Learn why Cosmetic Surgery Claims are Down Due to COVID-19

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused some major delays in the medical community and this is especially true when it comes to the number of patients that are planning to undergo cosmetic surgery. Many elective cosmetic surgery procedures have been delayed by weeks, and even months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the increase in the number of delays in performing cosmetic surgery, there has also been an increase in the amount of insurance claims that are not bring filed or processed due to the ongoing pandemic crisis.

Reasons for a Decrease in Elective Cosmetic Surgery Insurance Claims

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, hospitals across the United States are dealing with months of paperwork that was designed to help patients and hospitals meet the necessary medical requirements related to cosmetic surgery.

According to a report in the Economist, hospitals and clinics in the United States and the rest of the world are cutting back on the total number of routine procedures they are able to perform on a regular basis in order to better maintain safety measures for both patients and their medical staff. The need to reduce the amount of medical procedures performed on a regular basis was put into effect so hospitals can keep their capacity under control in case of any sudden and unexpected waves of coronavirus patients in the future. England’s National Health Service (NHS) estimates that it has already postponed more than 2-million planned operations and many recovery areas have been repurposed as overflow intensive care units. In addition, personal protective equipment (PPE) is being rationed thanks to short supplies.

Since the wait time for more urgent medical procedures has increased in number, many areas of the world have put a “freeze” on elective medical surgeries such as breast augmentation or a facelift. In the most basic of terms, “medically elective” cosmetic surgery means the surgery of choice is not considered to be medically necessary. This does not mean that these cosmetic procedures are not important or that they do not need to be performed. The freeze on these cosmetic procedures is due to them being designated as “low priority” as compared to other types of elective procedures such as some forms of medical biopsies, spinal and orthopedic procedures, certain types of tumor removals and also some forms of cardiac or transplant surgeries.

Thanks to the freeze in elective cosmetic surgery procedures, the number of cosmetic surgery claims being filed is decreasing in number.

Growth in Natural Skincare Treatments

As the number of cosmetic surgery procedures continues to fall, there has also been an increase in the number of natural anti-aging procedures enjoyed by patients. Patients that want to enjoy skin rejuvenation treatments that treat issues such as wrinkles, sagging skin and fine lines are looking into natural skincare methods they might not have considered in the past. In addition, they might make the decision to continue or increase the skincare routines they already have in place. Recent reports show that healthy lifestyles and natural skincare routines have become a very popular search topic for patients on search engines such as Google.

In an interview on the subject of natural skincare treatments, Crystal Noble, the owner and founder of Noble Naturals, a natural skincare company in British Columbia, Canada said, “Just because people aren’t going out as much doesn’t mean people want to sacrifice their skin and self-care routines. Since the lockdowns, people have been turning to supplements for nutrition and immunity boosting which also happens to have great results for the skin as it nourishes it from the inside out. People have also been forgoing tanning beds and opting for self-tanning products which also helps to slow the skin’s aging process as it isn’t being exposed to UV rays.”

Avoiding the Need for Cosmetic Surgery Insurance Claims

If patients want to avoid the need to make a cosmetic surgery insurance claim in the first place, Noble says the answer might be as simple as preventing skincare problems in the first place. She recommends performing the preservation of youthful skin, as well as the continued nourishment of the skin, by practicing an ongoing lifestyle of proper skincare. Noble said, “When looking for natural in-home options to prevent aging and achieve luminous skin you often don’t have to look further than your fruit bowl or pantry. Avocados, bananas, honey and lemons provide some incredible natural anti-aging benefits and can be used on both your hair and face.”

Patients that are interested in learning more about natural ways to practice skincare can contact the office of a board-certified doctor to ask questions and even get some recommendations about the best products and techniques to use to practice skincare. In addition, they can make an appointment for a future date to discuss their skincare goals in person and determine if the ability to undergo a cosmetic procedure will be available anytime in the near future or if the current COVID-19 restrictions will remain in place throughout 2020.

MA