While many sectors have suffered during the pandemic, a number of plastic surgeons around the world have reported an uptick in business as lockdowns are lifted.
Media in countries such as the US, UK and Australia have spoken to cosmetic surgeons who've seen increased demand for procedures such as Botox and face-lifts.
One plastic surgeon in California told The Hollywood Reporter that surgeons have been working from the early morning to late at night to keep up with demand.
The phenomenon has been dubbed the 'Zoom Boom' - a trend driven by the switch to video conferencing, and the fact more people are now seeing themselves in close-up on a computer or phone screen.
Clinical psychotherapist Stephanie Regan spoke to The Hard Shoulder about the development - suggesting we've seen similar trends before.
She observed: "There was a similar boom in the Snapchat time, when that came in and people were really focused on their physical appearance. And [there was] the selfie time. All of that has caused a certain boom in the cosmetic surgery industry.
"You think when you look in the mirror, that that is what people see - but it's not exactly like that.
"In Zoom, we see something else... we're seeing ourselves with different lighting, different angles."
'Latent dissatisfaction'
Stephanie said many people who may have a 'latent dissatisfaction' may be prompted to start looking at themselves a little differently due to video-conferencing.
She also observed: "You are not only look at your own face, you are also making comparisons to other people - and that has its own affect. Perhaps there's an unconscious comparison being made."
Stephanie also explained that while cosmetic surgery sometimes has a negative perception attached to it, it's not always a bad thing for people.
She noted: "It has become more and more the case that people feel they can... make themselves look better - and, as a result, feel better.
"There is a strong sense that our perception of ourselves and how we look is very tied up with our general well-being and happiness.
"You can't always say it's always for silly or vain reasons - there are many people for whom this is a lifesaver."
However, she said anyone considering cosmetic surgery should ask why they are doing it - as it can become a 'focus of discontent' even when there are other aspects in life that may need to be looked at and addressed.
She noted that anybody repeatedly getting such surgery should also start 'looking a little deeper'.
