Featured Experts on realself:
- Dr. Brandon Richland, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Fountain Valley, California
- Dr. Kimberly Lee, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Los Angeles
- Dr. Dilip Madnani, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City
- Dr. Norman Rowe, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City
While much attention is paid to the rising trends in cosmetic surgery like breast implant removals or eyelid enhancements, the shifts away from certain procedures receive considerably less focus. According to the latest 2022 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, some procedures, including neck lifts and brow lifts, are seeing a decrease in demand.
Dr. Brandon Richland of Fountain Valley, California, notes a declining interest in more invasive procedures within his practice. He observes that patients increasingly prefer treatments with minimal downtime and little to no scarring, over traditional methods that often leave significant marks.
Similarly, Dr. Kimberly Lee from Los Angeles reports a shift towards more understated and natural cosmetic improvements. Many individuals are opting for procedures that maintain natural facial dynamics instead of opting for surgeries that might give them an overly modified look.
However, trends can vary; Dr. Lee mentions a noticeable increase in demand for forehead and neck lifts among younger demographics and males. With these observations, we solicited input from various surgeons about which treatments are phasing out and their reasons for the decline.
Table of Contents
Neck Lifts
While neck lifts have their specific uses, particularly for those with considerable loose skin, Dr. Richland points out that non-surgical or less invasive options are becoming preferable. Techniques like Renuvion, utilizing cold plasma energy for skin tightening, and radiofrequency microneedling, are popular alternatives that avoid the extensive recovery associated with traditional surgery.
Forehead Lifts
In New York City, Dr. Dilip Madnani sees a drop in traditional forehead lifts, with lateral brow lifts becoming more favored. Lateral lifts, focusing on the outer brow, create a subtle change that addresses drooping without the startled appearance associated with full brow lifts, offering a more refined look.
Dr. Lee also highlights the increasing preference for non-surgical forehead treatments due to concerns over risks and the lengthy recovery period required by more invasive forehead lifts.
Hand Filler
Once a popular choice to rejuvenate aging hands and conceal prominent veins, hand filler is becoming less favored. Dr. Norman Rowe from New York City observes a shift towards alternatives like laser resurfacing, as patients seek to avoid the discomfort associated with fillers.
Buccal Fat Removal
Although buccal fat removal was widely sought after in 2023, it’s now seeing a decline. Dr. Madnani comments that the procedure isn’t suitable for everyone, leading to more selective consideration by both surgeons and patients. Alternatives like masseter Botox, targeting the jaw muscle, offer subtle changes without removing buccal fat, which might be beneficial as natural facial fat decreases with age.
Kybella
Kybella, known for its fat-dissolving injections to the chin area, is losing its edge to more straightforward solutions like liposuction. Dr. Rowe points out that patients often prefer the simplicity and quicker results of liposuction over the prolonged and more painful process of repeated Kybella treatments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the landscape of cosmetic procedures is ever-evolving, reflecting broader changes in societal preferences and advances in technology. As patients increasingly seek options that offer less downtime, reduced discomfort, and more natural outcomes, some traditional surgeries are making way for innovative, less invasive alternatives. This shift highlights the importance of staying informed about the latest trends and technological advancements in cosmetic surgery to better meet the changing needs and desires of patients. Whether these trends will continue or new preferences will emerge remains to be seen, but what is clear is that the field of cosmetic surgery will continue to adapt and evolve in response to patient demands and technological possibilities.