The last couple of decades has witnessed a surge in plastic surgery, with the average surgeon performing 320 procedures in 2021, an increase from 220 in 2020. Numbers don’t lie; more people have had plastic surgery or are considering certain procedures. The future of plastic surgery is more procedures as treatments become more accessible, affordable, advanced, and acceptable. Here are six reasons for the increased demand for plastic surgery.
Greater Affordability and Accessibility
Once upon a time, plastic surgery was prohibitively expensive and reserved for the wealthy and famous. Fortunately, today, almost anyone can access and afford plastic surgery procedures. Numerous reputable plastic surgeons, such as Joel Aronowitz, MD, perform a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Additionally, persons interested in plastic surgery have plenty of financial options like flexible payment methods, personal loans, and medical credit cards.
Increase in Selfies and Self-care
In the current selfie age, people spend significant time looking at themselves and noticing flaws they would like to change, driving the desire for cosmetic surgery. People are obsessed with looking good and welcome anything that improves their appearance online and offline. Also, millennials want to remain youthful and opt for procedures to keep them looking young and vibrant.
Advances in Technology
Advances in technology have led to safer and more reliable procedures. Plastic surgeons have more equipment and products at their disposal, resulting in optimal and more natural results. Incisions have become smaller, scarring lesser, and recovery quicker. Also, the rise of nonsurgical and painless procedures involving mild to no side effects, like laser treatments and fillers, has seen more people considering plastic surgery.
More Acceptance
In the past, plastic surgery was considered taboo, and society resented people who tried to amend their body features. However, today, people are more accommodating of body improvement rituals, including those involving knives and needles. Also, plastic surgery talks are rampant in the media and among friends and family.
Social media has played an essential role in promoting acceptance of cosmetic procedures. People, including celebs, are more open about plastic surgery and the procedures they have performed. It is not uncommon for people to post their rhinoplasty or breast augmentation journey on Facebook or Tik Tok.
Zoom Effect
One of the most significant effects of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic was movement restrictions, including stay-at-home orders and remote work. As people stayed at home, they got the motivation for plastic surgery in several ways.
First, in-person meetings and social events went online, and video calls and zoom meetings increased. As a result, people became hyper-critical about their facial features, leading to greater interest in above-the-shoulder plastic surgery.
Second, the downtime spent at home meant people had ample time to recover at home without using their paid time. Third, people saved money when staying at home to fund dream plastic surgery procedures.
Contrary to past perceptions that plastic surgery is primarily cosmetic, it is not. People increasingly realize that plastic surgery has health benefits too. For instance, besides enhancing a person’s appearance, rhinoplasty improves breathing and sleep quality. Similarly, breast reduction relieves back and shoulder pain in addition to increasing self-esteem and self-worth.
