As the AMA calls for the release of Australia’s recent independent review of cosmetic surgery, new data from the US shows that the demand for such procedures has surged following COVID.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) polled member surgeons nationwide and found that more than three-quarters of cosmetic-focused plastic surgery practices were seeing more clients than before the pandemic, with nearly 30 percent reporting their business had at least doubled.
Dr Bob Basu, the ASPS vice president of finance and a board-certified plastic surgeon from Texas, said that many Americans were now investing in themselves through cosmetic procedures, despite an uncertain economy.
“With COVID, we prepared for the worst. But when we were able to reopen our office, we were pleasantly surprised with the incredible surge of demand for our cosmetic services, both surgical and non-invasive,” Dr Basu said.
“For many patients, COVID shutdowns and the ability to work from home gave them the time they needed to heal, without disrupting their normal busy routine. Others say the money saved on things like travel and dining out during the pandemic allowed them to invest in themselves.
“COVID changed everything: no one was traveling, vacations got cancelled, and I think a lot of families and patients had a lot more disposable income. And so, they found that this is the right time for them to do a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure.”
Dr David J Morgan, a specialist plastic surgeon, council member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and a past chairman of the Australian Board of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, said that in Australia, overall demand for procedures remained steady throughout the pandemic, and has continued to do so despite the current negative economic indicators.
“As I am in Melbourne, the ‘most locked down city in the world’, my experience might be slightly different to others, but there was certainly a ‘rebound’ of interest after each lockdown,” Dr Morgan said.
“We were obviously forced to be quiet for a while, but once elective surgery, and in particular aesthetic surgery, was allowed to recommence, I found that all the work that would otherwise have been done, would reappear and we were extra busy for a while – this yo-yoing continued throughout the various lockdowns over the last 2 years.”
Just as in the US, Dr Morgan agreed that there was likely also some additional interest from those with money saved from not spending on travel whilst restrictions were in place.
“I certainly had several patients say that they were pursuing surgery because the funds were available that otherwise would have been spent on overseas holidays in particular,” he said.
“There is no doubt that being able to stay at home and work, and to have to wear masks (that could hide scars and bruising) were also often seen as positives when it came to deciding whether to proceed.”
The inaugural ASPS Insights and Trends Report: Cosmetic Surgery 2022 survey also found that women between the ages of 31 and 45 were by far the most likely to request procedures such as breast augmentations, liposuction, and tummy tucks.
Dr Basu explained that millennials are not only savvy about their options but are also more open about their choice to seek plastic surgery than older generations.
“Millennials are very sophisticated in terms of getting the information they want. They share their experiences with other people through social media platforms or other methods and as such, these procedures are no longer taboo — they’re actually relatable and accessible,” Dr Basu said.
“Because of this open sharing, patients also come in well-versed about the procedures of interest and it really allows us to have a really productive discussion about their options.”
Dr Morgan said that in his experience, even though demand had grown each year, there was no particular type of surgery that had increased in Australia, but pointed out that our interest in, and acceptance of, aesthetic surgery was becoming increasingly similar to the US.
However, as an officially accredited specialist plastic surgeon, who had built his practice organically from GP referrals and patient referrals, he also highlighted that he was less reliant on advertising and social media interest, and therefore the ‘fringe’ patient groups that were influenced by trends.
“My patients have also usually ‘done their research’ and know that I am a properly trained surgeon and will be offering them appropriate surgery in a safe and regulated environment,” Dr Morgan said.
Patient safety and inappropriate use of the term ‘surgeon’ have been major issues plaguing the industry here in Australia and an independent review of cosmetic surgery was commissioned in January this year by the Medical Board of Australia and AHPRA, following worrying reports about the practices and outcomes of some providers.
AMA President Professor Steve Robson said that recent media coverage of disgraced industry figure, Daniel Lanzer, had once again drawn attention to the need for urgent action to be taken by the regulators of cosmetic surgery and hoped the imminent release of the review would deliver clear recommendations to address growing concerns over patient safety.
“The report from an independent review into regulation of health practitioners in cosmetic surgery is due to have been completed this month and we will be meeting with the MBA very soon to discuss its findings,” Professor Robson said.
“The AMA provided a submission to this review and called for a regulatory approach which provides certainty to patients and practitioners, including an exploration of the requirement for an endorsement in cosmetic surgery to be added to the registration of medical practitioners who undertake cosmetic surgery, and who are not plastic surgeons.
“We also called for better collection of data and information about cosmetic surgery in Australia to inform policy, regulation and research.”