As a Harvard-trained plastic surgeon in Arcadia, I see every “next big thing” long before it hits your feed. Some trends genuinely change faces… and lives. Others mostly change your credit card balance.
Here are my picks for treatments getting all the buzz in 2026, each rated on how effective they truly are, along with what I recommend when a trend doesn’t quite live up to the hype.
Blepharoplasty (Upper & Lower Eyelid Lift) – 10/10
A well-done eyelid lift is one of the highest-satisfaction procedures in all of aesthetic surgery. It can erase the chronically “tired” look, open the eyes, and make you look rested without making you look “done.”
If you’re not ready for surgery: Medical-grade eye creams and energy-based treatments can help, but nothing non-surgical comes close to the results of a precise blepharoplasty.
Facial Fat Transfer/Autologous Fat Grafting – 9/10
Using your own purified fat to restore volume is a powerful way to rebuild youthful contours and soften hollowing in the cheeks, temples, and under-eye region. It can also improve skin quality over time thanks to stem-cell–rich components.
When it’s not ideal: For a subtle, “test-drive” change, a small amount of hyaluronic acid filler or a biostimulatory option like Radiesse is often a better first step.
CO₂ Laser Resurfacing – 8/10
CO₂ laser is a workhorse for serious texture issues; etched lines around the mouth, acne scarring, and sun damage that no cream can touch. The trade-off is real downtime, and while results can be impressive, they typically don’t match the depth or longevity of a well-executed phenol–croton oil peel.
For true regeneration (10/10): In my practice, phenol–croton oil peeling remains the gold standard for long-lasting resurfacing, with results that can last a decade or more. CO₂ is excellent, but the peel goes deeper and lasts longer for patients who need a true skin “reset.”
Dissolvable Filler Reversal + “Natural Volumization” Protocol – 9/10
The “filler era” gave us beautiful results…and also some over-filled faces. Reversing poorly placed or excessive filler with hyaluronidase, then rebuilding volume in a more anatomical, restrained way (often with fat, biostimulatory fillers, and good skin work) is a trend I love.
If you’re filler-curious but nervous: Start with a conservative, anatomy-driven plan that balances cheeks, lips, and chin together rather than chasing a single area.
Mini Neck Lift & Submental Liposuction – 8/10
A clean jawline is the new status symbol. For the right candidate, usually someone with good skin elasticity and early jowling or neck fullness, a focused neck lift with precision liposuction can sharpen the profile beautifully.
How it becomes a 10/10: When I add Renuvion helium plasma tightening, we’re not just removing fat, we’re tightening the deeper support structures and redraping the skin from within. This creates sharper definition, longer-lasting lift, and can even delay the need for a full lower face and neck lift.
Temporal Brow Lift (Endoscopic) – 8/10
Endoscopic temporal lifting subtly elevates the outer brow and opens the eye area with tiny hidden incisions in the hairline. Done well, it avoids the “surprised” look and instead restores the natural, youthful brow position you had years ago.
Alternative for early changes: Neuromodulators can offer a light “chemical brow lift,” but the effect is temporary and much more subtle.
Breast Implant Exchange or Explant & Lift – 8/10
Many women are re-evaluating implants; whether to update older devices, adjust size, or remove them entirely and lift the breast. When approached thoughtfully, this can be both a health decision and a powerful aesthetic reset.
If you’re considering a change, a detailed consult with imaging and measurements is essential; for some, fat transfer offers a middle ground between implants and going fully implant-free.
CryoTouchMD Trichocyte Protocol – 8/10
This minimally invasive scalp protocol uses targeted cryotherapy with hair-focused serums to wake up sluggish follicles, improve circulation, and calm inflammation without needles, anesthesia, or downtime. It’s a smart option for men and women noticing early thinning who want something more powerful than shampoo alone but aren’t ready for surgery or a transplant.
This is best used as a series of treatments paired with a medical-grade at-home regimen (and, when appropriate, prescription hair meds) to support thicker, healthier hair while you carry on with normal life the same day.
Hormone-Optimization Bio-Aesthetic Protocols – 7/10
When hormones are truly out of balance, careful optimization under the guidance of a qualified physician can improve energy, sexual health, body composition, and even how skin and hair behave. But this is medicine, not a spa menu item.
A safer, smarter version is thorough lab work, individualized dosing, and regular monitoring; not one-size-fits-all pellets or generic “anti-aging” cocktails.
Aerolase Facials Alternating with LaseMD Ultra – 9/10
For Arizonans, alternating Aerolase “laser facials” with LaseMD Ultra is an incredibly effective, low-downtime way to rehab sun-stressed skin. Aerolase calms redness, pigment, and acne with virtually no downtime, while LaseMD Ultra adds light resurfacing to treat fine lines, sun spots, and texture with only 1–3 days of mild roughness. Done as a series, this “skin gym” protocol steadily reverses desert damage, keeps melasma and redness controlled, and builds collagen so your skin genuinely improves year over year.
Collagen Peptide Infusion Treatments – 3/10
IV “collagen drips” sound appealing, but the body doesn’t absorb collagen in a way that directly plumps the skin. In reality, you’re paying for amino acids and hydration, not increased collagen.
What works better: A high-protein diet, daily SPF, prescription retinoids, and proven collagen-stimulating treatments like lasers, microneedling, or deep chemical peels deliver far more measurable results.
Radiofrequency Microneedling – 4/10
RF microneedling promises tightening and collagen, but its risk–reward has shifted. The FDA recently issued a safety communication after reports of burns, scarring, facial fat loss, disfigurement, nerve injury, and cases requiring surgical repair.
Until clearer guidance and long-term safety data exist, I prefer well-established options like fractional lasers, deep chemical peels, or non-RF microneedling in expert hands; treatments with strong results and a far lower margin for complications.
drcraft.com
"The 'filler era' gave us beautiful results…and also some over-filled faces. Reversing poorly placed or excessive filler with hyaluronidase, then rebuilding volume in a more anatomical, restrained way (often with fat, biostimulatory fillers, and good skin work) is a trend I love."