August 2020 Procedure of the Month: Beauty and Self Confidence from Our New Perspective
Posted July 29, 2020
Throughout the Covid-19 shutdown, our culture has had an opportunity to slow things down and take time to re-evaluate our lives and the things that are important to us. When it came time for our practice to re-open our doors, we found patients were coming in to address things that had bothered them for years, but they never had enough time to make it a priority. The lack of control in our daily lives also had people re-evaluating the things they could control like diet and exercise and potentially fixing something that had always concerned them. Zoom calls and internet connections have us assessing our skin, facial contours, eyes, and ears. Masks have us addressing skin care concerns. We decided to share with you the most common services we are seeing after opening back up and what patients seem to be saying.
Safety measures are a common concern, both for our staff and patients. We monitor the CDC and state regulations and follow all the requirements needed to maintain a safe environment for everyone. Clean, sterile rooms and common areas have always been a priority, as is handwashing and monitoring the health status of anyone coming through our doors. Giving our patients peace of mind and knowing that we are sensitive to the health and wellness of our community is an important part of our practice.
Cosmetic consults increased dramatically as patients showed an increased interest in Breast Surgery, Liposuction, Mommy Makeovers, and Facelifts. Eyelids, both upper and lower, otoplasty’s (ear surgery), and Neck Lifts have also increased. Consultations are an important part of the aesthetic process as they allow the patient to be examined and a treatment plan to be determined. Patients are coming in to ask questions and find out more information about the procedures they may be interested in. We continue to offer complimentary cosmetic consultations because we are passionate about providing education, so you have the tools to make informed decisions about your medical care. Meeting with a patient care coordinator and discussing the financial aspect of surgery is also done after the initial consultation which helps a patient determine if surgery is still something they still want to consider. With the ability to work from home while recovering as an added benefit with regards to surgery, we are seeing an increase in patients who are interested in looking into their self-care options.
“Tweakments” are addressed in our Bellissimo Aesthetics Center. A “tweakment” addresses minor changes using lasers, microneedling, and other non-surgical devices. Having spent more time evaluating ourselves over the past few months has left some people feeling unhappy, realizing they are looking older. They want to look as good as they feel. When we are busy, it is easy to ignore the signs of aging that we see in the mirror each day. People want to look their best at any age. Non-surgical devices can be used to address fine lines, wrinkles, tighten skin, minimize pore size, and improve skin texture and tone. These treatments are typically done in the office with minimum downtime. Our procedure room has seen an increase in patients coming in for revisions of old scars or to remove minor skin lesions, tags, small lumps, and bumps.
It seems that overall, Covid-19 has allowed us to slow down and examine ourselves and the lives we are living. Sometimes this means taking care of something that has always bothered us when we look in the mirror and other times it means finding acceptance and letting it go. We each choose our own definition of beauty.
