When New York plastic surgeon Konstantin Vasyukevich, MD does any cosmetic treatment in his Upper East Side practice, the goal is to look subtle, not significant.
Smartly said, it’s a term and period he calls the “undetectable era.”
“Advances in techniques, products and technology—like more refined fillers, laser treatments, surgical and minimally invasive procedures—allowed for more natural and subtle results,” Dr. Vasyukevich says. “Social media also played a significant role in this shift. Influencers and celebrities began advocating for ‘less is more’ approaches, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a natural appearance while enhancing features.”
“In the future, the landscape of facelifts will likely evolve significantly,” he adds.
According to Dr. Vasyukevich, the main factors include advancements in techniques, changing consumer preferences and an increasing emphasis on natural results.
“Here’s how I envision this transformation: Future facelifts could be highly personalized, with surgeons using advanced imaging technology and AI to create tailored treatment plans that consider an individual’s unique facial structure, skin quality and aesthetic goals,” he says.
“There may be a shift toward procedures that not only provide immediate results but also promote long-term skin health. The emphasis on achieving undetectable results will likely intensify. Surgeons may adopt techniques that prioritize preserving individual characteristics, ensuring that patients look like the best versions of themselves, rather than undergoing a dramatic transformation.”
Natural Is Now
Over on the West Coast, Encino, CA plastic surgeon George Sanders, MD says natural procedures are something he is also seeing.
“In the past five years, there has been an unquestionable trend toward a desire for more natural results in plastic surgery. Whether we’re speaking of less extreme facelifts, more modest breast implant sizes or classic facial shapes with fillers, patients are opting for a look that blends with their remaining bodily features,” says Dr. Sanders.
“The response of others to their results is no longer one of, ‘Oh my goodness, what happened?’ Instead, it’s, ‘I really can’t tell.’ Did they or did they not have something done?” It’s refreshing as a plastic surgeon. We now have patients coming to us and saying that they want to look beautiful as opposed to producing ‘shock and awe’ in the eyes of their beholders.”
“How long is this change in the varying winds of plastic surgery going to hold up?” Dr. Sanders asks. “One can only hope that it’s for a very long time!”
A Moment for Subtle Maintenance
The new “trend” has also reached Phoenix, AZ, where dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal says patients are leaning toward natural at his practice. “Standards of beauty have changed,” Dr. Lal succinctly says. “The natural look is in.”
“It’s all about sustain and maintain—that ‘subtle maintenance,’” he adds. “No one wants to fight Father Time. But they do want to slow the process.” Dr. Lal chalks up the shift mainly to technology but also points to patient preference. “Patients want to have softening of lines, not frozen faces. They want to have lip filler but don’t want to look filled. I think that’s a good thing because it looks better and it’s more affordable. To do less is always easier than rewinding.”
The bottom line, stresses La Jolla, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD: “You should never see good plastic surgery.”
“Advancements with fillers and fat grafting have certainly helped improve facelift outcomes,” he says. “Social media may point to it as a ‘trend,’ but the goal should always be to be undetectable.”
