Embracing telehealth led to relatively strong performance of industry
As the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how plastic surgeons will care for patients and how they operate their practices, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recently conducted a member survey to understand what procedures were top of mind among patients to gauge whether the public’s mindset on preferred treatments has shifted.
While practices were closed, plastic surgeons continued to stay in touch with patients via virtual visits. ASPS measured the performance of telemedicine and found that most members sought technology to connect with clients.
- 64% of respondents had seen an increase in their telemedicine consultations since before COVID-19 began
- 68% of respondents started seeing patients virtually because of COVID-19.
ASPS member surgeons formulated the following early predictions on top 2020 procedure trends as in-office visits safely resume for patients, doctors and staff. Insights were gathered from more than 350 members and were based on what members learned from patients via telemedicine appointments.
Botox treatments topped the list, with breast augmentations and soft tissue fillers just behind. Liposuction and abdominoplasty procedures rounded out a strong top five.
The continued interest in plastic surgery procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest patient confidence in the specialty and its board-certified plastic surgeons to reopen and resume procedures safely. This aligns with findings from an ASPS national consumer survey released in May, which revealed an overall positive attitude towards plastic surgery procedures even among those who are interested but have not undergone procedures before.
Building upon that trust, following stay-at-home orders and CDC guidelines, ASPS convened plastic surgeon working groups to issue guidance regarding COVID restrictions, elective surgery, and safe resumption of surgery. “The early signs of patients’ confidence in resuming procedures with our trusted members is a testament to why we do what we do,” said ASPS President Lynn Jeffers, MD, MBA, FACS.
SOURCE: ASPS
From this survey, results show patients continue to be interested in pursuing major surgeries and that the general interest has not changed in the type of procedures and operations from the Society’s pre-pandemic statistics.
