6 · S U N D AYS I G N A L
J U LY 17, 2022
N E W S F E AT U R E
Plastic Surgery Making a Comeback After Pause By Jim Walker Signal Staff Writer
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t the beginning of the pandemic lockdowns, many U.S. hospitals and surgical centers banned all elective procedures, limiting plastic surgeries to only those that were reconstructive. Some practices had to close to all but essential patients, or suddenly pivot to in-office procedures only. Beyond that, there was a general sense of fear of the unknown. Many patients canceled previously scheduled surgeries, afraid of COVID-19. And others were no longer able to afford their procedures due to actual changes in income, or were pulling back on spending just to be careful. However, within a few months, restrictions were lifted, practices opened up and more people than ever before began seriously considering plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures. Locally, Paul Tran, M.D. FACS, specializes in facial, breast and body reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries. Here is how the pandemic affected his business: “Initially, when elective surgeries were on hold, this did negatively impact our business,” he said. “However, once elective surgeries resumed, we had a large backlog of cases to get through, including delayed cancer surgeries. Cosmetic demand for surgical and nonsurgical procedures increased as lockdowns ended and people could continue to work from home. This made it easier for people to have procedures and recover. We saw our cosmetic business increased 100%.” Now, on the surface, the idea of a pandemic and lockdowns leading to greater interest in plastic surgery may seem odd. But once you dig a little deeper, it starts to make sense. Anyone who had previously been interested in surgery, but was worried about the recovery period, now had a great opportunity. Though they would still need time off from work, they would require fewer sick days, since they could work from their bed as they recovered. Plus, that comfortable work-from-home wardrobe translates nicely to a post-surgery recovery one. Additionally, for those who suddenly didn’t need to commute, buy lunches out and focus on their work wardrobe, the pandemic also meant more money in the bank to spend as they wished. Probably most important was the wave of Zoom meetings. Many people now had to stare at their own image on a screen for hours each day. As a result, they had time to analyze their lines, wrinkles, double chins and more. So, people quickly sought out solutions, and many thousands began seeking plastic surgery during the pandemic. “With people stuck at home and unable to travel, many decided to spend money on themselves to improve their appearances,” Dr. Tran said. “Mask-
ing helps to cover up lower facial procedures. Working from home makes it easier for patients to have invasive procedures and recover. The increases in the stock market, cryptocurrency and housing prices also helped.” The year 2020 changed everything, including plastic surgery trends. For years, breast augmentation had reigned supreme, with liposuction, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery and facelifts rounding out the top five. These procedures remained popular in 2020, and the pandemic made getting and recovering from them easier for many. However, interest in facial procedures grew significantly. More patients began requesting everything from chin liposuction to facelifts. There was also an increased interest in med spa procedures, such as Botox and fillers, and this prompted many practices to increase their focus on nonsurgical offerings – and even change their delivery methods to accommodate drive-thru procedures. “Facial procedures, surgical and nonsurgical, increased for us by about 50%,” Tran said. “Body procedures, such as breast and abdominoplasty, increased as well, as they generally have a more prolonged recovery.” Currently, many people are wondering if this increased interest in plastic surgery in general, and facial procedures, in particular, is going to last once the pandemic is finally brought under control. While this is difficult to predict, most likely these plastic surgery trends will continue. First, the “new normal” is unlikely to give way to a return of the “old normal.” Companies have seen increased productivity and lowered costs by switching to a work-fromhome model. People are coming to enjoy their virtual chats, and even when socializing in person again, are unlikely to eliminate Zoom from their lives.
Second, Millennials are aging. The oldest members of the generation are 38 years old in 2021. Thanks to the rise of Gen Z and platforms like TikTok, they are also acutely aware that they are no longer the young kids on the block. Unlike previous generations, they are facing 40 while living in an online world. Even if the new normal were to fully disappear, social media will not. As such, the plastic surgery boom might lose some of its steam in a post-pandemic world, but it is unlikely to end. Tran said, “Popular procedures on social media, such as fillers, facial procedures and Brazilian butt lifts, will continue to drive demand. People seem more eager nowadays to not only have procedures, but to show them off as well.” With Daniel’s predictions as a cue, we note that the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s 2022 predictions show current trends persisting: More procedures will be performed at once to quell demand, and younger patients will be requesting procedures that are currently popular among middle-aged adults. Blepharoplasty (repairing droopy eyelids) was the top surgical procedure among 50- to 80-yearolds from January 2021 through July 2021. Yet, Aesthetic Society member surgeons predict younger women pursuing eyelid surgery in 2022. This is noted as a possible effect of the virtual meeting boom. And it is believed such meetings will motivate patients to try facial procedures to resolve issues they may not have noticed before, seeking out surgical and nonsurgical skin treatments. This article was partially based on an article by Lee Daniel, M.D., that appeared last year in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons news blog.
