When it comes to knowing what’s popular and what’s officially passé in the world of aesthetic enhancements, no one knows better than the doctors performing the treatments and surgeries themselves. When asked which trends they believe are about to make it big in 2018, here’s what they had to say.
1/11 Bespoke in-office treatments
“We’re seeing a lot more lasers and treatments being used together for a unique, signature outcome,” says New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD. “It’s not about selling a brand for doctors anymore—it’s now about how the doctor uses and combines the different modalities to deliver their best signature treatments that aren’t reproducable. For example, we’ve been using the Fotona PIANO Mode laser to increase heat before injecting Kybella and have noticed better results with less product. It’s not a matter of, ‘Do you have this laser or treatment?’ anymore, it’s ‘Here’s what I need, how can you do it?’”
2/11 Treating lines before they surface
According to Mt. Kisco, NY, dermatologist David E. Bank, MD, Botox Cosmetic and other neurotoxins are becoming much more popular with younger clientele. “People are not waiting for lines to form before they start neurotoxins,” he explains. “Prevention is key, and patients in their 20s and early 30s are getting treated before the lines are apparent.”
3/11 Nonsurgical is officially the new surgical
Miami plastic surgeon Sean Simon, MD, says the nonsurgical trend will continue to grow as new and improved technologies are developed to shape, tighten, lift, erase, and generally rejuvenate the skin. “From body sculpting to fat melting, innovations in noninvasive procedures will continue to offer patients a multitude of options to meet their desire for self-improvement. Plastic surgery, especially breast and body contouring procedures, will remain a mainstay for more dramatic changes.”
4/11 Bacteria-laden skin care is in
“It’s a field that needs more research, but some patients are seeing big improvement with probiotic skin products,” says Dr. Bank. “These products promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the skin and help to maintain the natural skin flora.”
5/11 Micro-Botox goes mainstream
According to New York dermatologist Dr. Debbie Palmer, micro-Botox is destined to be a trend in dermatologist offices next year. “Micro-Botox is injected more superficially, in the dermal layer of skin, and in smaller quantities than a normal Botox treatment, and it works to decrease pore size, smooth skin and decrease oil production.” Dr. Marotta says microfiller injections in areas where skin wrinkles have been shown to stimulate the body’s production of collagen for a longer-lasting effect. “This technique has become very popular in Europe.”
6/11 Operating-room abs are here to stay
“The sculpting of athletic abs using liposuction, aka ‘high-def liposuction,’ is going to be big in 2018,” says Dr. Banks. “It consists of traditional liposuction, but with additional contouring around muscle groups to enhance the appearance of the muscles. It delivers the appearance of a six pack without spending all your free time in the gym.”
7/11 Relying on our own bodies for enhanced results
Northborough, MA, plastic surgeon Cynthia M. Poulos, MD, predicts an increased use of growth factors, nanofat or PRP for rejuvenating the skin and enhancing hair growth in 2018. Smithtown, NY, facial plastic surgeon James C. Marotta, MD, agrees, adding that 2018 will be all about stimulating our own cells to naturally reverse some of the signs of aging. “This can be done with microfiller injections (small amounts of fillers are injected into and under the skin), fat transfer at the time of a blepharoplasty or facelift (this enhances the look of these procedures by restoring lost volume) or with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for an uptick in collagen building, cell growth and better hair health when injected into the scalp.”
8/11 Nonsurgical nose jobs are back
They’ve had their own heyday, but Dr. Bank says nonsurgical nose jobs are coming back. “Fillers can be used to subtly improve the shape of the nose—and although not permanent, it is a less-expensive option than a traditional rhinoplasty.” When compared to rhinoplasty, Dr. Banks says nonsurgical nose jobs can’t make a nose smaller, but they can help correct imperfections and camouflage areas that are concerning to patients.
9/11 All about threads
“The practice of lifting the face and body with threads is new and improved and here to stay,” says Dr. Day. “Threads work well because they stimulate collagen. The material of the thread itself can be made of a material that acts as a foreign substance to the body in order to stimulate collagen growth, or the thread may have changes in the surface of the thread (barbs cones or knots) that will catch onto the skin. When the doctor places the thread and positions the skin over it, it looks great immediately and over time (there is a lifting effect that continues to improve).”
10/11 An emphasis on vaginal rejuvenation
We saw a huge rise in the interest of vaginal rejuvenation this year, and Dr. Banks says it’s not over. “It’s accomplished through the use of lasers that help to tighten skin by stimulating collagen. These in-office procedures are providing some patients with both medical and cosmetic benefits.”
11/11 A shift off the face
According to Dr. Day, 2018 will see a larger shift from treating the face to treating areas on the body like the legs and arms. “Radio-frequency energy works well to tighten slack skin, as does Sculptra with an off-label mixture of injectables. A few years ago, women were barely wearing sleeveless tops; they’re much more confident now.” Washington D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD, says the off-facial use of Kybella injections is also becoming popular. “It’s great for the discrete areas of fat that are too small to be treated with liposuction or cryolipolysis, like above the knee.”