W. Grant Stevens, MD, FACS, and president of The Aesthetic Society (ASAPS), offers predictions detailing 2019 plastic surgery trends. With more than 2,600 board-certified plastic surgeons comprising its membership, The Aesthetic Society is at the forefront of research, education and what lies ahead for the aesthetic industry. Insight from its members includes specific trends for surgical and non-invasive options, and a topline forecast for the next decade including less emphasis on celebrity emulation and more emphasis on a tailored, individual look.

“This year promises a surge of significant technological advancements for aesthetic procedures geared at skin resurfacing, body contouring, skin tightening and more,” said Dr. Stevens. “Our predictions provide foresight into new developments that fulfill the consumer’s desire for minimally invasive solutions, as well as modern techniques for surgical gold standards, minimizing downtime, improving outcomes and reaching a broader audience.”

2019 Predictions

Celebrity Feature Requests Dwindle in Favor of Social Media Filters:

  • ASAPS surgeons say while they still have requests for Meghan Markle’s nose and Kylie Jenner’s lips, the requests for celebrity features dropped off substantially, and more patients want to look like the best version of themselves.
  • Many patients are referencing their own filtered selfies for their aesthetic aspirations — requesting to look the way they do through filters on Instagram and Facetune (an app that allows users to edit portraits and selfies with image-enhancing retouching tools).

Desire for Subtle, Conservative Outcomes:

  • Many Aesthetic Society members say plastic surgery is trending towards refined, subtle results versus the sculpted glam or “overdone” look.
  • The trend toward conservative options creates a renewed interest in smaller breast implants (or even removal of the implants) and non-implant-based breast augmentation. ASAPS data reflects these emerging trends with fat transfer to the breast increasing (up 41.4%) and fat transfer to the face (up 16.7%).

The Next 10 Years:

  • An increase in surgical procedures with industry advances allowing for less invasive techniques and limited downtime.
  • Patients will be more open to surgical procedures as they can achieve the longest or sometimes permanent results.
  • Modern improvements like minimally invasive face and neck lifts and procedures done under local anesthesia will draw greater numbers of patients to consider surgical options.

Also Likely to Trend in 2019:

Millennials Entering the Aesthetic Market:

  • Marketing to millennials will also evolve as more flock to social media for plastic surgery information, and a shift to subscription-based services will grow.

Plastic Surgery Among Men:

  • High-definition abdominal liposculpting (liposuction and body sculpting with fat transfer) will likely continue to rise in popularity next year as men seek solutions for their ideal physique.

Dr. Stevens is the Chairman of the USC-Marina Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship and the Director of the USC Division of Aesthetic Surgery. He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Division of Plastic Surgery. He is a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the International College of Surgeons. Dr. Stevens is president of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He has spoken at more than 100 meetings and 300 invited talks nationally and internationally.

For more information, visit Marina Plastic Surgery; like Marina Plastic Surgery on Facebook; follow on Twitter @DrGrantStevens; and sign up for Dr. Stevens’ blog BeautyByStevens.