2026

Confidence or comparison? Mental health in the age of cosmetic change

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Social media platforms have created a constant stream of highly edited, carefully selected images that can subtly and sometimes significantly shift perceptions of beauty, aging and self-worth. For many patients, especially younger generations, the line between enhancement and expectation has become increasingly blurred.

Fading stars: Procedures plastic surgeons are doing less of – and why

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, May 15, 2026

Procedures that once dominated headlines and consultation rooms are now being reconsidered as new techniques, technologies and patient preferences reshape the landscape of plastic surgery.

How surgeons assess emotional readiness for plastic surgery

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Wednesday, May 13, 2026

For many patients, deciding to undergo plastic surgery is a deeply personal choice. Emotional readiness plays an important role in a patient's physical recovery, overall satisfaction with their procedure and long-term self-perception in the months and years after the procedure.

The era of undetectable work: Why men are seeking subtle refinement

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Monday, May 11, 2026

In modern aesthetics, a growing number of male patients are embracing a new philosophy when it comes to cosmetic procedures – results that are noticeable in impact, but virtually invisible in execution. This approach reflects a shift away from dramatic transformations toward more subtle enhancements that help men look refreshed and confident, yet natural.

Maintenance vs makeover: How Millennials are approaching aging differently

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, May 8, 2026

As Millennials move into their 30s and 40s, their approach to aging is starting to look distinctly different from the generations that came before them. Rather than waiting for more visible signs of aging to appear and then seeking out dramatic surgical transformations, many Millennials are taking a more measured, proactive approach.

When injectables stop working: How aging shifts the treatment plan

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Wednesday, May 6, 2026

For many patients, injectables such as neuromodulators and dermal fillers are often their first step into aesthetic treatment. However, as the years go on, some patients notice a shift. Results that once felt seamless and effective may not last as long or deliver the same level of improvement.

This is what it's like to have breast reconstruction following a risk-reducing mastectomy

Elizabeth Siegel | Freelance Writer Monday, May 4, 2026

For individuals who carry a BRCA gene, a risk-reducing mastectomy may be part of a proactive health decision. Breast reconstruction can often be performed at the same time as the mastectomy or delayed, depending on individual circumstances.

Prioritizing skin quality over facial structure

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Thursday, April 30, 2026

There is no question that volume can help give patients a youthful appearance, but skin tone and texture can have an even greater impact on a patient's appearance than structural changes alone.

Smooth sailing: Planning for warmer weather with laser hair removal

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Sunny days are ahead, and that means sundresses, shorts and swimwear that leave little to the imagination. If you are craving a soft, smooth look for the summer, your best bet is to start thinking about laser hair removal while it's still cold and the weather feels less than spring-like.

Understanding fat-based fillers: alloClae, Renuva, Lipoderma and more

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Wednesday, April 22, 2026

In the world of aesthetics, one exciting development is the shift towards treatments that work with the body, not just around it, and fat-based fillers are the perfect example.

The real cost of plastic surgery: How to budget for procedures and maintain your results

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Monday, April 20, 2026

With some strategic planning and a better understanding of the real cost of plastic surgery, you can create a budget that lets you splurge now and then and extend the time between treatments, stretching your hard-earned dollar further.

Enhancing results: The role of peptides in aesthetic procedures

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, April 16, 2026

In the evolving world of aesthetics, peptides are quickly gaining attention for their powerful role in skin regeneration and repair. Once primarily associated with topical skincare, bioactive peptides are now being integrated into clinical treatments designed to enhance outcomes at a cellular level.

Planning your plastic surgery timeline for summer

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Summer has a way of putting everything on the calendar all at once. Weddings, vacations and long weekends seem to arrive faster than expected. For patients considering aesthetic treatments, timing is just as important as the procedure itself.

The age of empowerment: How patients are redefining aging and aesthetics

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, April 10, 2026

In today's aesthetic landscape, the conversation around aging is evolving. Rather than striving to look dramatically younger, many patients are embracing a more personal philosophy – aging on their own terms.

What's new in male plastic surgery?

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Once a quieter segment of the aesthetic market, male patients are now seeking treatments in greater numbers, driven by evolving beauty standards, workplace competitiveness and a broader cultural acceptance of self-improvement.

9 to 5: How to handle plastic surgery recovery in an RTO world

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Monday, April 6, 2026

Remote work flexibility allows plastic surgery patients to be more discreet about their recovery. As more companies seek to bring workers back to the office, patients need to understand how to manage plastic surgery recovery in a 9-to-5 world more than ever.

Facelift roulette: Which option has the best odds of meeting your desired look postop?

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, April 2, 2026

For many patients considering facial rejuvenation, the world of facelift terminology can feel truly overwhelming. Terms such as deep plane, SMAS, mini lift and nonsurgical facelift are often used in marketing and online discussion, often creating confusion about what each procedure actually does.

Surgical options for hooded eyes: Minimal to dramatic

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Tuesday, March 31, 2026

If you are looking for ways to address hooded or heavy eyelids, options ranging from minimal to dramatic can help you hone your look and achieve a more refreshed, open appearance, even if you aren't getting your eight hours of beauty rest.

Lifts after weight loss: Skin excision surgery after the weight comes off

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Monday, March 30, 2026

As spring emerges, so too does the desire to shed layers and show off weight loss results, whether that's a spring break beach trip or a staycation close to home. Yet for some patients, excess skin and loss of elasticity can make them self-conscious about showing off their weight loss.

Hard fouls and fast breaks: How plastic surgeons treat basketball facial and hand injuries

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Thursday, March 26, 2026

Basketball is a fast-paced sport where athletes are prone to devastating knee, ankle, hand and facial injuries thanks to quick changes of direction, collisions with other players, elbows to the face and hard falls to the court.

Doing it for you: The correlation between breast reduction and patient satisfaction

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Breast reduction is often misunderstood and mislabeled as purely cosmetic, but for many patients, the decision to take the plunge on this procedure is deeply rooted in physical discomfort and quality of life concerns.

Scar-free eye lifts: The rise of subtle eye rejuvenation

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Monday, March 23, 2026

"Scar-free eye lift" is a phrase that has quickly gained traction on social media and in aesthetic marketing, promising refreshed, youthful eyes without the telltale signs of surgery. Yet, like many popular beauty buzzwords, this term doesn't necessarily refer to a single procedure.

Dermal fillers below the belt: What's safe and what isn't

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst | Freelance Writer Thursday, March 19, 2026

Most people are familiar with the effects of injectables on faces, like smoothing wrinkles and plumping lips, but did you know injectables have ventured below the belt, offering aesthetic and functional benefits when applied to male and female genitalia?

Noninvasive procedures that help you get your glow back

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Monday, March 16, 2026

There are noninvasive procedures you can turn to that perk up your skin and give your face a reprieve from harsh winter conditions that sap it of moisture and bounce, leaving you with a spring-ready glow.

Rainy day funds: The fat banking era is here

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Friday, March 13, 2026

There are plenty of places to store and protect what's important. You've got financial banks, blood banks, fertility banks and even food banks, but have you heard of "fat banks"? There is an emerging trend of harvesting and storing your own fat cells for later use in plastic surgery procedures.

What is gynecomastia surgery, and is it right for you?

Elizabeth Siegel | Freelance Writer Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction, experienced the sharpest growth of any procedure among male patients, who got 11 percent more gynecomastia surgeries in 2024 than in 2023.

The future of skin: Top innovations in medical skincare

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, March 5, 2026

The term "medical-grade skincare" seems to pop up everywhere, from plastic surgery offices to social media and everywhere in between, but many patients still wonder what it actually means.

The top 10 things to understand about peptides

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Open your TikTok feed or the pages of a glossy fashion magazine, and you'll probably be inundated with videos and articles about the "magic" of peptides. But what are they, and do they work?

The top 10 things plastic surgeons want you to know about breast implants

Niccole Caan | ASPS Staff Thursday, February 26, 2026

There is a lot to think about when considering a breast augmentation. Few women wake up in the morning and decide to get breast implants and then schedule surgery that same afternoon. In fact, most have thought about it for years, scrolled social media and scoured the internet before booking a consultation.

Gen X is putting their own spin on liposuction

Elizabeth Siegel | Freelance Writer Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Liposuction is the single most popular plastic surgery procedure in the United States, according to the 2024 ASPS Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. And the patients most likely to get liposuction include Gen Xers in their mid-40s to mid-50s, who accounted for more than 45 percent of all liposuction procedures in 2024, along with elder Millennials.

Advancements in weight loss medications: A look at the future of GLP-1s

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, February 20, 2026

Weight loss medications are reshaping the world of aesthetics. These innovative treatments offer patients a path to weight loss that may not have been possible before, with a variety of medications to suit their individual needs and preferences.

Innovations in estrogen-based skincare

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Interest in estrogen-based skincare continues to surge, and the science behind these products is advancing just as quickly. Today's medical-grade formulations are far more sophisticated than early hormone-infused creams, using targeted delivery systems and carefully calibrated concentrations to mimic the skin-supporting effects of estrogen.

How to talk to your partner about plastic surgery

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Saturday, February 14, 2026

What happens when you want to change something about yourself and are unsure how to broach the topic with your loved one, partner, friend or significant other? Are they going to be supportive? Will they understand how much this journey means to you and your self-esteem?

Thigh lifts are on the rise

Elizabeth Siegel | Freelance Writer Wednesday, February 11, 2026

It doesn't have the cache of other plastic surgery procedures like deep plane facelifts, and its downtime makes it one of the more taxing cosmetic operations – but its results can be life-changing for the right patients.

Best practices for maintaining the appearance of the undereye area

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, February 6, 2026

Once patients have explored their treatment options for undereye rejuvenation, the next step is to understand how to properly care for the delicate eye area to keep it looking its best.

Long-term complications of unknown injectables

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Long-term complications stemming from unknown substances such as hardware store silicone, black market knockoffs or watered-down Botox are becoming an increasingly common problem for patients and the plastic surgeons who treat them.

Regenerative aesthetics: PRP, PRF and beyond

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Monday, February 2, 2026

Rather than focusing on temporarily restoring lost volume or artificially improving the skin's appearance, regenerative aesthetics uses the tools already within our bodies to produce remarkable effects.

The most popular plastic surgery procedures each season

Elizabeth Siegel | Freelance Writer Friday, January 30, 2026

School calendars, ski vacations and beach season all play a role in shaping plastic surgery trends and patient decisions. It's an interesting phenomenon, to be sure, and it's often a practical one, too. Certain plastic surgery procedures tend to spike at specific times of the year, as patients' goals and free time shift with the seasons.

AI in plastic surgery: The future of aesthetic treatments

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, January 29, 2026

Over the past several years, we have seen AI-driven tools evolve from simple experimental concepts into well-established, precise technologies that support both clinical decision-making and everyday practice management.

How old is “too old” for plastic surgery?

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst | Freelance Writer Tuesday, January 27, 2026

If you're a Baby Boomer – or Baby Boomer adjacent – you may wonder if you're too old for plastic surgery from a safety standpoint. Well, it turns out that chronological age doesn't have much bearing on whether someone is a good candidate for plastic surgery.

Fix tech neck: Surgical and nonsurgical treatment options

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, January 23, 2026

In today's digital age, many of us are quickly discovering an unexpected side effect of constant device use – tech neck. This term describes the creases, sagging skin and early signs of aging that can occur in the neck and lower face from repeatedly looking down at phones, tablets, laptops and other devices.

Ozempic vulva? What you need to know

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Thursday, January 22, 2026

If you are on a GLP-1 medication and are experiencing changes in the appearance of your genitalia or physical discomfort due to skin laxity, this can be a result of sudden, significant weight loss.

Perfect pairs: Which noninvasive procedures complement each other and which clash?

Alia Willson | Freelance Writer Friday, January 16, 2026

Specific procedures, when combined with others, create an effect greater than either procedure could achieve on its own. However, combining the wrong procedures can be disastrous.

Skin treatments to combat winter dryness

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, January 15, 2026

Winter weather is notorious for stripping the skin of moisture, weakening the barrier and triggering annoying issues such as flaking, tightness, redness and dullness. Indoor heating, hot showers and cold winds can further disrupt the skin's natural balance, making even normally resilient skin feel dry and sensitive.

Stubborn knee fat? There are several solutions for that

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst | Freelance Writer Tuesday, January 13, 2026

No part of the body is immune to the effects of genetics, aging, gravity or weight fluctuations, including your knees. Excess fat, sagging skin or wrinkles – or all of them – can develop on and around the knees, affecting the overall contour of your legs and aging them.

How to best plan for the year ahead if you’re considering plastic surgery

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Friday, January 9, 2026

The start of a new year is an excellent time to consider taking the plunge on an aesthetic procedure that you've been considering. Shifting your mindset to make positive changes offers a great opportunity to boost your confidence by addressing a concern about your appearance.

Bright eyes for the new year: Rejuvenate your look

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Thursday, January 8, 2026

Many people look for ways to refresh their appearance as the new year begins, and the delicate undereye area is often a focal point. The lower eyelids are among the first areas to show signs of fatigue, aging and volume loss, especially after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

New year, new devices: Cutting-edge technology in plastic surgery

Ariel Frankeny | Freelance Writer Monday, January 5, 2026

As we move forward into the new year, it's essential to take a moment to appreciate the progress we've made with noninvasive procedures over the last 12 months. We've seen many exciting developments emerge, offering new treatment options for patients seeking to achieve their aesthetic goals without surgery.

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