plastic surgery consultation with Dr. Aghayan today.