The Rise of “Zoom Dysmorphia” as Video Calls Lead to Increased Demand for Cosmetic Procedures
For Jane, a 40-year-old mental health professional from Cork, her appearance was never a concern until her job transitioned fully to virtual meetings. As she began seeing her face during Microsoft Teams calls, she became increasingly self-conscious. Her face appeared rounder, her nose seemed larger, and her top lip looked thinner than ever before. Although she had always received compliments about her looks in person, the lack of such affirmations on video calls left her feeling insecure.
This newfound self-consciousness led Jane to undergo a lip filler procedure in June, and she was so pleased with the results that she plans to make it an annual routine.
As the pandemic forced people into video conferences throughout 2020, a phenomenon known as “Zoom dysmorphia” emerged. Researchers noticed that the more people viewed their own faces on screen, the more they fixated on perceived imperfections.
Dr. Shadi Kourosh, a dermatologist from Massachusetts, coined the term “Zoom dysmorphia” after seeing a dramatic increase in consultations for cosmetic procedures such as Botox, fillers, and laser treatments when her clinic reopened in the summer. A study on the trend, co-authored by Dr. Kourosh, was published in November, shedding light on how video calls during the pandemic fueled a surge in demand for cosmetic enhancements.
