Searches for Cosmetic Procedures Soared During the Pandemic in Colorado

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have had to learn to adapt to working at home. Being out of the office definitely brought on some new challenges for people around the world, but on the bright side, most of us have finally figured out how to master the art of video meetings.

The downside linked to video calls, though, seems to be that individuals are becoming extra critical about their appearances. It's easy to compare ourselves to others when there's a bunch of faces displayed side-by-side on a computer screen, but that's only part of the reason that people are becoming more self-conscious about the way they look.

Communicating via video calls also forced people to adjust to becoming more accustomed to seeing their own faces in general. During a typical day at the office, one likely looks in the mirror a few times, but because people are now viewing themselves on screen so often throughout the day, it's led to cases of increased self-scruitny and even facial dysmorphia.

A recent study published in the Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine journal refers to this trend as the "Zoom Boom," which they've explained as being the rise in demand for cosmetic surgery procedures due to people wanting to change their appearance after seeing how they look on-screen.

As a result of this current ideation that's sweeping the nation, the New York-based medical malpractice law firm Duffy & Duffy, commissioned a study to analyze internet searches regarding cosmetic surgeries on a state-by-state basis since the start of the pandemic.

In Colorado, there was definitely a peaked interest in cosmetic procedures within the last year. The Duffy & Duffy study showed that online searches for this subject increased 74% during the pandemic within the Centennial State.

One example of this type of query was for 'dermal fillers' which surged in search rate 177% from May 2020 to May 2021. Botox searches in Colorado also saw an increase by 21% within the year time frame. Even searches for chemical peels went up by 23% in Colorado over the last year.

Another interesting point the study made, was that our cameras and video-calling platforms can often cause a distorted appearance of facial features, especially if the camera is set at an odd angle. This being said, individuals might consider thinking twice before going under the knife or opting for another type of facial procedure. The law firm put together a list of important questions to ask before going through with cosmetic surgery, including asking about any possible complications and making sure the surgeon has completed this type of procedure in the past.

For those who did choose to go through with a cosmetic procedure during the last year and who also work from home, the benefit was having the ability to heal without leaving the house.