Plastic Surgeons are trained to the highest level but when it comes to the procedures they carry out on a day to day basis they are responding to patient demand and industry trends to some extent. And there has been a large turn about of non-surgical advancements in recent years, from injectables to energy based devices.

There are shifts happening all over in our personal and professional lives and these shifts reverberate equally in an industry that is growing super fast- one that was already a multi-billion dollar industry.

These shifts that we are seeing in the aesthetic industry are not all good of course, and patients and Doctors need to be increasingly discerning.
What we are seeing now more than ever is the two driving forces behind this industry: the drive for safety, efficacy and innovation with the desire to reverse the signs of ageing, enhance natural beauty and reconstruct/repair. And the drive born out of insecurity, desire for perfection and the greed of companies who are trying to get in on the game and profit from these insecurities. These are also largely based on what the media puts out plus the added toxicity of social media and celebrity culture.
Aesthetics and cosmetic surgery can be empowering when we start from a place of embracing our natural beauty and features first and foremost and then using surgical / non surgical means to correct and enhance.

In a survey that was conducted recently by a local government practice based in the UK these were the findings-
Of 13000 women of colour surveyed 90% said their skin priority was a healthy glow and even skin tone
74% of people aged 18-40 said they feel pressured for their skin to look a certain way.
1 in 2 in a survey of 3750 men are considering aesthetic treatments to improve self confidence.

Let us take a look below at some current global trends that are either detrimental or beneficial.

1. In a world of post-ozempic weight loss and its effects on the body, surgery has become even more important.
Ozempic (semaglutide) was initially approved in 2017 by the FDA (USA) for use in adults with Type 2 diabetes as a weekly injection, but it has fast become a trend: using a diabetic medication to induce weight loss.

Everyone wants that miracle drug for instant weight loss and the fact that there are celebrities, influencers and a even tech mogul who have claimed this, further sells the idea to a mass public that this is the thing to do.
But with such instant aka drastic weight loss comes a whole host of consequences: loss of volume in various parts of the body- breasts, abdomen, face etc and this makes one look deflated and or gaunt, and gives the impression that one is much older than their age. Imagine a deflated balloon and you will get the idea of what it does to your body: loose saggy skin that has traditionally been associated with ageing due to loss of collagen. Looking gaunt is definitely not the look one wants and yet the rise in demand for use of this drug has gone to unexpected levels.
Plastic/Cosmetic surgeons are now tackling this with the proactive use of Radiofrequency skin-tightening treatments coupled with bio-stimulatory products. Fillers in these instances do not do the job of tightening when it comes to loose lax skin.

2. There is now a growing number of people who are far younger than the previously known demographic of people having Face lifts Factors such as excessive weight gain or weight loss are key drivers for people in their late 30s and 40s which primarily affects the jowls, neck, thighs ans abdomen. This primarily boils down to the kind of lifestyle that one is in the cycle of at present as compared to a few years ago. Approaching the issue in a holistic way is ideal and making the necessary lifestyle changes.

3. Our eyes are the windows to the world and they have seen a lot. Not only are they the first area of our face people look at, they are the first area to show the signs of our lifestyle especially lack of sleep etc. Some people are genetically predisposed to have dark circles and look tired even when they’re not, and some will develop hooding on the eyelids, lax skin and or undereye bags. All of which can be very ageing.
The most effective procedure for those who are suitable and indicated for it is Blepharoplasty, which has become extremely popular as part of eye rejuvenation for all sorts of people who want to give their eyes a fresher look. This is not a new ‘trend’ by any means, but it’s a rising one.

4. The global aesthetic lasers market size accounted for USD 2.03 billion in 2023 and it is expected to hit around USD 9.40 billion by 2033, poised to grow at a CAGR of 16.48% during the forecast period 2024 to 2033.

Energy based treatments that incorporate automation or AI (Artificial Intelligence) have become part of the advancements in the aesthetic industry like never before. Why this has gained much popularity is perhaps due to the increasing number of botched jobs with fillers and the overdone overfilled look that people do not want (hence the rise in the number of people who are having their fillers dissolved)
Morpheus 8 addresses both skin texture and volumization (thanks to its ability to trigger the skin into producing new collagen) with minimal downtime and is much more effective with jawlines, cheeks and nasolabial folds. It is an innovative skin rejuvenation procedure that combines micro needling with radio-frequency energy for the face and body.
These kinds of energy based devices use an advanced form of tech that has the ability to go deeper and are currently at the forefront when it comes to anti-ageing treatments. This leap forward in technology has been powered by a deeper understanding of skin physiology paired with cutting-edge research in the development of multi-wavelength platforms that allow for targeted treatments of specific skin areas without compromising on the surrounding healthy areas. The integration of AI into these devices have also made it possible to customise skincare treatments. Improved cooling mechanisms, combined with advances in laser AI have also enhanced patient experiences to be more comfortable. Coupled with these advancements particularly with laser facial technology safety protocols and equipment regulation standards have significantly evolved in 2024 so far. These advancements have increased the demand for cosmetic procedures along with the need to ensure patient safety to the highest levels whilst achieving optimal results.

In our dynamic world of Cosmetic and Aesthetic Medicine, the year 2024 has already been marked by remarkable progress and transformative breakthroughs in just about every area.
We at the Ministry of Aesthetics are continually working toward bringing in more due diligence when it comes to invasive/non-invasive treatments in our practice keeping in sync with patient/client expectations.
The more any Aesthetic practice and team focus on offering a futuristic blend of precision, customisation and efficacy the more we are able to bring a professional and disciplined approach to everyone and elevate standards, collectively, within the industry.

Here at the Ministry of Aesthetics, we have Mr Brian Simons, a highly qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with significant experience in surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures across Europe.
To know more about us and what we offer, Contact Us.