Mental Health and Quality of Life Considerations: Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Plastic surgery incorporates procedures ranging from in-office injections to full-body reconstruction. Many of these procedures have been correlated with increasing overall mental health and quality of life. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) effectively ended plastic surgery operations, temporarily, to prevent disease transmission and conserve personal protective equipment (PPE) for patients and forefront physicians with most need. While safety precautions and mental health have remained the primary concerns, this review aims to summarize and explore the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures and its future demand, with emphasis on patient mental health and quality of life, all while bringing potential improvements to the surgical subspecialty. Methods: A critical interpretive review involved thorough searches of Google Scholar and the National Library of Medicine’s MEDLINE/PubMed databases using the following search terms: “plastic surgery,” “COVID-19,” “aesthetic surgery,” and “coronavirus” in conjunction with “mental health,” “economic hardships,” and “post-operative complications.” Results: A total of 34 manuscripts were incorporated into this critical interpretive review. Discussion: The trend in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery’s frequency of procedures was expected to continue in 2020 but was derailed by COVID-19. Patient motivations for aesthetic surgery vary from visible function-impairing deformities to perceived psychological dysphoria. During COVID-19 restrictions, mental health has declined considerably for many, especially those with body dysmorphia; however, continuing cosmetic elective procedures, following public health guidelines, can have numerous mental health benefits. Conclusions: Cosmetic plastic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic is justified to support the mental health of patients that suffer from body dysmorphia and can abide by the safety precautions to prevent infection. Aesthetic surgery after the pandemic will continue the positive trend from previous years, but with an increased focus on the mental health of patients and an increased quality of care inspired by the pandemic.