The Zoom Effect: A Google Trends Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background Increased video-chatting, stimulated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has been correlated with increased appearance concerns. Initial lockdown restrictions correlated with a decrease in aesthetic/cosmetic plastic surgery case volumes. Objectives The authors aimed to delineate public interest in aesthetic procedures surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic via Google Trends. They hypothesized that because of the pandemic, public interest in plastic surgery procedures increased, especially localized above the shoulder. Methods Trends in the United States for given search terms and volumes were gathered via Google Trends between January 2015 and March 2021. The search volumes were normalized, and a bivariate regression analysis of panel data was then applied to the aggregate trendlines to determine if a statistically significant change in search volume occurred following the stay-at-home orders. Results The following search terms had statistically significant (P < 0.000) increases in search volumes after February 2020: blepharoplasty, Botox, brachioplasty, breast implant removal, breast reduction, brow lift, buccal fat removal, hair transplantation, lip augmentation, mentoplasty, otoplasty, platysmaplasty, rhinoplasty, and thighplasty. Chi-squared analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association (chi-squared = 4.812, P = 0.028) between increases in search volume and above-the-shoulder procedures. Conclusions Public interest in above-the-shoulder surgical procedures statistically significantly increased following February 2020 compared with below-the-shoulder procedures. Continued examination of specific procedure trends and determining correlations with more accurate procedural datasets will provide increased insight into consumers’ mindsets and to what extent video conferencing plays a role in the public’s interest in pursuing aesthetic surgery.