The Zoom Boom: How Video Calling Impacts Attitudes Towards Aesthetic Surgery in the COVID-19 Era

A 16-Year Analysis of Aesthetic Surgery Volume and Its Association With US Economic Performance

Historically, demand for plastic surgery has been associated with the performance of the US economy. This study evaluates the relationship between economic performance indicators and the popularity and profitability of aesthetic surgery from 2006 to 2022, considering several recessions and the rise of social media. The data were collected from the Aesthetic Society's (AS) Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' (ASPS) Plastic Surgery Statistics Report from 2006 to 2022. Procedures analyzed included the most performed cosmetic surgeries, as well as neuromodulator injections and dermal fillers. Pearson correlation tests were used to analyze the strength of association between 8 financial indicators and case volumes and expenditures for each procedure. From 2006 to 2020, ASPS data demonstrated gross domestic product (GDP) per capita year-over-year (YOY) change that was positively correlated with case volume and expenditures across 13 out of the 24 different procedure metrics (54.2%). From 2006 to 2016, AS data were positively correlated with the YOY change of theNational Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ), Standard and Poor's 500, and Dow Jones in 12 of the 24 variables (50%). This was followed by GDP YOY change, with positive correlations to 11 variables (45.8%). YOY changes of consumer-level finances and inflation indicators were less frequently associated among both datasets.In conclusion, our study shows that aesthetic plastic surgery procedures and expenditures correlate with GDP. Although aesthetic surgery demand may be difficult to anticipate, this study elucidates several factors plastic surgeons may use as a bellwether for their practices.

Level of Evidence 5

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Patient Social Media Use and Acceptance of Cosmetic Procedures

Objective

We sought to explore facets of social media usage and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acceptance of cosmetic procedures.

Methods

At an outpatient dermatology clinic from October 2019 to June 2022, 175 subjects who were English and Spanish speaking and aged 18 years or older were recruited. Participants completed a questionnaire including demographic information, social media usage, perceptions of cosmetic procedures, and desire to have a cosmetic procedure. Results were grouped into a pre-COVID-19 pandemic group and post-COVID-19 pandemic group due to a natural experiment that arose. Data were analyzed to ascertain the effect of social media usage and other factors that impact desire to undergo a cosmetic procedure between patients before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Factors resulting in differences in desire to have a cosmetic procedure included using photo editing applications (p=0.002), following celebrities and influencers on social media (p<0.001), and following social media accounts showing cosmetic results (p=0.013). There was a statistically significant change in number of participants that: followed social media accounts showing results of cosmetic procedures (pre-COVID: 31.9%, post-COVID: 50.6%, p=0.036); had thought about having a cosmetic procedure done (pre-COVID: 63.8%, post-COVID: 86.4%, p<0.001); had discussed cosmetic procedures with a physician, dermatologist, or other professional (pre-COVID: 43.6%, post-COVID: 67.9%, p=0.001); and believed that a cosmetic procedure would help their self-esteem (pre-COVID: 47.9%, post-COVID: 77.8%, p<0.001).

Limitations

Limitations of this study include response bias, recall bias, and single institution study design, limiting generalizability.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that time spent on social media and use of photo-editing applications significantly contributes to desire to undergo a cosmetic procedure and contributed to the rise of cosmetic consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of videoconferencing use on momentary changes in disordered eating urges, body dissatisfaction, and mood

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a global surge in videoconferencing use for work/study-related reasons. Although these platforms heighten exposure to one's image, the implications of videoconferencing use on body image and eating concerns remain scantly examined. This study sought to investigate, in an Australian sample, whether videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons predicted increases in body dissatisfaction (BD), urge to engage in disordered eating (DE; restrictive eating, exercise, overeating/purging), and negative mood at the state level. Participants (N = 482, 78.8% women, Mage  = 20.5 years [SD = 5.3]) completed baseline demographic measures, accompanied by an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of videoconferencing for work/study-related reasons, BD, DE urges, and negative mood six times a day for 7 days via a smartphone application. Most participants (n = 429; 89.0%) reported state-based videoconferencing use during the EMA phase. Consistent with expectations, state-based videoconferencing use was associated with an increase in state-level urges to engage in exercise. However, contrary to predictions, state-based videoconferencing use was linked to a decrease in state-level BD at the next assessment point and failed to predict negative mood and urges to engage in restrictive eating or overeating/purging at the state level. Given the simplified measure of videoconferencing use, the current research is considered preliminary and future replication and extension, using more nuanced measures, is warranted.

Post-graduation career pathways: a nationwide survey among dental students in Germany

OBJECTIVES

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) has to compete with other specialties for the best candidates. With the upcoming change of generations (Z and Alpha) and the movement toward gender parity of dentistry, understanding changing preferences and misconceptions is essential.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An online survey was conducted by the German-Association-of-Oral-and-Maxillofacial-Surgery (DGMKG) across German dental schools. The survey collected demographic data, academic background, and career aspirations, with a focus on OMFS. The dental student survey results were compared to a survey given to OMFS Specialists.

RESULTS

637 dental students, mainly female (70%), from 30 German universities participated. 27% had defined career aspirations post-graduation, with self-employment and academia being popular choices. 67% were unsure. Specializations leaned towards restorative dentistry (41%), orthodontics (36%), and prosthodontics (31%). While 73% showed interest in surgical practices, 20% were attracted in specializing in OMFS. Of those averse to OMFS, 78% cited long training duration as the deterrent, 12% were put off by perceived unattractive working hours. Other reasons included negative undergraduate experiences, scarcity of part-time positions, and perceived inadequate earnings.

CONCLUSION

Accurate data is crucial for career decisions. OMFS societies must proactively share accurate information and guide students. OMFS offers family-friendly hours, and while its training might be longer than dental specialties, it is on par with other surgical professions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Dental students consistently regard OMFS as commendable career path. To guarantee sustained OMFS expertise, it is imperative to nurture this interest through dedicated academic mentorship and innovative education, thereby solidifying their professional direction.

A quantitative analysis of Twitter ("X") trends in the discussion of rhinoplasty

Introduction

Rhinoplasty is one of the most common cosmetic surgical procedures performed globally. Twitter, also known as "X," is used by both patients and physicians and has been studied as a useful tool for analyzing trends in healthcare. The public social media discourse of rhinoplasty has not been previously reported in the field of otolaryngology. The goal of this study was to characterize the most common user type, sentiment, and temporal trends in the discussion of rhinoplasty on Twitter to guide facial plastic surgeons in their clinical and social media practices.

Methods

A total of 1,427,015 tweets published from 2015 to 2020 containing the keywords "rhinoplasty" or "nose job" were extracted using Twitter Academic API. Tweets were standardized and filtered for spam and duplication. Natural language processing (NLP) algorithms and data visualization techniques were applied to characterize tweets.

Results

Significantly more "nose job" tweets (80.8%) were published compared with "rhinoplasty" (19.2%). Annual tweet frequency increased over the 5 years, with "rhinoplasty" tweets peaking in January and "nose job" tweets peaking in the summer and winter months. Most "rhinoplasty" tweets were linked to a surgeon or medical practice source, while most "nose job" tweets were from isolated laypersons. While discussion was positive in sentiment overall (M = +0.08), "nose job" tweets had lower average sentiment scores (P < .001) and over twice the proportion of negative tweets. The top 20 most prolific accounts contributed to 14,758 (10.6%) of total "rhinoplasty" tweets. Exactly 90% (18/20) of those accounts linked to non-academic surgeons compared with 10% (2/20) linked to academic surgeons.

Conclusions

Rhinoplasty-related posts on Twitter were cumulatively positive in sentiment and tweet volume is steadily increasing over time, especially during popular holiday months. The search term "nose job" yields significantly more results than "rhinoplasty," and is the preferred term of non-healthcare users. We found a large digital contribution from surgeons and medical practices, particularly in the non-academic and private practice sector, utilizing Twitter for promotional purposes.

COVID Pandemic Aftermath: Changing Dynamics on Cosmetic and Aesthetic Surgery Demands

BACKGROUND

After the WHO's announcement of the pandemic, the quarantine process started in the country. Suspension of elective surgeries was part of these measures. Having most of its cases as elective operations, plastic and aesthetic surgery became one of the branches most affected by the pandemic process. According to the annual statistical reports of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2020 has been the first year in which a decline was experienced in the number of plastic surgery cases performed since the early 2000s. However, presumably, an increase in demand that occurred in the period after the restrictions was reported as well. In this study, we aim to analyze the role of the pandemic on this increased volume of cosmetic surgeries.

METHODS

Data about the number of cosmetic operations were collected from a multidisciplinary hospital, centrally located in Istanbul, Turkey. A prospective survey was conducted to question the sources of motivation of the patients who would undergo surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 95 (out of 118) patients fully completed the questionnaires. The number of cosmetic operations in the plastic surgery department of the hospital increased by 49.4% in 2021, compared to 2020, and increased by 29.7% compared to 2019. The number of operations in all disciplines increased by 33.4% in 2021, compared to 2020, and increased by 13.3% compared to 2019. The six most marked motivations were evaluated separately according to the types of surgery. Despite the variation due to the type of the operations, "the desire to look better after the pandemic" was the leading reason for undergoing surgery with 46.3% (n = 44). It was also seen that the most significant motivation was "had cosmetic surgery before" with approximately 44.2% among the patients who had undergone cosmetic surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

One of the branches most affected by the outcomes of COVID-19 in many aspects is plastic surgery. The wave of excessive demand following the great decline in the number of operations during the pandemic cannot be evaluated independently from the effects of the pandemic on individuals. Although some of the rules that the pandemic has brought to our lives have begun to lose their validity, social life virtualized and isolated by the 'new normal' will be affecting patients for years. At this point, it is of primary importance for plastic surgeons to understand the needs and concerns of patients in order to adapt to the changing patient demands.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Increased demand for orthodontic treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic: a commentary

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon healthcare sectors generally, and what this continues to mean in particular for the practice of dentistry, there is evidence of an unanticipated upsurge in the demand for orthodontic treatment. This was observed in the UK and internationally as a manifestation of the so-called 'Zoom boom', in which video conferencing from home on various platforms suddenly exponentiated. As a result, it seems people became more self-conscious when viewing their appearance on-screen. Among the precipitating factors for individuals taking the consequent step of seeking orthodontic treatment are: the unavailability of more invasive smile enhancement treatments due to the pandemic restrictions; a more favourable infection control probability in orthodontic therapy; and the extra disposable funds that would otherwise be spent on holidays and leisure activities. This article explores different possible social and commercial drivers behind this phenomenon and suggests that the circumstances of the pandemic have shifted the pursuit of the desirable smile somewhat towards orthodontics, and as a consequence, is beneficial both to the public and the profession of dentistry as a whole.

"Can you see me?" Videoconferencing and eating disorder risk during COVID-19: Anxiety, impairment, and mediators

OBJECTIVE

The use of videoconferencing has increased during the pandemic, creating prolonged exposure to self-image. This research aimed to investigate whether eating disorder (ED) risk was associated with videoconferencing performance for work or study and to explore whether the use of safety behaviors and self-focused attention mediated the relationship between ED risk and perceived control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, or avoidance of videoconferencing for work or study.

METHOD

In 2020, an online survey was distributed within Australia to those aged over 18 years via academic and social networks, measuring: use of videoconferencing for work/study, demographics, ED risk, safety behaviors for appearance concerns, self-focused attention, perceived control over performance anxiety, perceived engagement impairment, and avoidance of videoconferencing. A total of 640 participants (77.3% female, M_age  = 26.2 years) returned complete data and were included in analyses.

RESULTS

245 participants (38.7%) were considered at-risk for EDs (SCOFF > 2). Those at-risk reported significantly more safety behaviors, self-focused attention, impaired engagement, and avoidance, plus lower perceived control over performance anxiety than those not at-risk. Multiple mediation models found the effects of ED risk on control over performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance were partially mediated by safety behaviors and self-focused attention.

DISCUSSION

Our cross-sectional findings suggest videoconferencing for work/study-related purposes is associated with performance anxiety, impaired engagement, and avoidance among individuals at-risk for EDs. Poorer videoconferencing outcomes appear more strongly related to social anxiety variables than ED status. Clinicians and educators may need to provide extra support for those using videoconferencing.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

Because videoconferencing often involves seeing your own image (via self-view) we wondered whether the appearance concerns experienced by those with eating disorders (EDs) might interfere with the ability to focus on or to contribute to work/study videoconferencing meetings. We found that although those with EDs experience more impairments in their videoconferencing engagement/contribution, these were linked just as strongly to social anxiety as they were to appearance concerns.

Direct and Indirect Roles of Men in Determining Women Decision to Use Laser Procedures for Skin Care

Laser procedures for skin care is becoming increasingly popular and used by the global community and affect many aspects of human life. However, there is very little research on the role of men in women's decision to follow this dermatological procedure. This study aimed to identify the role of men in motivating women to choose laser-based procedure. A systematic literature review research design was applied in this study. A total of 27 papers were obtained by searching PubMed Central for the 2013-2022 editions. The extraction of samples and the motivation of patients or research respondents in choosing laser procedures for cosmetic treatments were conducted to obtain clues about the role of men in making these decisions. Only six studies explicitly reveal the role of men as motivators of women to perform laser-based dermatological procedures. Four of these six studies were conducted in Asia in countries with a high degree of collectivism. The remaining two studies reveal a minor role for men in women's motivation to choose dermatological procedures. Other studies only indirectly implicate the role of men through intrasexual competition, increased self-esteem, and the needs of the world of work. Limitations of the study lies in the non-specificity of the study sample in the female population, laser-based treatments, and the role of men in motivating women. The role of men in motivating women to perform laser-based skin care procedures is stated explicitly in collectivist cultures while only implicitly in individualist cultures. These findings indicate that the strategy of utilizing the added value of men to laser treatment procedures should be directed at the relationship between men and women in real terms in collective cultured countries.

An Analysis of Aesthetic Concerns Identified by Video Conferencing

Background During and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a significant increase in the demand for aesthetic procedures nationwide. We believe that one of the factors contributing to this increase was the use of video conferencing apps. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the aesthetic concerns that were identified by video conferencing. Methodology In Saudi Arabia, an observational, cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April, 2022. An online survey was used to assess the aesthetic concerns raised by video conferencing. The survey addressed multiple aspects, including demographic data, information on video call utilization, the attentional focus of the participants during video calls, and new appearance concerns identified on video calls. Results The survey successfully captured 432 adult participants. More than 85% of participants disliked at least one character of their appearance during video conferencing. The skin color type (based on the Fitzpatrick scale), time spent on video calls, and visual focus during the virtual meeting were significantly correlated with self-perception of new disliked features. Conclusion Video conferencing showed a significant statistical correlation with identified disliked facial/body features in both genders. People with skin color type III were less likely to perceive a disliked feature through video conferencing applications. The likelihood of having a disliked feature was significantly higher among individuals who spent up to one hour per day using video calls. Additionally, those who mainly paid attention to their face or body during virtual meetings were more likely to have disliked features.

Zoomers: videoconferencing, appearance concerns, and potential effects on adolescents

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The cessation of in-person teaching to reduce the spread of COVID-19 dramatically increased the use of videoconferencing for home learning among adolescents.

RECENT FINDINGS

A consistent finding across studies assessing the relationship between videoconferencing and appearance concerns was that time spent focused on self-view was related to greater appearance concerns. Videoconferencing was associated with an increase in desire for cosmetic surgery and other nonsurgical treatments. Among those at risk of eating disorders, videoconferencing was associated with more appearance-management behaviours and less engagement in the video call. Research to date has been correlational and predominantly involved White, adult women in the USA and in Australia, leaving important gaps in our knowledge, especially around impacts on adolescents.

SUMMARY

Given their vulnerability to appearance concerns, we encourage practitioners to speak to adolescents about their use of videoconferencing and how they can migitate the potential negative impacts on body image.

Looking beyond zoom fatigue: The relationship between video chatting and appearance satisfaction in men and women

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a transition to the utilization of video chatting services as the main form of communication for work, family, and friends. However, the repercussions of this change are not fully known, and issues regarding appearance satisfaction are particularly salient. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between video chatting and appearance satisfaction in a sample of men and women.

METHOD

The current study utilizes cross-sectional data from 618 participants (Age: M = 33.2; 54.1% women) to evaluate whether average video chat usage predicts appearance satisfaction, and whether this association is dependent upon appearance comparison or self-objectification.

RESULTS

Results indicated that individuals who spent more time video chatting reported higher appearance satisfaction. Additionally, appearance comparison and self-objectification were not significant moderators, and the association between video chat usage and appearance satisfaction did not differ based on gender. Usage of the touch-up feature, gallery view, and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with appearance comparisons, while adjusting lighting and camera angles and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with self-objectification.

DISCUSSION

The results may indicate that while overall time spent video chatting may be associated with lower appearance concerns, examination of the usage of specific features on video chatting platforms may be important to assess in the future.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE

This study demonstrates that overall time spent video chatting may be associated with lower appearance concerns. The usage, however, of specific features on video chatting platforms, such as touch-up feature, gallery view, and amount of time spent looking at oneself were associated with appearance comparisons. Additionally, adjusting lighting and camera angles, and amount of time spent looking at oneself are associated with self-objectification.

Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Vaccine in Patients Previously Injected with Facial Filler: Scoping Review and Case Report

The “Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee 17 December 2020 Meeting Briefing Document”, formulated by the FDA, reported three cases of swelling in areas previously injected with HA filler, introducing the possible relationship between a COVID-19 vaccine and adverse events in areas previously injected with HA fillers. The aim of this research is to report a case of an adverse event following a COVID-19 vaccine in a patient previously injected with facial filler. Furthermore, a scoping review on the same topic was performed. The research was carried out on the electronic databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus. The selection process identified four articles as eligible for inclusion in the review. Nineteen patients, including the described case report, who experienced an adverse event following a COVID-19 vaccine in areas previously injected with facial filler were identified. Adverse events following a COVID-19 vaccine in patients previously injected with facial filler appear to be rare. A high BDDE cross-linking rate and/or a low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid filler may have a higher tardive adverse event rate when triggered.