The pandemic has forced us to live almost completely online. Communicating through Zoom calls and staring at your own face all day makes many people self-conscious. Noticing their own imperfections inspires them to seek plastic surgery. Plastic surgery patients often wish to keep their procedure a secret… or do they? Not as much anymore. Thanks to social media influencers, it is now common to share photos of your cosmetically enhanced face. With each selfie, the stigma surrounding cosmetic enhancements is decreased.
Dr. Konstantin is featured in Plastic Surgery Practice Magazine in conversation with Mary Lynn Moran, MD. The two plastic surgeons discuss the effects that the pandemic has had on plastic surgeons’ offices as well as the impact of social media that is making millennials seek cosmetic enhancements.
Plastic Surgery During a Pandemic
As more and more methods of seeing one’s face become prevalent through the duration of the pandemic, facial appearance and skincare have become increasingly important for millennials. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery President Mary Lynn Moran, MD, comments on the trend of “prejuvenation,” the practice that many in their 20s have begun in an effort to retain their youthful skin well into their 30s and beyond. For some, this means regularly applying sunscreen and moisturizer; for others, it means seeking a mini facelift.
Here at Dr. Konstantin’s facial plastic surgery practice, we have seen an increase of patients since the pandemic began. Not COVID-19 patients in the emergency room, but facelift, neck lift, and blepharoplasty patients in the operating room. With everyone wearing a mask outside, what better a time to seek cosmetic enhancements without everyone noticing that you had something done? Many jobs have been converted online, so the issue of taking time off of work for downtime and recovery is nearly eradicated.
Dr. Konstantin prides himself in his honesty and good council for his patients. “If I don’t believe the patient would benefit from the treatment, I offer them a better alternative,” he says. Particularly when it comes to his younger patients, for whom he recommends opting for minimally invasive procedures.
Selfies to Destigmatize Plastic Surgery
For younger patients who do undergo procedures, Dr. Konstantin reports that many of them turn to social media to proudly display their rejuvenated faces via selfies. “Social media has increased the collective interest in plastic surgery, as more people now have access to celebrities and influencers with desirable features, and apps that allow you to change your appearance entirely,” he says. “This has played an enormous role in de-stigmatizing plastic surgery, since more people are sharing their experience online.”
To read more on the correlations between the coronavirus, social media, and facial plastic surgery, read the full article from Plastic Surgery Practice.
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