Am I Pretty Enough? I thought so.
I haven’t lived life looking into the mirror much — usually just a passing glance now and then and then a more careful study when I’m trying on clothing to see what fits well together. That’s when I use the full-length mirror. As I mostly don’t wear any makeup only occasionally when I’m out on a dinner date when I paint my lips with my natural glittering gloss, I don’t see my face close up. I’m not leaning against the medicine cabinet mirror or a magnifier and carefully lining my eyes and extending my lashes with makeup.
Since the pandemic, like everyone else, I have found myself staring into a computer screen looking at others and myself during a Zoom meeting. What I didn’t see for years is now a full-frontal view. My crepey neck — I had no idea I even had one, never mind how bad it is — my lined forehead, my growing jowls and my hooded eyes confront me in each Zoom event. I don’t dare take off my huge Parisian spectacles as they do a fairly decent job of hiding my aging eyes, which now are so folded that the tears are leaking out of the sides creating a crustiness I find myself constantly wiping off.
I never considered any sort of cosmetic treatments including surgery, injections and laser before and quite honestly am still not. Firstly, I’m terrified of letting anyone do anything to my face. After all, I fought off my mother for decades as she campaigned for me to have a nose job ever since I was 14. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t say that decision is becoming more of a challenge with each Zoom.
While using Zoom for my professional presentations, I’ve learned how to adjust the height and position of my computer and seat along with creating the proper lighting as I sit in front of a French countryside virtual background. I also have figured out the perfect hairstyle and outfit to wear. These talks are recorded and put out to the world so I take an extra step.
However, I can’t keep up that kind of preparation for all the other meetings I run or participate in. I’m wondering as we have been stationed and cordoned off at our homes for over a year, and have found ourselves unexpectedly staring at our faces, have people taken to cosmetically changing them? Is plastic surgery and everything related to it booming, now that the country has opened?
Not only has it increased but a new phrase has been hatched “Zoom boom” as a result of an unexpected increase in cosmetic procedures. After months of video calls many of us are analyzing and criticizing our appearances more.
Cosmetic doctors and plastic surgeons around the world have reported surges in bookings for both surgical and non-surgical treatments. 70% of members of The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) have seen an increase in surgery over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic with the most common procedures, rhinoplasty, facelift and eyelids.
Dr. Dino Elyassnia, a plastic surgeon in San Francisco commented, “Seeing themselves in video certainly shined a light on some [issues] they may not have noticed before. However, I truly believe the ability to work from home while recovering played a larger part [in the boom].”
With people staying in over a year, the dough they would have spent on fine dining, entertainment and vacations was not used. Between having the extra cash, being able to stay under one’s own roof to heal from cosmetic procedures while continuing to earn a living, has made it a no brainer for many.
In 2019, 72 percent of American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery members reported seeing patients seeking cosmetic procedures to improve their selfies.
As I often shoot selfies (less so as I age), I/we all have the power to both select and edit the best photo. Not with a live Zoom. You/me/we are on, babe. Anyone participating can grab a screenshot of you and you would have no idea they did so. For those who are concerned about being represented and judged by our natural face that has crow’s feet, brow lines and uneven nostrils, it could be traumatizing.
I’ve noticed on the presentations I give many people opt to not turn on their video. As I love to connect with people and introduce others — I always start all my in-person parties with a round robin — I’ve encouraged those faceless Zoom participants to “start their video.” With a little nudging some do and most don’t.
I have taken to adding a professional photo of myself to my Zoom profile so when I don’t start my video, they get to see not just my rather long name but my three-year-old, photoshopped, glamorous professional pix. When I hit “Start video” and people see the real me, I’m often afraid of their reaction.
Dr. Corey Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, Alabama pointed out that “We witnessed our faces take shapes we’ve never seen before — our expressions exposing unfamiliar lines, folds, and asymmetries.”
Among all the other flaws I shared is my deeply lined glabella, the skin between my eyebrows and nose. This is not hidden by my eyeglasses. Do I give in and get Botox or just accept my aging and as a thing of beauty like a fine wine which gets better with age?
