The COVID-19 pandemic put medical aesthetics practices in a precarious situation, as most, if not all, of the services they offer were put on hold for weeks on end. Even as restrictions begin lifting and business begin reopening their doors, it can be difficult to gauge patient interest in returning, as well as what exact measures aesthetics offices need to take to ensure consumer comfort. Cynosure, a global leader in medical aesthetics, took it upon themselves to answer these questions with a multi-continent research study. “The Return of Aesthetic Patients Post COVID-19” report is based on a survey conducted among 3,000 aesthetic treatment consumers across the U.S., the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, and Australia.
Most notably, the study reports a widespread inclination to resume non-invasive, in-office procedures, with 63 percent of respondents noting that they would be willing to return to practices within three months of restrictions being lifted, and 85 percent indicating that they plan to return within 12 months. The study also includes practitioners’ perspectives, with 76 percent anticipating patients returning to treatments within 12 months of restrictions being lifted and 62 percent reporting that they are confident their business revenue will be able to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.
Furthermore, the study observed that patient willingness to restart treatments was highly impacted by the implementation of certain hygiene precautions, such as the use of personal protective equipment, primarily masks and gloves. In fact, 36 percent of the respondents indicated that they would feel safer if waiting room patients were also required to wear masks, and 35 percent of consumers surveyed said they would feel more comfortable if practices would limit the number of patients in the office at any given time. Transparency seems to be a significant factor as well, with 34 percent of patients reporting a desire for proactive communications about in-office safety procedures. “We take our role as the leader in medical aesthetics seriously and giving our doctors what they need to best serve their patients remains our top priority, whether that’s best-in-class laser technology or in this case, tangible global data to support clinicians as they make critical decisions to ensure the safety and security of their patients,” says Todd Tillemans, CEO of Cynosure. “In rocky waters, you need a strong captain, and the Cynosure team remains committed to its goal of educating aesthetic practitioners across the globe in an effort to help them chart a course forward that allows patients to resume the treatments that remain important to them.”
Download the full report here.
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