The Financial Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Practices of Cosmetic/Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

Abstract

The global pandemic of coronavirus 2019, or COVID-19, has undeniably impacted all facets of healthcare, affecting both its function and provision. Due to the cessation of all non-emergent surgical cases in the USA and worldwide, the professional lives and practices of many physicians have been negatively affected. However, among different physicians and specifically plastic surgeons, cosmetic/aesthetic plastic surgeons have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as the majority of their cases are semi-elective and elective. The ability to perform semi-elective and elective cases is dependent on state and local authorities' regulations, and it is currently uncertain when the ban, if ever, will be completely lifted. Financial constraints on patients and their future inability to pay for these procedures due to the COVID-19-related economic recession are things to consider. Overall, the goal of this unprecedented time for cosmetic/aesthetic plastic surgeons is for their medical practices to survive, to conserve cash flow although income is low to none, and to maintain their personal finances. In this paper, the authors review the financial impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the practices of cosmetic plastic surgeons in the USA and worldwide, along with some potential approaches to maintain their practices and financial livelihoods.

Perception of Cosmetic Procedures among Saudis during COVID-19 Pandemic

“…As expected, economical changes and fearing the virus were the most influential factors. 15 Many participants agreed that any form of contact whether it is direct contact like clinic visitors or indirectly through surgical instruments could account as factors for increasing the risk of infection. This is similar to what has been reported by Gelidan et al in regard to public perception of the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.…”

The impact of COVID-19 on plastic and reconstructive surgery in China: A single-centre retrospective study

“…We analyzed the severity and evolution across multiple dimensions in 10827 patients in the three years before and after the outbreak. As several studies have described 10 , 11 , the pandemic has restricted the development of the plastic surgery industry due to factors such as changes in the allocation of health resources and industry policy 12 , as well as financial and psychosocial factors 7 , 13 . One of the psychological factors that stands out is that the acceptance of operations during the pandemic period can be influenced by the fear of people concerning the risk of getting infected.…”

Are the Global Cosmetic Surgery Legal Issues Bypassing Lithuania?

“…Even more so, 68% of the respondents started seeing patients virtually because of COVID-19 in the first place (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2020b). In addition, certain plastic surgery clinics started offering drive-through botulinum toxin and filler injections in their parking lots (Arnautovic, Jahromi, Konofaos, 2020).…”

“…Currently, some authors take the view that the economic downturn following the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have an even more adverse effect on cosmetic plastic surgery than the 2008 economic recession had, in particular due to the indefinite ban on elective surgeries and current strain on hospitals (Arnautovic, Jahromi, Konofaos, 2020). On the other hand, others notice that during the pandemic, some cosmetic surgery clinics report surges in people getting treatments, since they can hide the effects of the treatment behind masks or while working from home.…”