WASHINGTON, DC, – February 1, 2021 – The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the world’s largest association of facial plastic surgeons, today released its 2020 member survey results. More so than any year before, 2020 disrupted the aesthetic industry in a big way. For the first time, a professional organization digs deep into exactly how COVID-19 impacted facial plastic surgery trends, consumer influences and the professional aesthetic community.
2020 Was Anything But Predictable. Here’s What Changed.
Over the past few years, use of non-invasive procedures to forestall the signs of aging have been steadily on the rise. The pandemic flipped the switch, creating a surge in surgical demand not seen in recent years. Despite the fact that many non-essential surgeries and aesthetic services were put on hold for months during the pandemic, AAFPRS members note that demand is now higher than ever.
A full 70 percent of AAFPRS surgeons report an increase in bookings and treatments over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 9-in-10 facial plastic surgeons indicating an increase of more than 10 percent. Surgical procedures are the most common procedures as part of this upsurge, perhaps cancelling out any decreases that might have resulted from the economic crisis and lockdowns.
The AAFPRS members who experienced higher patient volume almost unanimously (96 percent) indicate that it is because men and women have more time and flexibility to recover from treatments due to social distancing and the benefits of working from home. Rhinoplasty (78 percent), facelifts (69 percent), eye lifts (65 percent) and neck lifts/treatments (58 percent) have increased most notably, likely due to more time spent on digital devices and an unprecedented virtual lifestyle.
For the first time in years, AAFPRS members report non-surgical treatment demand decreasing in 2020. The average amount of minimally invasive procedures was down by 9 percent compared to 2019, driven by a decline in skin treatments (down 29 percent) and fillers (down 8 percent). Neurotoxins and BotoxⓇ remained consistent with 2019 demand. Supporting this, three-quarters of the work done by AAFPRS members in 2020 was facial plastic surgery.
Zoning In On ZOOM Dysmorphia
Why the drastic shift? AAFPRS members point to the “ZOOM effect” as a major contributing factor in changing behaviors (according to 83 percent of respondents), while patients having more disposable income due to not spending it elsewhere is a strong second (64 percent) in patients changing behaviors.
“These factors, combined with masks, less travel and people being able to work from home without missing a beat in their career has led to a marked increase in surgical procedures,” states AAFPRS President, Paul J. Carniol, MD. “Last year presented completely uncharted territory for our industry, and these statistics point to a strong desire to look and feel confident that has not wavered despite major lifestyle changes and obstacles.”
As the first organization to identify the “selfie-awareness” trend highlighted from previous annual surveys, the AAFPRS is now spotlighting an evolution of this hyper-awareness of one’s own on-screen image; only this time, it’s live and via video. Deemed “ZOOM dysmorphia” in a recent study[1] published in the AAFPRS’ journal Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine, the pressures of a virtual lifestyle had a huge impact on the way we view ourselves according to AAFPRS facial plastic surgeons.
From students stuck at a computer all day to adults working and socializing from behind a screen, the constant bombardment with one’s own image was responsible for significant self-perception shifts and could account for the intensified demand for facial plastic surgery. The number of teens seeking rhinoplasty is up from 2019, with 41 percent of surgeons identifying this as a rising trend along with the desire to look better on video conferencing (a new trend, reported by 16 percent of AAFPRS members).
“Real time video cannot be FaceTuned or photoshopped to smooth out a bump on the nose, crow’s feet or a sagging neck,” shares Dr. Carniol. “Unlike selfies and video editing apps like TikTok and Reels on Instagram, the video conferencing used for school, work and ZOOMing with family and friends does not allow for filtering capabilities, making it a particularly easy lens for self-scrutiny.”
While staring at yourself on screen all day became normalized in 2020, it follows that people asking for eyelid procedures to look less tired was highlighted as trending by 56 percent of surgeons.
The annual member survey also finds that many patients are still after that real-life filtered look, with 75 percent of surgeons detailing patients seeking cosmetic procedures to look better in selfies - up 33 percent overall since the AAFPRS first identified this trend in 2016.
The More Things Change, The More Things Stay The Same...
The most common procedures were similar to 2019, despite the disruption caused by COVID-19. The three most common surgical procedures performed by AAFPRS members in 2020 were rhinoplasty, facelifts (including partial Facelifts), and blepharoplasty (eye lifts).
Women continue to be the most likely patients for facial plastic surgery, with neurotoxins (72 percent), fillers (61 percent), and rhinoplasty (52 percent) topping the 2020 wish list. Hair transplantation is the only procedure for which men far surpass women. While most neurotoxin/BotoxⓇ treatments were for female patients, last year saw a 27 percent increase in AAFPRS members reporting these injectables as one of the top three treatments for male patients.
Otoplasty (surgical reshaping of the outer ear) has the most gender equality, with 55 percent of survey participants saying the procedure is gender balanced. Coincidentally, “We’ve been hearing from a lot of patients that ears are a feature that stand out to them on video conferencing calls,” shares Dr. Carniol.
The most common procedure among patients under 34 years old is rhinoplasty, which remains consistent from 2018 and 2019. As for celebrity influence, 83 percent of surgeons indicate that everyone from A-Listers to vloggers to reality stars have a moderate-to-high level of influence on patient requests for facial plastic surgery - about the same as 2019, which saw an increase of 21 percent compared to 2016.
The Lasting Impact Of COVID-19 Concerns
2020 may have marked the full Millennial takeover of the aesthetic industry. Patients age 56 or older represent a lower percentage of patients overall in 2020, perhaps due to concerns about COVID-19, while demand in the under 30 age group remains strong, even during a pandemic. Holding steady for three years in a row, the pandemic solidified that self-care remains top of Millennials’ priority list.
Patients’ top concerns regarding going under the knife changed a lot in the last year, with cost topping the consideration chart for the first time. Other top concerns included looking unnatural and recovery time, which was unsurprisingly down from 2019 as people worked from home and socialized less.
Safety First - Now, More Than Ever
The AAFPRS advises patients to conduct their own research before scheduling a procedure. “Finding the right, most qualified, physician to perform any procedure should ALWAYS be a patient’s first priority,” says Steve Jurich, CEO and Executive Vice President of the AAFPRS. “Make sure the physician is qualified, experienced, and board-certified in the procedure that you are considering. If you are seeking a surgical procedure on the face, head, or neck, the AAFPRS always recommends that you select a surgeon who trained specifically in procedures of the face, head, and neck.”
Concerns about non-medical staff performing procedures poorly may be on the rise, with 42 percent of members citing this as a potential future trend. Research providers and the treatment information via trusted online sources (www.aafprs.org) before scheduling your consultations and having a facial plastic procedure.
The 2020 AAFPRS annual member survey was conducted in December 2020 by ACUPOLL Precision Research, Inc. through an online survey from a select group of the organization’s 2,200 members.
[1] 1. Shauna M. Rice, Emmy Graber, and Arianne Shadi Kourosh.Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine. 2020; 22(6):401-402.
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ABOUT THE AAFPRS:
The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the world’s largest specialty association for facial plastic surgery. It represents more than 2,200 facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons throughout the world. The AAFPRS is a National Medical Specialty Society of the American Medical Association (AMA), and holds an official seat in both the AMA House of Delegates and the American College of Surgeons board of governors. AAFPRS members are board certified surgeons whose focus is surgery of the face, head, and neck (inclusive of Rhinoplasty and Facial Rejuvenation). More information at
www.aafprs.org.