Is video chat causing a 'Zoom boom' in facial cosmetic surgery?

Unlike in real-world conversations, where we don't see our faces, let alone compare them to those of others, in Zoom we are constantly shown what we look like. Photo: Unsplash/CHRIS MONTHOMERY

Never before have we spent this much time looking at our faces. Video conferencing platforms used during the pandemic have left millions examining their wrinkles, leading many to consider surgery.

But what is it about Zoom that's different to mirrors or selfies?

Since the first lockdowns of March 2020, cosmetic surgery specialists have been reporting a dramatic rise in requests for minor facial procedures in the wake of the global shift to remote working.