The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered how we live as a society. For example, many of us were forced to spend a great deal of time indoors, away from our usual pastimes. One of the implications of this lockdown was weight gain.
As a result, liposuction was cited as the most popular surgical operation from 2021 to 2022. Here, we will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted liposuction and made it a major plastic surgery procedure.
“Liposuction procedures have seen a notable increase since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lifestyle changes, work-from-home setups, and heightened awareness of personal well-being, individuals have shown a growing interest in body contouring treatments like liposuction to address concerns related to appearance and self-confidence,” says Dr. Sacha Obaid of North Texas Plastic Surgery.
The pandemic’s impact on priorities and the increased focus on self-care may contribute to this rise in the popularity of cosmetic procedures.
How Did the Pandemic Make Liposuction Procedures Popular?
The inaugural ASPS Insights and Trends Report says liposuction was the most popular plastic surgery procedure among patients in 2021–2022. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) also reported that patients aged 31 to 45 strongly preferred liposuction. Why is this the case, though?
One reason is simply that people are staying at home more often and going out less. This contributed to the overall tendency of slight weight gain in the statusborn United States. The average American’s weight tended to increase as everyone stayed at home and avoided the gym. It did not help that the scenario was stressful, and eating fatty or sugary foods while agitated is a normal response.
From a medical perspective, the ease at which plastic surgeons can add liposuction to a host of procedures is another contributing factor. This explains that it is a versatile procedure that can be done in combination with others like tummy tucks, breast reductions, or lifts.
Facial procedures like a chin implant can also be done alongside liposuction. This is worth noting because virtual meetings have become a norm since the pandemic, and the chin ultimately becomes an area of focus.
How People Used Liposuction to Combat COVID-19 Weight Gain
People with the go-ahead for liposuction can transform their bodies into desired, much-preferred shapes. One of these is a 24-year-old American, Abigail Mitchell, who gained extra weight in her stomach region.
The main reason was that she had consistently spent two hours daily doing cardio and powerlifting, trying to eliminate her belly fat. Her tummy grew even larger when the COVID-19 outbreak closed down her gym, causing her some physical and mental distress.
Mitchell, however, did not want to start over to restore her body to its pre-pandemic shape. She was aware of her surgery option to reduce her tummy bulge because she worked as a patient coordinator for Williams. Williams used liposuction to flatten Michell’s stomach and improve the curves of her flanks, inner thighs, and abdomen.
Mitchell, delighted, claimed that the procedure had a profoundly good effect on her self-esteem.
Conclusion
Liposuction has always been one of the most common procedures each year, says ASPS Public Education Committee Chair Josef Hadeed, MD. But the impact of COVID-19, among other factors, has led to its popularity during 2021-2022.
The results are optimal when a patient is close to their ideal weight and if they have struggled with diet-and exercise-resistant fat. This implies that only those already within the normal weight range for their height can undergo surgery.
The pandemic’s impact on priorities and the increased focus on self-care may contribute to this rise in the popularity of cosmetic procedures.
