Most plastic surgeons had to close their doors during the COVID-19 lockdown, but expected to be busy when they opened back up again to deal with the backlog.
However, some reported seeing as much as a 300% increase in bookings and it wasn't just to deal with the backlog. There was an entirely new wave of people interested in plastic surgery.
This has created a surprising boom for the industry that is showing no immediate signs of slowing down. Many surgeons are now booking appointments with a waiting list that rolls into 2021.
Here are a few reasons why we may see this trend continue even longer.
Zoom Calls
Nearly every industry has had to move to video conference calls to keep their workforce connected. This has caused a lot of people to see their own faces far more than they used to via the mirror image on the webcam.
This gives countless people a new level of exposure to their own faces. If there was something about it that they didn't love before COVID-19, say their nose or drooping eyelids, they are now forced to look at it for hours at a time.
If this is something they have been considering for years, they now have the impetus to do something about it.
Cancelled Plans and Extra Money
Travel restrictions have led to droves of unlucky people having to cancel their vacation plans. This leaves them with a little bit of extra cash they had set aside.
For some, that treat may come in the form of a new pool in the backyard, while others are choosing to finally get breast implants done by professionals to get the look they have always wanted.
A lot of people have a burning desire to treat themselves after having their vacation (or possibly even wedding) plans taken away by COVID. Plastic surgery may be their opportunity to do it.
Simplified Recovery
Working from home also gives people the chance to recover from their procedures at home, without the need to use vacation days or sick days.
They can pretty much carry on "business as usual" if they need a week or so to fully recover from their procedure, while nobody at work even notices.
The Evolution of Services
Of course, plastic surgeons are doing everything they can to accommodate their customers while we all learn to deal with the new normal.
In fact, according to a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) revealed that 68% of plastic surgeons and cosmetic professionals are now handling pre and post-operative appointments virtually via video calls because of COVID-19.
Many plastic surgeons went from worrying about laying people off because of COVID to now wondering if they need to add more staff to keep up with demand. Will this continue into 2021 and beyond? It's too early to tell. However, we are seeing an overall societal shift in attitudes towards plastic surgery.
In fact, a recent survey revealed that almost half of respondents who haven't had any plastic surgery said they are open to having cosmetic or reconstructive procedures in the future.
