‘Chin cam’ fears sees spike in interest in plastic surgery, as low camera angle on Zoom calls causes anxiety over sagging

In lockdown, many have faced the tyranny of Zoom calls, with bad connections, concerns over backdrops and over-long meetings just a few of the problems those on virtual meetings face.

Now, another problem with them has come to the fore - those who are forced to stare at their own faces all day have become insecure about their looks, and particularly their chins.

Plastic surgeons say that staring down at a screen all day can affect the suppleness of your neck, and that the angle you look at your face from in a camera can also be unflattering, leading clients to fill waiting lists with requests chin procedures.

Leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Nyla Raja said: "Patients are saying the muscles in their neck and underneath the chin are looking looser - this is because as we look down at our phones and our laptops all day, the muscles are locked in a static position rather than in a dynamic position which over time creates sagging and wrinkling."

She added: "low camera angles can specifically accentuate 'chin cam' and we're seeing this translate onto our waitlist, with a flux of interest for treatment requests."

After lockdown, people say they want non-invasive surgery to improve how their chin looks. Dr Raja said these are: "Combination treatments such as CoolSculpting to eliminate stubborn fat and Juvederm Volux - an innovative filler to contour and sculpt the jawline compliment each other to improve definition in the area."

Dr Ravi Jain from Riverbanks clinic in Harpenden said he has seen an increase in people complaining about their "double chins" on Zoom, Skype and Houseparty.

He said this does not mean that aesthetic surgery is required, explaining: "For many, it may be as simple as the angle they are holding the camera at. Too low an angle would mean that you would have to look down at the camera, emphasising the double chin! And nobody really walks around like that do they!"

However, he added that double chins are mostly genetic, especially in people who are already slim, and that he offers a service to remove them, with either CoolSculpting - using extreme cold to 'freeze' away the fat - or a laser-based form of liposuction.

Photographers recommend free and non-surgical ways to reduce Zoom chin anxiety - simply propping up your laptop on a few books or holding your phone up at face level instead of from below.

Plastic surgeons have seen their waiting lists fill up during lockdown - especially as people realise they can quietly recover from a procedure at home as working remotely becomes the norm.

Gerard Lambe, spokesperson for industry body British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) explained: "The ‘Zoom factor’, with people using cameras more than ever and their visual appearance being scrutinised on apps, has certainly boosted enquiries for cosmetic tweaks and procedures. Many people are also aware they are likely to be working from home long-term and want to now start planning their dream procedures".

This is likely to be accentuated as more people wear masks; in South Korea, people have hidden their lip fillers under a face covering in order to recover discreetly.

Plastic surgery clinics remain closed during covid-19, with many of the health professionals temporarily joining the NHS effort against coronavirus. Some clinics are still performing essential follow-up care for those who have had invasive procedures.