The Next Big Aesthetics Trend Is Actually About Doing Less

What Is Slow Aesthetics?

Much like it sounds, slow aesthetics is putting more time into an injectable facial treatment. This can apply to both the decision-making and the process itself.  

“Slow aesthetics means staging the treatment plan so we never risk overfilling,” explains Daniel Gardner, MD, Chief Medical Officer of NakedMD. “We would rather undertreat at any single visit and build toward the right result over time. The era of overfilled cheeks and heavy, low-hanging lips is over.”

For Weiser Skin MD founder Jessica Weiser, MD, slow aesthetics has meant utilizing longevity-promoting technology when she can, versus instantly opting for intense injectables.

“I was never one for trendy aesthetics and have always been a proponent of beautiful, healthy, radiant, firm skin,” she shares. “I use a combination of energy-based devices, including SOFWAVE for lifting and collagen/elastin stimulation, radiofrequency microneedling—which is absolutely safe when done with the correct energy at safe depth—various resurfacing modalities, redness and pigmentation lasers, and lighthanded injectables.”

For Beverly Hills board-certified nurse practitioner Courtney Coons, this has meant “taking a more thoughtful and intentional approach to aesthetic medicine.”

Coons notes that less can often be more, and instead of thinking of an immediate fix, it’s more about “what will serve them not just today, but five, 10, or even 20 years from now?” she says. “I also think it’s about recognizing that there simply isn’t one treatment that can do everything. We have so many incredible tools available to us in this industry, from skincare and energy-based devices to collagen-stimulating treatments and injectables. The best results come from knowing how and when to use all of those tools together.”

So, when going “slow,” Coons is honest with clients and suggests that instead of trying to accomplish everything with one treatment, there could be a multistep approach that makes more sense over time. 

“It’s about doing what makes sense, when it makes sense, and using the right tools at the right time,” she says. “Social media can create the perception that aesthetic results are immediate, when in reality, great outcomes are often much more nuanced and come from consistent, multimodal approaches over time.”

Based on changes in trends, Coons believes this is the right time for a “slower” pivot. 

“I think we’ve continued to see a shift away from the ‘done’ appearance,” she says. “We’re going toward patients wanting to look healthy, refreshed, and like the best version of themselves.”

In fact, educational aesthetics content creator Amy Chang just opened Matera, a breakthrough nonsurgical facial rejuvenation clinic. Chang—who has 1.6 million followers on TikTok through sharing her tips and candid experiences with injectables, lasers and microneedling over the last 15 years—opened her new clinic as the antithesis to a traditional med spa. It’s here that she coined the Matera Slow Beauty Method, which amplifies her philosophy on intentionality. 

What Should an Aesthetic Consultation Include?

Each expert we spoke to comes from a skin-first approach to aesthetics. A valuable consultation should look at the client from a holistic perspective. 

“I truly believe that best results are achieved with a healthy skin foundation,” Coons says. “For every treatment plan I create, skincare, skin treatments, and overall skin health are at the core of that approach. I explain to my patients that the best long-term results come from using the tools in my toolbox thoughtfully. It’s not about relying on one treatment to do everything, but understanding what each treatment can offer, how they can complement one another, when to use them, and just as importantly, when not to.”

No patient should sit in a chair thinking all of their facial concerns will be gone for good—nor should they think one particular treatment can do all the work.

“It’s not about chasing perfection,” Coons says. “Our patients are going to continue to live, age, change, and our aesthetic plans should be able to evolve with them. The best aesthetic result comes from a series of smaller, intentional steps rather than one dramatic intervention.”

Are There Any Downsides to Slow Aesthetics?

If a patient is after a quick fix or chasing a trend, the slow movement isn’t for them.

“The con to this is patience,” Dr. Gardner says. “It’s the old Stanford marshmallow experiment. You have to wait for the final result.”

If a patient won’t take no for an answer, they’ll have trouble working with a “slower” practitioner.

“We would always rather undertreat and have the patient come back than overtreat and have to dissolve,” Dr. Gardner says of his NakedMD practice in particular. “We’re patient as injectors, and we trust that the quality of the work brings patients back.”

What Is the Future of Aesthetic Treatments?

Following a few years of plastic surgery and injectable extremes, it seems we’re approaching a more natural next chapter.

“Expect much more emphasis on an even complexion, minimal melasma, minimal dark spots,” Dr. Gardner shares. “South Korea is the model we’re all looking at right now. On the celebrity side, we’re seeing classic facial proportions and sharp lateral features, which comes down to low body fat and good structure. In practice that means we are not overfilling lateral lips. You can see the same shift in plastic surgery, where BBLs are clearly on the way down.”

You can also opt for treatments that penetrate the skin more deeply for greater effects. 

“It ties back to looking more youthful overall,” the doctor says. “With skin, the goal is thicker, clearer, more even. That is why we are seeing more mesotherapy, or subdermal therapy, where we inject a biostimulator under the skin to drive collagen through a controlled amount of inflammation. It softens fine lines and improves skin quality from underneath.”

Traditional Botox and fillers will continue to serve a purpose, but it will be much clearer when they are abused.

“Some New York City practices are still heavily injecting filler and Botox, leaving overinflated faces and giving injectable treatments a bad reputation,” Dr. Weiser says. “There’s nothing wrong with Botox and filler done properly—with respect for the underlying normal anatomy, in the correct plane and proportions.”

Coons is seeing a move toward quality over quantity, with her Los Angeles patients becoming more mindful of their own individual appearance and moving away from a one-size-fits-all mentality. 

“We’re moving toward more personalized, long-term treatment plans,” she says. “There’s a continued emphasis on skin health, collagen preservation and stimulation, and treatments that improve the quality of the skin rather than simply changing its appearance temporarily.”

And based on scientific innovations, we’re naturally moving toward more holistic aesthetics.

“We’re learning more about how hormonal changes, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, as well as diet, lifestyle, and even changes associated with GLP-1 medications can impact the skin and face,” Coons explains. “Understanding those factors will allow us to approach aesthetics more comprehensively and create treatment plans that address the patient as a whole, not just an isolated concern.”

Is Slow Aesthetics Right for You?

The world of noninvasive and minimally invasive aesthetics (injectables, lasers, microneedling, chemical peels) is bigger than ever—but how we utilize these tools is starting to shift. Thanks to greater education and consumers realizing less is often more, more patients seeking physical change in their face are willing to take a slower, more intentional approach for longer-lasting results that can stand the test of time. Traditional Botox and hyaluronic acid fillers still have a place in the space, but the abuse of them is expected to minimize over time (at least in major markets). 

A legitimate practitioner who isn’t after a money grab will take the time with a patient, analyze their facial structure and skin, and give them the best options to suit them in the long term. They won’t be afraid to turn down the trend or the request to look like Kim Kardashian. Getting “work done” is a major commitment, both financially and to the face. Many treatments are irreversible, so it’s key to research what’s best for each person individually.