It’s 2020 and most people have shifted their in-person interactions online. Work meetings, cocktail gatherings, school classes and catching up with friends happen using Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams and a range of social media apps.
Every time they connect, users appear on screens, which some feel might not show them in the best light.
In the absence of being able to shake hands and make real-life eye contact, electronic appearances can sometimes be the only chance to make an impression. And many are turning to med spas and Botox, fillers, facial threading and other treatments to help make that first impression a lasting one.
Jessica Marie, owner and founder of Jmarie Skin Studio in the Prospect neighborhood, said that despite in-person contact being shut down for nearly eight weeks, the spa is still on track to do the same amount of business it projected at the beginning of the year.
“People have come back in full force and then some. People were just ready. They were like, give me all the things, now,” Marie said.
She also said her patients have been quick to pull out their pocketbooks. Business has surged enough that she’s adding two additional staff members to her team.
Michelle Chavez, owner of Aging Younger on Coffman Street, has also seen an uptick following a period of pandemic-related downtime. She felt she benefitted from pent-up demand for services and people were eager for what they were missing. She also noted the kinds of procedures people were requesting.
“We’ve had new Botox patients and have definitely seen a lot more people interested in facial thread lifts,” she said.
While some apps, like Zoom, include a filter that helps users electronically adjust their appearances, it can only smooth so much. Marie has had patients who complained their faces looked as if they were falling, possibly because they had to cancel appointments for fillers. She has had teachers request services and helped clients where required masks were affecting the quality of their skin, causing “maskne” and other imperfections.
A quick online search shows this is a part of a larger trend. News outlets in cities as wide-ranging as Hollywood, California; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis have covered the rise in demand for appearance-focused services.
At the same time they are managing an increase in business, med spas are continuing a hyper-focus on operating in a COVID-safe manner. While cleaning and sanitation were always a part of how they worked, precautions are deepening. Mask wearing is the norm and some parts of procedures might be skipped right now.
The American Medical Spa Association released a full set of suggested protocols for businesses to follow. It also referred to Centers for Disease Control guidelines and recommend every spa owner stay up to date on, and compliant with state and local regulations.
