Demand For Plastic Surgery Skyrockets After Covid, Still Going Strong

So it’s been a stressy couple of years, but no one wants their face to bear the wear and tear. That is what plastic surgery docs feel is fueling a surge in demand for cosmetic procedures. Despite an iffy economy, more than ¾ of plastic surgeons report an increase in business. And it’s being driven by women under 45.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons polled its member surgeons nationwide and found nearly 30 percent reporting their business has at least doubled. It seems after the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are investing in themselves, putting their best face forward.

“With COVID, we prepared for the worst. But when we were able to reopen our office, we were pleasantly surprised with the incredible surge of demand for our cosmetic services, both surgical and noninvasive,” said Bob Basu, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Now that the worst is hopefully behind us and people are traveling again and getting back to normal life, I initially thought that we would see some of that demand drop off, and that’s not been the case.”

The boost in besting the appearance likely has several factors. One was the availability of downtime. COVID shutdowns left many people working from home and that gave them time to discreetly heal without notice- or missing work. Speaking of working from home, many women say they became more self-conscious about their appearance after seeing themselves on Zoom calls.

Other people may have had money to spare since they weren’t traveling, eating out or enjoying other forms of entertainment. Using the cash to boost their confidence seemed like a good investment.

The survey also found that women between the ages of 31 and 45 were by far the most likely to go for breast augmentations, liposuction and tummy tucks. 

Medi-spas benefitted too. Demand for peels, filler and botox was great as women looked for a less expensive way to turn back the clock. Laser treatments and intensive interventions like the Vampire Facial saw a similar boost.

The majority of dollars was spent by millennials who didn’t mind spending money- and sharing the results. Cosmetic surgeons say younger patients aren’t shy about sharing their experiences with others via social media. That led to greater acceptance, comfortability in getting a little plastic surgery done, and therefore demand.

File it all under ‘me’ time, self love and self care. Whatever you call it, a lot of people are literally buying it. On a personal note, the increase in demand means you won’t get many cut rates or super amazing specials. It’s a sign the beauty business is healthy.