Blog

Globally, plastic surgery is a $49.14 billion industry, and over the last two years, the industry has seen a boom in growth and from a somewhat unlikely place. The latest news in plastic surgery revolves around what is called the “Zoom Boom” trend and how it’s impacting plastic surgery trends.

What Exactly is the Zoom Boom?

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers have been faced with all sorts of news surrounding Zoom fatigue, the increase of video conferencing for personal, educational, and business purposes, and now – the Zoom Boom.

The Zoom Boom refers to a new upward trend in the plastic surgery industry that has been propelled by the ongoing use of video conferencing devices.

“The ‘Zoom Boom’ is 100% credited to people sitting at home all day and staring at their faces during video conferences,” said Dr. David Shafer, MD, FACS, during an interview with Entrepreneur.

Sure, while the Zoom app has been downloaded more than 6 million times, video conferencing across apps such as Facebook Messenger, Microsoft Teams, and other apps has also increased and contributed to this Zoom Boom trend.

As of 2020, the most popular video conferencing service used by adults was Facetime (47.6%), followed up by Facebook Messenger (44.1%) and Zoom (31.5%).

How is this ‘Zoom Boom’ Impacting the Everyday Person?

So, while it’s true that more and more people are using video conferencing more frequently, has it really had that much of an impact on people that it’s now starting this massive increase in plastic surgery?

According to Dr. Shafer, the answer is yes, and it’s all because of Zoom Dysmorphia. This term was coined by Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, and is used to describe the negative effects on patients brought on by the Zoom Boom, such as developing a negative self-opinion, creating dangerous cycles of self-criticisms, etc.

More Patients Seeking Out Cosmetic Treatments

In a study published in March of 2021 in the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, dermatologists are seeing significant increases in patients interested in cosmetic procedures.

Co-author of the study, Dr. Libby, MD, stated that 56.7% of practitioners had seen an increase in patients seeking cosmetic consultation since the onset of the pandemic. Interestingly, 86.4% indicated that their patients cited video-conferencing calls as their primary reason for seeking out cosmetic treatment.

There’s Been an Increase in Those with Lower Self-Esteem

In that same study, 82.7% of dermatologists marked their patients as being either somewhat more or significantly more unhappy with their appearance since they began using video conferencing apps due to the ongoing pandemic.

In another poll posted by Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, 40% of participants stated that they now plan to seek out cosmetic treatments solely based on their appearance-related concerns stemming from ongoing video conferencing use.

Most Sought After Procedures Related to the Zoom Boom

According to both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, three cosmetic surgical procedures took 2020 by storm, and they included:

• Rhinoplasty
• Eyelid Surgery
• Facelifts

Of course, other standard procedures included liposuction due to increased sedentary lifestyles, Botox for chronic stress caused by the ongoing pandemic, and cosmetic surgery for those who have suffered from Zoom Dysmorphia, such as breast augmentation or breast reduction.

Feeling the Effects of the ‘Zoom Boom’? Dr. Binder Can Help!

If you are feeling the effects of the Zoom Boom and are starting to feel the adverse effects, don’t worry, Dr. Binder is here to help!

He is Board Certified by both the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. He is also known for his outstanding achievements and contributions in his field.

Have questions about a particular procedure? Contact us today for more information!