What a year 2020 has been. Nobody could have imagined the impact COVID-19 has had on every single aspect of daily life. I am grateful and appreciative for health and the small things that were so easily taken for granted prior to the pandemic.
My daily office routine is now much different than it was last year. We now are screening patients for symptoms, checking temperatures, wearing extra PPE, deep cleaning rooms, staggering patients in the office, and even testing surgical patients for COVID-19. Certainly, these protocols help and allow us to see patients as safely as possible.
I have also observed some changes in the way patients are desiring and requesting certain procedures. Not only are patients wearing masks most of the time, but many are working from home and wanting to do their procedures while they can still be productive during recovery. The trends I have noted include:
Increase in nose and facial rejuvenation procedures
In the “mask era,” many patients who were formerly concerned about long recoveries and needing to walk around swollen for a week after surgery are now eager to proceed. Masks can nearly conceal all bruising or swelling associated with a rhinoplasty, facelift, or neck lift, so many of my Chicago patients have opted for these procedures while they can cover up.
Importance of the eyes
Mask wearing has accentuated the importance of youthful and attractive eyes. Those who have been thinking about eyelid surgery are now pursuing this more aggressively. Some eyelid procedures can be done in the office OR under local anesthesia. You can find tips about eyelid surgery recovery in an earlier blog post.
BOTOX® and Fillers
Both long-standing injectable patients and first-timers have been eager to meet with the needles. I have been injecting a lot of frown lines, foreheads, and crow’s feet as these are all areas exposed while wearing a mask. Fillers in the cheeks and lower face are also common as the mask can cover the 2 to 3 days of mild bruising and swelling. This local trend for BOTOX seems to be echoed across the country, as this ABC News report shows.
Longer Downtime Procedures
Patients who previously were concerned about combining longer procedures, like a breast rejuvenation and tummy tuck (“mommy makeover”), have been doing surgery now more than ever. With more downtime at home and the ability to recover while still checking work emails, patients suddenly find these recovery periods more manageable.
YOLO
“You only live once.” Many of my patients have taken this to heart. The decision to have surgery is a big deal, but this whole pandemic has made people appreciate the beauty of the moment. If they want something, they do it because the future is not always guaranteed. More than ever, people are “going for it” if they want it.
In these uncertain times, we’re here to help you safely realize your cosmetic goals. If you’re interested in exploring your plastic surgery options in Chicago, request a consultation with our online contact form or call us at (312) 788-2560 to schedule an appointment.
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