ABSTRACT
Introduction: With the relaxation of pandemic-related operative restrictions, there has been an increase in elective facial plastic surgical cases in comparison with 2018, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study is to compare the surgical volume of pre-COVID-19 pandemic cosmetic facial plastic surgery (FPS) in 2018 with the postpandemic volume in 2021, in both a tertiary care academic practice and community practice. Method(s): This is a retrospective chart review of adult patients undergoing cosmetic FPS at an academic tertiary care center and community practice: Louisiana State University Health Shreveport (LSU) and Kenneth Sanders Facial Plastic Surgery in Louisiana, respectively. Information assessed included demographics, surgical date, and surgical procedure performed during the first 6 months of 2018 and 2021. Categorical variables were compared using 2-proportion z test and Pearson chi2 test. Odds ratio (OR) was used to calculate the likelihood of procedural year predicting subsequent FPS. Result(s): One hundred thirty-nine patients were identified: 58 (41.7%) patients in 2018 and 81 (58.3%) patients in 2021. The number of patients having FPS in the <30-year-old age group increased by 13.6% from 2018 to 2021 (P=.02). The number of septorhinoplasties increased by 20.5% from 2018 to 2021 (P=.01). Furthermore, the odds of one having a septorhinoplasty in 2021 increased 144% compared with 2018 (OR: 2.44 [95% CI, 1.19, 5.11]). The only cosmetic surgery to significantly decrease in volume during the postpandemic time period was rhytidectomy (OR: 0.33 [95% CI, 0.12, 0.82]). Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a significant rise in FPS in patients younger than 30 years and those electing to have septorhinoplasty. The etiology of this increase is not clear;however, possible explanations include the following: increased disposable income, "Zoom dysmorphia," and the ability for conspicuous recovery behind a mask.