Coronavirus has had a significant impact on the plastic surgery industry, with many states in America now able to offer plastic surgery procedures again, and there has been a substantial rebound in demand for non-elective procedures.
Among the plastic surgery procedures that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have reported are in greater demand include Botox, breast augmentation and liposuction
Video Conferences, Social Media and the Increase in Demand for Plastic Surgery
What is significant are the reasons why patients are now actively seeking plastic surgeons to perform these procedures. During the lockdown, many people will have worked virtually from home for the first time, which for most, requires regular meetings on webcam and participation in video conferences. Also, the use of social media has seen a rise in the use of social media platforms, with the numbers of people rising since March 2020, and FaceBook reporting a noticeable increase in use, as people turn to social media to feel more connected to family and friends, during the lockdown.
Understanding why people want plastic surgery has now become an even more critical element of knowing how to qualify serious inquiries and convert them into actual bookings for plastic surgery procedures. With summer over, many people feel they have lost valuable time doing the activities they would have enjoyed and been with people they usually socialize or work with.
Virtual Consultations and the Increase in Demand for Plastic Surgery
One of the most notable changes since the coronavirus has been the rise in virtual consultations for plastic surgery procedures. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) conducted a member survey that showed 64% of plastic surgeons noted a marked increase, since the coronavirus, in patients utilizing video consultations.
The survey also showed that 68% of plastic surgeons have started to offer virtual consultations for the first time, due to coronavirus restrictions. This trend is due to continue, with patients embracing the ease of accessing virtual consultations compared to the risks now associated with travel and speaking with a plastic surgeon, face to face.
Numerous companies are now permitting employees to continue working from home. Amazon, Facebook and Google have now extended work from home for existing and new employees until January 2021.
An Amazon spokesperson released a statement to clarify their current position ‘Employees who work in a role that can effectively be done from home are welcome to do so until January 8th’.
The Four Plastic Surgery Procedures in Demand since Coronavirus
The changes due to the coronavirus have meant that holidays and other significant events have been canceled or postponed. Combined with coronavirus lockdown restrictions and numerous people working from home, weight gain has become considerable.
In a poll of more than 1,000 U.S. readers of WebMD, nearly half of the women and almost one-quarter of the men said they’d gained weight “due to COVID restrictions.”
Now is the time to be prepared for a significant increase in inquiries for liposculpture, tummy tucks, breast augmentations and non-surgical procedures. Now summer is over, and potential patients want to feel and look better for the coming holidays. Ensuring all new inquiries are answered quickly and effectively is vital for efficient consultations and high conversion rates. One form of communication that has increased in popularity since coronavirus restriction is the humble web chat option. Previously ignored, a web chat option is now essential for all plastic surgeons that want visitors to their websites to book a consultation.
The Importance of Web Chat/Live Chat
Live chat allows the visitor to choose when they engage with the service and has quickly become a preferred communication tool for people considering plastic surgery when they visit a plastic surgeon’s website. To fully utilize this essential tool, specific training should be given to ensure that queries are responded quickly and skillfully.
Live chat with the right person cannot only increase the conversion rate of inquiries into consultation bookings, but a well informed potential patient is also ready to book following an initial consultation.
Web Chat/Live Chat Benefits
- Patients working from home who cannot speak on the phone will often use web chat as an alternative communication method.
- Some people may feel more comfortable using web chat than speaking on the phone
- All web chat comes with a full transcript that can be reviewed to enhance future communications
The Future of Virtual Medicine
Remote video consultations have quickly become the normal and accepted way to initiate an initial consultation with a plastic surgeon.
Results from the national consumer survey the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released in May showed a favorable opinion among the majority, including those who consider having plastic surgery for the first time.
