In the aftermath of shelter-in-place, there has been a substantial upswing in demand for cosmetic surgery and non-invasive cosmetic procedures. Here at SMD, we are seeing 5-10% more cosmetic patients per week, on average, for non-invasive cosmetic treatments such as Botox and filler, than we were pre-pandemic. And not all these appointments are touch-ups for our regular patients after quarantine. We’re seeing new patients, too, who are specifically looking for something that’s going to give them a boost.
Once we re-opened all of our services in June, we started contemplating the main reasons behind this trend. Many of us asked: How can we, as a society, be worried about something that’s non-essential or unnecessary, when there is a global pandemic going on?
Over the course of the past four months, we have spent or continue to spend countless hours confined at home, staring at our faces on Zoom or in front of our bathroom mirror. The more we look, the more unflattering angles and “flaws” we seem to find. And that unequivocally adds to the stress we’re already grappling with as a result of Covid-19. A good skincare regimen and or self-care routine has been an absolute savior for some of us, but when it comes to instant results, the solution is rarely in our own hands. The answers lie with our dermatologist and we’ve been seeking just that.
At SMD, Dr. Smith has spent a lot of time thinking about the influx of cosmetic patients after we re-opened our doors and what cosmetic treatments really offer our patients during the current climate:
“They offer quite a lot of joy and contentment. I am making at least a dozen patients each day look and feel better and that is self-care. If we can provide a quick solution that makes patients happier in a time when the world is scary and stressful, then that’s meaningful. It’s a gift! Thank you for letting me be a part of that.”
As people try and regain a semblance of the life they had pre-pandemic, there is a stronger need to look and feel our best, to be admired by our peers, respected, and loved. Despite the fact that there is so much uncertainty surrounding our safety, jobs, and overall future. When we feel beautiful, we’re more kinder, compassionate, and productive human beings, especially during a time when the world is in crisis and there is so little we can control.
So, for some of us, our beauty routines require face-and-needle time, and this satisfies both our personal and societal needs. We are willing to step outside the safety of our home to put our best face forward – even if it’s on a computer screen.
Written by Maya