Plastic Surgeons See Rise of Plastic Surgery Amid Pandemic
One challenge that many San Francisco plastic surgery patients struggle with is how to recover privately from their cosmetic body procedures afterwards.
After all, recovery from some plastic surgery cosmetic procedures (also known as aesthetic surgery procedures) can take days or even weeks, and patients undergoing cosmetic surgery ideally want to be able to recover at home where they can feel comfortable and relaxed.
While there should be absolutely no shame associated with plastic surgery, many people also want to keep their cosmetic procedure private. People understandably don’t want to share every detail with their lives with the world.
This means that — depending on the plastic surgery procedures performed included how long it takes for the swelling to go down and scars to go away — staying at home for the entire duration of the recovery period may be optimal.
The difficulty is that this amount of time off due to aesthetic procedures is not possible for many people. Work, school, and general daily errands all require public appearances. Most people can’t avoid these interactions. That is, until now.
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COVID-19 AND THE RISE OF COSMETIC SURGERIES
No one would suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has been anything but terrible for the world. On every level, our daily lives have been turned upside down. Family and social spheres, work lives, and our general feelings of health and wellness have all changed drastically.
As news of the pandemic took hold, all of these changes were expected. At the same time, however, several rather unexpected effects are now being seen as well.
One unexpected effect of the pandemic has been a significant uptick in various cosmetic medical procedures and aesthetic surgery.
WHY HAVE PLASTIC SURGERIES INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN?
In these uncertain times, it makes sense to strive for at least some flicker of positivity in our lives. For many, this has meant taking the time to do some self-improvement.
That might mean reading more books, learning new recipes, working out more, spending more time with family, or … getting that plastic surgery procedure you’ve always wanted.
Aesthetic Plastic surgeons across the United States and in other parts of the world have noted a significant uptick in the number of surgeries and aesthetic procedures they are performing on a regular basis.
Many industries have virtually shut down (or are at risk of shutting down because of lost revenue). Some wonder about the difficulties plastic surgery faces during this difficult time, but plastic surgeons in San Francisco are performing more serious aesthetic surgeries and cosmetic plastic surgical procedures now than they usually do — even more than they did pre-COVID-19.
Why the change? Surgeons agree that it’s the virus shutdown. Most notably, individuals who would have otherwise had to postpone their cosmetic surgery because of work, school, or other responsibilities, are now scheduling their surgeries immediately. The pandemic has also allowed patients time to review surgery results while much of the world is slowed down.
Many potential patients — new and old — are reporting that surgeons’ offices are packed, and reservations are now booked months in advance. Finding a surgeon to perform an aesthetic surgery can be difficult when the popularity is so high.
THE BENEFITS OF PLASTIC SURGERY DURING LOCKDOWN
With most people working from home, more flexible daily schedules are the norm. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the number of plastic surgeries and aesthetic procedures (including noninvasive trademarked procedures) being performed has skyrocketed.
But what exactly are the results? What are the benefits of getting plastic surgery during a pandemic?
If you’ve been considering a tummy tuck, nose job, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift surgery or another cosmetic surgical procedure before, why might now be the right time to invest? Below, we go over the main benefits of getting plastic surgery during a pandemic.
1. TIME TO RECOVER IN PRIVATE
Having time to recover at home and in private is essential when undergoing a more invasive aesthetic surgery. Because right now, most people have to stay home, being at home during plastic surgery recovery is especially practical.
In other words, it’s not going to be odd to friends or family if you decline a dinner invitation or a lunch out with friends.
You can avoid running into people you know at the grocery store or running errands, and even if you do end up going out, wearing a mask may be able to hide a nose or lips that are still in recovery.
2. LESS TIME OFF WORK NEEDED
While many patients worry about being seen in public before they’ve fully recovered from their aesthetic surgery, others care less about this concern and more about the amount of time they’ll have to take off of work or school in order to heal. After all, depending on your occupation and the type of plastic surgery you’re interested in, you might require weeks at home — often, off your feet and avoiding any strenuous activity.
Of course, right now, doing this is much easier. Even if you are still working, recovery is much more feasible when you can work from home. Laptops, smart phones, and platforms such as Slack and Asana make keeping in touch with co-workers and clients easier than ever.
3. MASKS THAT HIDE HEALING PROCEDURES
Having a facelift or rhinoplasty? Because masks are basically ubiquitous, wearing one to cover your face as you recover from your rhinoplasty for example won’t be out of the ordinary.
You can wear a mask while continuing to go out in public, and you’ll still feel like you’re recovering in private. This has been one of the benefits that many patients have reported since undergoing surgery during the pandemic. While it is certainly nothing to rejoice about, the ability to recover in privacy and peace, review aesthetic surgery results while not drawing attention to oneself has been a benefit to many patients during this trying time.
4. CONSULTATION APPOINTMENTS THAT CAN BE CONDUCTED ONLINE
Another benefit of having plastic surgery right now is the opportunity to have your consultation appointment online. Before, often patients located physicians and met directly in person, but with the new adoption of consultation online, new avenues have opened for patients and surgeons alike. For many, this route is optimal, as is evidenced by the fact that plastic surgeons are seeing a huge uptick in online inquiries.
Foreigners interested in plastic surgery in the United States, for example, find online consultations especially useful when considering aesthetic procedures. Consultation online has made it easy for potential patients to learn about currently available aesthetic procedures.
Consultation online makes it easy for patients to quickly meet a surgeon possessing an educated and trained background. Virtual consultation allows patients the ability to become easily acquainted with the reconstructive surgery virtual curriculum.
It allows them the opportunity to plan ahead for various cosmetic procedures for their trip to the United States, once travel bans are lifted. While in office consultation visits at a surgical practice are helpful to both surgeons and patients, consultations online allow patients to readily compare procedures from the comfort of their home. The adoption of online consultation doesn’t negatively affect prospective patients desire to pursue surgery.
5. PLASTIC SURGEONS’ OFFICES THAT ARE CLEANER AND SAFER THAN EVER
The plastic surgeon’s network of surgeons and their staffs are working hard to ensure the safety and cleanliness of their facilities. For many who have avoided plastic surgery thus far during the pandemic, this news has been especially welcome.
Indeed, more plastic surgeons and aesthetic surgery offices are going the extra mile to ensure that masks are worn, social distancing is practiced, and all rooms and surfaces are regularly cleaned and sanitized.
THE RISE OF COSMETIC SURGERY
Technological progressions in the field of cosmetic surgery has not only enhanced safety and reduced invasiveness, but also accelerated recovery times and lowered procedural expenses. This goes for both surgical procedures as well as nonsurgical aesthetic procedures.
Consequently, individuals have experienced diminished apprehension and an increased openness to contemplate and embrace cosmetic surgery as a viable avenue for modifying their physical appearance.
THE VALUE OF COSMETIC SURGERY
Elevated self-image and self-confidence. Enhanced visual clarity following the removal of excess eyelid skin. Attainment of a more authentic appearance. These are just a few benefits of reconstructive surgery, noninvasive cosmetic procedures and facial plastic surgery.
Alleviation of discomfort and increased autonomy by addressing impediments that hinder movement. Many consider reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery elective procedures a valuable way to improve their quality of life and self-confidence.
MOST POPULAR COSMETIC PROCEDURES
Plastic surgery procedures included in the most popular today are rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, facelift, beast augmentation, and liposuction. Breast implant removal, thigh lift surgery, breast augmentation, breast lift surgery and male breast surgery are a few other additionally popular above the shoulder procedures. Data from 2019 revealed that 92% of cosmetic procedures conducted in the United States were performed on female patients, leaving the remaining 8% for male patients.
While this gender distribution has remained consistent for a significant portion of the past decade, there has been an increase in procedure numbers within specific age groups, notably among individuals aged 30 to 39 and those aged 55 and above.
Additionally, other aesthetic surgery procedure types like buccal fat removal, breast implant removal, body lift surgery or many other elective cosmetic procedures have seen an increase in popularity in the plastic surgery realm as well. Surgeries such as scoliosis correction surgery or orthopedic surgery are not surgeries that fall under the umbrella of cosmetic surgery, for the purpose of this article.
An uptick in cosmetic procedure interest has led more people to undergo aesthetic procedures since the pandemic. Interest from prospective patients in reconstructive surgery has also seen an increase since the pandemic. The plastic surgery world is still adjusting to the new number of people seeking aesthetic surgery.
KIM KARDASHIAN’S EFFECT ON THE RISE OF PLASTIC SURGERY IN AMERICA
Kim Kardashian’s effect on the rise of different plastic surgical procedures cannot be understated. Following the ascent to fame of Kim Kardashian, there has been a significant uptick of 51% in specific plastic surgery procedures like breast augmentations, buttock augmentations, buttock lifts, and tummy tucks, in contrast to other cosmetic surgeries.
Additionally, the data reveals a notable 20% surge in the total number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed. Plastic surgery trends tell us about the culture, what is popular and what is likely to be seen more often in the future.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Is there a rise in plastic surgery?
Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a notable rise in individuals delving into cosmetic and surgical alternatives. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has documented a 10% surge in cosmetic surgery cases.
Furthermore, data from the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank reveals a remarkable 54% upswing in Botox procedures and a substantial 75% increase in filler treatments compared to figures from 2019.
When did plastic surgery gain popularity?
There was an increase in plastic surgery relatively quickly after the onset of the pandemic. 2019 and 2020 are two years which saw an increase in cosmetic surgery. This significant change in the volume of aesthetic procedures was hypothesized to stem from the emergence of a secondary patient profile during the pandemic period.
While it is hard to point to exact dates, in the period of the pandemic, there was a marked increase in popularity of plastic surgery. Established plastic surgeons have seen almost every different form of plastic surgery rise in popularity.
Is plastic surgery losing popularity?
No, plastic surgery is not losing popularity. A survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons across its member surgeons throughout the country unveiled that over 75% of plastic surgery practices primarily focusing on cosmetic procedures are witnessing heightened business compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Among these, almost 30% of practices have reported a business surge of at least two-fold. In the context of the COVID situation, anticipations were geared towards the most adverse scenarios.
Has plastic surgery increased since social media?
The ascent of social media in the past decade has unquestionably revolutionized our perceptions of ourselves and others, both at the personal level and within the broader societal context. In the era prior to smartphones and social media, the notion of capturing a selfie was a rarity. Yet, fast-forwarding to 2014, Google revealed a staggering count of 93 million daily selfies.
More than a few must have made their way onto social media. The role of social media in the plastic surgery space has certainly made an impact. Rather than use a complex internet search system, social media allows potential patients to learn about procedures easily and efficiently.
Studies have indicated that among individuals aged 18 to 24, one out of every three photos snapped constitutes a selfie. Many of those selfies are destined for social media. It is fair to consider the rise of cosmetic surgery due to social media. Through social media, plastic surgeons engage with patients and learn what they may be looking for. Social media allows sugeons to get a fresh take on cosmetic procedural trends. There are findings that indicate a direct correlation between the number of social media apps an individual engaged with and their inclination toward contemplating cosmetic surgery.
Notably, those who utilized social media platforms such as Tinder and Snapchat displayed a more favorable outlook on surgical procedures compared to users of different applications. Users are easily able to search plastic surgery topics and learn more about possible surgeries. Plastic surgeon exposure to these platforms has changed the way surgeons interact with potential patients. Social media allows us to gain insight into temporal and geographic trends in the cosmetic surgery sphere.
What surgeries have seen growth in popularity?
In terms of the categories of cosmetic surgeries undertaken, facial procedures like facelifts and blepharoplasty constituted 40%, breast surgeries (breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, breast reduction, breast implant removal etc…) accounted for 31.6%, body contouring interventions including liposuction, abdominoplasty, and brachioplasty were performed in 17.9%, and rhinoplasty made up 10.5% of the total aesthetic procedures. Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery has also seen growth in popularity as well as other non surgical procedures.
What is buccal fat removal? What kind of growth in popularity have we seen?
Buccal fat removal is a surgical procedure aimed at eliminating fat from the specific region of your face. This can accentuate the underlying bone structure, particularly your cheekbones and the indented spaces between your cheeks and jawline. Occasionally, this procedure is referred to as cheek reduction.
The practice has gained significant traction in the United States, with the count of buccal fat removal procedures rising by nearly 70% in 2021, as previously documented by TODAY.
NONINVASIVE PROCEDURES COMPARED
What are non invasive procedures? Non-surgical cosmetic procedures encompass techniques that don’t necessitate your plastic surgeon to create cuts or eliminate tissue. These minimally invasive treatments offer the revitalizing and rejuvenating outcomes you desire, all without the need for a surgical blade. Many patients opt for noninvasive procedures.
Noninvasive procedures tend to have a very easy and quick recovery process. Some examples of noninvasive surgeries would be chemical peels, botox and laser treatments.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel involves the application of a chemical solution to the skin, aiming to eliminate its outermost layers. The resulting regrowth of skin is notably smoother in texture. For light to medium peels, it might be necessary to undergo the procedure multiple times to achieve the intended outcomes.
These peels are employed to address concerns such as wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and scars, primarily focusing on facial areas. They can be carried out as standalone procedures or in conjunction with other cosmetic treatments. Furthermore, these peels can be administered at varying depths, ranging from superficial to deep. While deeper chemical peels yield more significant transformations, they also entail longer recovery periods.
Botox
Botox injections involve the administration of a toxin that temporarily immobilizes a muscle, effectively halting its movement for a specific duration. These injections are commonly employed to reduce wrinkles on the facial skin. Additionally, they serve as treatments for issues like neck spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, strabismus (lazy eye), and other medical conditions. Botox injections have also shown potential in the prevention of migraines.
Laser Treatments
Laser skin resurfacing therapy is employed to achieve significant enhancements in wrinkles, scars, and skin damaged by the sun. As time progresses, the skin’s tone and texture will continually refine. While the face, neck, chest, and hands are the most commonly treated areas, virtually any part of the body can undergo resurfacing.
ARE YOU CONSIDERING PLASTIC SURGERY DURING THE PANDEMIC?
If you’ve ever considered plastic surgery in the past, now is the time! While the world may be undergoing changes at the current moment, there is no better time than now to make your dreams a reality. Dr. Sieber, of Sieber Plastic Surgery, is one of the leading plastic surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Dr. Sieber is double board-certified and specializes in both full reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgeries of the body, face, and breast.
Contact us today to book your initial consultation appointment online!
