Attitudes, Concerns, and Expectations of Consumers of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery During the COVID-19 Outbreak: An Italian Online Survey

Abstract

Background As a consequence of the COVID-19 emergency, Italian physicians working in the field of aesthetic medicine and surgery considered appropriate to stop their activity in order to preserve patients’ safety. This drastic measure obviously had an important impact on the medical aesthetic market causing growing concerns. Objectives To catch the current attitudes of the Italian consumers towards the aesthetic medicine and surgery, a medical advisory board devised an online survey. Methods 216 clinicians finally participated in this survey and sent the online link via e-mail. Results 8080/8640 (93.5%) questionnaires were returned, while 70 were removed. 49.2% (n=3944) did not feel influenced in their desire for aesthetic treatments in spite of the pandemic emergency. Being influenced was not correlated with the uneven situation experienced on the Italian territory (r=-0.30, p=0.196). 45.4% (n=3636) declared to be ready for rescheduling their visit. 60.5% (n=4844) declared that they want to allocate the same amount of resources as before. The most missed aesthetic treatment was the face (71.1% (n=5696)). 46.9% (n=3759) and 45.9% (n=3679) will back to their physician without any request or with the need for explanation about the security protocols, respectively. About 40% (n=3314) declared that their physical appearance affects their mood fairly, 27.0% (n=2168) strongly or very strongly. 71.3% (n=5708) declared physical and/or psychological decline. Conclusions Looked at together, our results give us some optimistic predictions, and therefore we are confident that our patients will back to our clinics without any particular issues. However, ensuring patient safety must be our paramount task.

Resumption of Cosmetic Surgery During COVID – Experience of a Specialised Cosmetic Surgery Day-case Hospital

“…The apprehension of patients at the Clinic returning to normalcy seems negligible by July 2020 [11] , with procedures rising steeply compared to the year before. This sentiment of resuming at a similar pre-lockdown rate is echoed in other literature concerning cosmetic procedures during the pandemic [12] . Another reason as to why there was a marked increase in procedures at the Clinic could be due to the fact that other hospitals were only taking on elective cosmetic procedures on weekends.…”