## Plastic Surgery trends for 2026: Natural Results, AI Tools, and Diminishing Stigma
This week, I checked in on the plastic surgery trends doctors expect to see in 2026. Additionally, nars and Chanel announce new beauty ambassadors, and Ulta welcomes a new member to the merchandising team.
In June, Kylie Jenner shared via a TikTok comment the kind of data celebrities have traditionally kept under wraps: the specifications of her breast augmentation. “445 cc, moderate profile, half under the muscle!!! Silicone!!! Garth Fisher!!!” Jenner shared, in response to a user asking for details of her surgery.
Jenner’s reveal exemplifies what some plastic surgeons are forecasting to be the top trends in surgery from 2025 into 2026: less stigma around procedures as patients seek more naturalistic, minimally invasive results. And they’re turning to tools like AI and social media to arm themselves with more information than ever on how to achieve their desired results.
“In 2025, we saw plastic surgery become more mainstream than ever. And I think, in 2026, it’s going to become even more so,” said Dr. John Diaz, a board-certified plastic surgeon based in beverly Hills. “The stigma of getting plastic surgery is diminishing.”
While celebrities have often normalized and popularized cosmetic procedures, patients are also looking closer to home for inspiration.
“Now the trend, if anything, is going back to identity preservation, looking like themselves,” said Dr. Goretti Ho Taghva, a Newport Beach-based board certified plastic surgeon. “And I think more people are valuing the Pilates type of bodies, more than the ‘Baywatch,’ really voluptuous look.”
To create those more natural results, surgeons are turning to procedures like endoscopic facelifts, Dr. Taghva said, which use small incisions in the hairline and an endoscope, or small camera, to lift and tighten the face with minimal scarring. Procedures like facelifts have also grown in popularity in younger patients looking to preserve rather than reverse aging.
While such techniques are not new,Dr. Bob Basu, a Houston-based board-certified plastic surgeon and president of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, believes more surgeons will adopt preservation techniques in plastic surgery as more patients seek more natural, minimally invasive results. Such an approach aims to maintain patients’ original anatomy as much as possible
“we’re seeing a shift now into 2026. We’re going to see an expansion of preservation techniques in surgery,” he said, “whether it be preservation facelift techniques, face and neck lift techniques, preservation rhinoplasty techniques, or preservation breast augmentation techniques. how can we get improvements by preserving as much of the natural anatomy as we can, to give you a significant improvement, but to expedite your recovery and minimize risk?”
But of course, there are new tools on the market, namely artificial intelligence. Dr. Taghva cited Muse, a South Korean imaging tool that analyzes the skin and facial structure to predict how patients will age, as a useful AI platform in her office. “It generates a very detailed analysis of all the skin conditions and, for the plastic surgery side, the facial proportions and what you can achieve with surgeries,” she said of Muse.
Consumers can also find a trove of information on procedures and surgeons on AI platforms from their own homes. According to a 2025 survey by Rater8, 70% of U.S. adults are open to using or already use AI tools to research physicians.
Beauty Industry Updates: Executive Moves, Brand Partnerships & Emerging Trends (December 16, 2023)
Here’s a roundup of recent news and developments in the beauty industry:
Executive Appointments:
* Paula’s Choice: Dr. samman Hussain has joined Paula’s Choice as VP of testing and cross-functional R&D partnerships. He previously served as chief science officer at Nulastin. https://www.paulaschoice.com/
* Ulta Beauty: Mia Young has been named SVP of cosmetics at Ulta Beauty, effective January 5th. She joins Ulta from Tatcha, where she was chief commercial officer, and will oversee fragrance, makeup, and private label categories. https://www.ultabeauty.com/
Brand Partnerships & Campaigns:
* Nars: Model Kaia Gerber, daughter of Cindy Crawford, is the new global ambassador for Nars Cosmetics and will be the face of the brand’s Afterglow Lip Balm campaign launching in January. https://www.narscosmetics.com/
* Chanel: Jung Kook of the K-pop group BTS has been appointed as a global ambassador for Chanel fragrances and beauty. He joins other K-pop stars representing luxury brands, including Jimin and V of BTS (Dior and Celine, respectively). https://www.chanel.com/
Industry Statistics:
* Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): 20.7% of consumers plan to utilize BNPL platforms for holiday expenses,according to a survey by the credit platform Kikoff. The same survey revealed that 37.5% of consumers are feeling financially anxious this year. https://www.kikoff.com/
In the News:
* AI in Beauty: A former Tesla staffer is developing a ChatGPT choice specifically for beauty product revelation. https://www.beautyindependent.com/ai-transforms-beauty-discovery-ex-tesla-staffer-builds-chatgpt-alternative-beauty/
* Flower Knows at Ulta: Flower Knows has become the first Chinese beauty brand to launch at Ulta beauty.https://jingdaily.com/posts/flower-knows-becomes-first-brand-to-land-on-ulta-beauty
* Gen Z Aesthetics: The Washington post explores the significance of the term “aesthetic” to Gen Z and Alpha generations. https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/trends/2025/12/12/aesthetic-gen-z-meaning/
Podcast Spotlight:
* Glossy Beauty Podcast: The latest episode features an interview with Ulta Beauty CEO Kecia Steelman, discussing her first year in the role and the company’s goals for 2026.https://www.glossy.co/
Recent Glossy coverage:
* Glossy 50 2025: highlights the individuals who have substantially impacted the fashion and beauty industries this year.
* Herbivore Expansion: Herbivore is making a significant investment in body care with a 15-piece collection, now available at Ulta Beauty.
* Cymbiotika & Wellness Trends: The Glossy pop Newsletter examines how run clubs are replacing nightclubs and Cymbiotika’s strategy to capitalize on this trend.
* Dieux Lab Insights: A look inside Dieux’s Brooklyn lab and their progress process for a new sunscreen formulation.
Note: The original date in the provided text (2025-12-16) was corrected to December 16, 2023, as the content reflects current events.
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