2020 has taken our world in many new directions, with varying influence on the cosmetic surgery market. Many office workers are now forced to see themselves reflected back in virtual meetings on the daily, with some believing ‘zoom face’ is contributing to a rise in cosmetic procedures. While on the other hand, national lockdowns and travel restrictions mean open surgeries are harder to come by, meaning the total number of procedures may have gone down throughout the year. But what can we expect from 2021?
Vaccines have begun their rollout but it will still be a long time before immunity is within reach, meaning masks, home working and zoom meetings aren’t going anywhere just yet.
Zoom face
Many people are seeing their faces on their computer screens daily thanks to home working and virtual meetings becoming the norm. For some, this has led to dissatisfaction with what they see, prompting cosmetic surgeries. Dr Jason Champagne told the Washington Post that he believes so-called ‘zoom face’ has led to a rise in interest, specifically in procedures affecting the chin, jawline and neck, because we aren’t accustomed to seeing ourselves at such an angle for so long.
Computer webcams are often particularly unflattering and sometimes highlight lines, wrinkles and blemishes more considerably that in real life, so while virtual meetings won’t lead everybody to cosmetic surgery, it’s likely this trend will continue throughout at least the first half of 2021.
Eye procedures
With masks becoming more common, some aestheticians believe eye procedures will see a significant rise. The effectiveness of masks in public spaces has seen mask mandates implemented around the world and with them, our eyes have become the only part of our face on show. A New York surgeon believes eyelid and brow rejuvenation treatments will gain popularity thanks to this.
Maskne
Another trend emerging from regular mask-wearing is the new threat of ‘maskne’. People who rarely experience breakouts are noticing a higher occurence of acne due to wearing a mask every day and, as a result are seeking ways to resolve this. The ‘maskne’ challenge is contributing to more non-invasive skin care procedures, including at-home chemical peels and treatments that focus on hyperpigmentation and scarring left behind.
Downtime changes & more invasive surgeries
Many people who have considered more significant cosmetic surgeries may have decided not to go under the knife in the past due to the extended downtime required for surgeries like liposuction, hair transplants and face lifts. However, with home working becoming the norm in many industries, people are choosing now to invest more in longer-term surgeries while they can comfortably recuperate at home.
Travel limitations, while contributing to a build-up in demand for surgeries, also means those who have remained employed are likely to have more disposable income they may otherwise have spent on holidays. Overall, the pandemic has caused what some are calling a ‘perfect storm’ for cosmetic surgeons despite the prevalent global public health issues.
Google search volumes and what they show
A study into search interest around cosmetic procedures by Your Comprehensive Breast Clinic shows that searches around breast lift surgery and breast augmentation surgery have seen a 363% and 176% rise in interest in the last last year, suggesting this form of procedure will be one of the most popular in 2021. The study finds that many cosmetic surgeries have seen a decline in interest year-on-year, most likely as a result of Covid restrictions.
However, this isn’t expected to diminish the demand for cosmetic practices, if anything further, lockdowns will likely result in more pent-up demand that could see the number of surgeries rise dramatically later in the year.
By Damon Culbert from Regrow Hair Centre Essex, hair transplant specialists.
