The world’s largest association of facial plastic surgeons, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), released its 2020 member survey results. COVID-19 disrupted the aesthetic industry in a big way over the past year. The professional organization digs deep into the impact of the pandemic on facial plastic surgery trends, and its influence on consumers and the professional aesthetic community. Many nonessential surgeries and aesthetic services were put on hold for months during the pandemic, but it’s also created a surge in surgical demand not seen in recent years.

“We believe this surge in demand for surgical procedures contributes to several factors including the stay-at-home culture now part of our everyday lives, but also because we have more time to look at ourselves live and via video, whether it’s on Zoom or FaceTime,” says AAFPRS President Paul J. Carniol, MD. “From students who are on their computers all day to adults working and socializing from behind a screen, staring and critiquing our own image and our own self-perception could account for this increased demand for facial plastic surgery.”

The Numbers:

• 70% of AAFPRS surgeons report an increase in bookings and treatments over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 9-in-10 facial plastic surgeons indicating an increase of more than 10%.
• Surgical procedures are the most common procedures as part of this upsurge, perhaps cancelling out any decreases that might have resulted from the economic crisis and lockdowns.
• 96% of members attribute the higher patient volume to men and women having more time and flexibility to recover from treatments due to social distancing, and the benefits of working from home.
• The services that have increased the most are reflective of the pandemic virtual lifestyle—rhinoplasty (78%), facelifts (69%), eye lifts (65%), and neck lifts/treatments (58%).
• For the first time in years, AAFPRS members report non-surgical treatment demand decreasing in 2020.
• The average amount of minimally invasive procedures was down by 9% percent compared to 2019, driven by a decline in skin treatments (down 29%) and fillers (down 8%). Neurotoxins and Botox remained consistent with 2019 demand.
• Three-quarters of the work done by AAFPRS members in 2020 was facial plastic surgery.

The Drivers:

• 83% of respondents attribute the “ZOOM effect” as the major contributing factor in changing behaviors, while patients having more disposable income due to not spending it elsewhere is a strong second (64%)
• The “selfie-awareness” trend has evolved to hyper-awareness of one’s own on-screen image; only this time, it’s live and via video. Deemed “ZOOM dysmorphia” in a recent study, the pressures of a virtual lifestyle have a huge impact on the way we view ourselves.
• The number of teens seeking rhinoplasty is up from 2019, with 41% of surgeons identifying this as a rising trend, along with the desire to look better on video conferencing (a new trend, reported by 16%).
• People asking for eyelid procedures to look less tired was highlighted as trending by 56% of surgeons.
• Many patients are still after that real-life filtered look, with 75% of surgeons detailing patients seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies—up 33% overall since the AAFPRS first identified this trend in 2016.

“Real time video cannot be FaceTuned or photoshopped to smooth out a bump on the nose, crow’s feet or a sagging neck,” shares Dr. Carniol. “Unlike selfies and video editing apps like TikTok and Reels on Instagram, the video conferencing used for school, work and ZOOMing with family and friends does not allow for filtering capabilities, making it a particularly easy lens for self-scrutiny.”

“These factors, combined with masks, less travel and people being able to work from home without missing a beat in their career has led to a marked increase in surgical procedures,” states Carniol. “Last year presented completely uncharted territory for our industry, and these statistics point to a strong desire to look and feel confident that has not wavered despite major lifestyle changes and obstacles.”