Published by Programme B
Roughly 50% of surveyed people admit that they look at their own image on Zoom calls more than they like.
That begs the question, what’s up with the other 50%? Are they simply not admitting that they’re distracted? Do they have zen-like mind control and focus? Do they have a Hollywood makeup team somewhere?
If you hate seeing your own face on Zoom calls, you’re not alone. And it’s not your fault.
About 42% of the entire US workforce is now working from home. At first, we all envisioned working in our pyjamas, without a hint of makeup. But now, we’re being forced to get camera-ready every morning.
The Zoom Boom
The sheer volume of people on Zoom every day has actually caused a bit of a boom for the plastic surgery industry. It has been playfully dubbed The Zoom Boom or The Zoom Effect, as plastic surgeons are reporting a 60% increase in business.
“Some of this increase is because people are pent up. They’re locked down and they are forced onto these Zoom calls,” said noted Toronto Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Stephen Mulholland.
“They see all of this gray hair and these new jowls. And they ask who is that? They see their mother in their own image, and they’re only in their 40s.”
This is why thousands of people that would never even consider plastic surgery prior to COVID-19 are now booking consultations with a rhinoplasty surgeon in Beverly Hills, or a similar surgeon in their own area. We’ve seen a massive shift in attitudes towards cosmetic procedures.
In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons conducted a survey in the middle of the lockdown. According to their data, 49% of respondents would consider getting their first-ever plastic surgery right now. Pre-pandemic, a similar survey in 2014 revealed that only about 17% of respondents were open to getting their first surgery.
People are also seeing this as an ideal window to get a procedure, while they work from home. Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, you may have had to book a week off of work to recover from a rhinoplasty procedure or liposuction. Now, you can work from home and save your vacation days.
You Can Hide, But You Can’t Run
In theory, all you have to do is hide your own window on Zoom calls so you don’t have to look at yourself. But that is only somewhat effective.
The seeds of insecurity can be planted by a single Zoom call. If you don’t like your nose, you’re now seeing it from new angles, while seeing what it looks like when you talk or take a sip of coffee. You can’t unsee that. Even if you hide the image window, you now have anxiety about what the other people might be seeing.
So, if you’re feeling incredibly insecure these days, you’re firmly in the majority. This insecurity is causing a record number of people to look up liposuction before and after pictures on the internet. And a lot of them are actually booking appointments.
The good news is that getting plastic surgery is no longer being viewed as self-centered. It’s now seen as self-care.