The UK could be set to witness a significant rise in demand among men, according to new figures from our recent national survey.

We recently asked over 1,000 people how they felt about their appearance since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and, in particular, since their use of video technology had increased.

The survey found an overwhelming link between increased video use and decreased self-esteem. Some 69% of the nation said they had felt either quite aware or extremely aware of their appearance during video meetings.

In addition, since the start of the pandemic, 47% reported feeling generally unhappy with their appearance. Only 21% said they had felt happy with how they look.

What’s more, 32% of the UK noted a decrease in their self esteem since the start of the pandemic.

Over the last few years, demand among men for cosmetic surgery procedures has decreased. According to the most recent annual audit by The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), 2,304 procedures were performed on men in 2018 - a 4.7% decrease from 2017.

However, at the end of 2020, our figures show that 7.56% of male respondents reported a ‘slight’ or ‘significant’ increase in desire for cosmetic surgery.

In addition, we found that 24% of men have generally felt unhappy with their appearance when using video technology this year, with 17.27% stating their self-esteem had been negatively affected since the start of the pandemic. If you have decided to undergo cosmetic surgery, please read our guide to find a safe cosmetic surgeon.

Michael Saul, partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors, commented: “What we’re dealing with at the moment is the significant impact that the pandemic has had on not only our everyday lives, but also our mental health, with people becoming more critical of the way they look due to an increased time spent using video technology.

“The implications that this can have on people’s body image and mental health are long-lasting, and it is worrying to think that this could result in a cosmetic surgery boom among both genders once the coronavirus pandemic has eased.”