Cosmetic Medicine Trends 2026: From Natural Enhancement to Advanced Technologies

1. Trend Toward Naturalness and Personalization: Artful, Not Artificial

Already in 2025, a distinct turn toward naturalness and comfort emerged in the beauty sphere. Increasing attention was paid to how skin looks without decorative cosmetics and noticeable intervention traces. This approach became known as clean girl and became a reference point for both consumers and beauty industry specialists.

Clean girl aesthetics are built on visual lightness: gathered hair, minimalist accessories, laconic image, and healthy, even, glowing skin. Yet behind external simplicity stands a considered care system: regular preventive procedures, quality cosmetics, and reasonable health care habits.

Gradually the tendency moved beyond social networks and began influencing professional approaches in aesthetic cosmetics and skin care: priority is given to prevention and skin health rather than quick "wow effect."

Patients nowadays show increasing interest in gentle, physiological correction methods. In 2026, the main emphasis shifts from visual transformation to long-term strengthening of the skin barrier and maintaining natural glow effect, internal radiance. Clean girl aesthetics formed a new request: beautiful skin as a result of systematic and conscious approach.

In focus of modern care, daily cleansing, serum and mandatory photoprotection, planned preventive cosmetologist visits, plus control of factors affecting skin: sleep, nutrition, stress level, hormonal background. The clean girl trend strengthened naturalness positions in cosmetics.

At the center of attention, skin quality, its health, and long-term resistance to external loads. This approach increases patient awareness, forms demand for aging prevention, and stimulates development of professional methods oriented toward sustainable results without skin overload.

Why did this become a trend? The new tendency reflects deep changes in how we perceive beauty and our own value. The essence of the naturalness trend, conscious refusal of excessive correction and aggressive invasive procedures that create a "mask" effect and standardize faces.

Instead of striving for an unattainable ideal imposed by gloss and enhanced by filters, people increasingly value uniqueness. Focus shifts from correcting (often imagined) flaws to maintaining health and natural beauty. The ability to display well-groomed skin without makeup becomes a status and affluence symbol, a marker not only of external attractiveness but internal wellbeing.

This isn't fleeting fashion but a long-term tendency uniting quality, individuality, and conscious care, striving so both women and men can be proud of their skin and feel confident at any age.

The status skin trend develops this idea and implies using latest-generation technologies and personalization of procedures and products, accounting for each person's unique needs. This is essentially a philosophy of conscious care where methods aim not only to improve appearance but maintain skin health at cellular level, preventing and delaying the need for radical anti-aging interventions at younger ages.

In practice, the trend changed cosmetologists' work: instead of quick and noticeable solutions, gentle comprehensive protocols including quality home care, mandatory SPF, nutraceuticals, and gentle hardware methods. Specialists no longer offer "another face," work with small doses, explain long-term strategy, and strive for patients to look "rested" rather than "done."

From this same request grew a neighboring trend, procedures lasting 20-60 minutes without rehabilitation, the so-called "lunch break services" format. These are quick interventions after which patients exit the office fresh and immediately return to business, including work meetings. Lunchtime procedures, interventions with zero or minimal rehabilitation giving radiance and freshness without disrupting routine.

The "instant grooming without recovery" concept is especially relevant for office workers and mothers on maternity leave. Modern cosmetics relies on minimally invasive techniques: microbotox, laser rejuvenation (PicoSure, LaseMD), mesotherapy in microdoses give radiance, tone, and light correction per session without redness or swelling.

Patients seek "quick self-investment": 30-45 minutes per procedure, immediate or 1-2 day results, ability to go to meetings or office without heavy makeup. This organically combines with the naturalness trend: not radical changes but support, hydration, collagen stimulation, gentle rejuvenation. The reasons for takeoff are obvious: life pace accelerated, total remote work era is behind, schedules are tight, and demand for convenience and effective care among 25-45 year audiences only grows.

"Today the image of a well-groomed woman with even, glowing skin without visible intervention traces has become a new aesthetic reference point: it's associated not only with external attractiveness but with a sense of internal balance and self-care. For its achievement, what's important isn't one-time 'miracle procedures' but a systematic approach: gentle daily cleansing, adequate hydration using formulas with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, mandatory year-round photoprotection, and considered home care accounting for skin type and condition. Lifestyle plays a substantial role: diet with sufficient vegetables, fruits, omega-3 sources, full hydration, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and stress management, all this directly reflects on skin quality.

In 'lunch break services' format, short but effective procedures lasting half an hour are in demand, requiring no rehabilitation and allowing return to usual schedule immediately after visit. These can be injection-free mesotherapy Dermadrop or microcurrent therapy, RSL sculpting, ICOONE hardware massage, wraps and intralipotherapy, selected to not cause pronounced swelling, redness, or papules. Patients get visible effect, fresher tone, improved microrelief, sense of rested face, without needing to reschedule meetings or change plans.

For women 30-35+, optimal strategy combines regular competent home care, lifestyle correction, and targeted professional interventions selected after in-person consultation and skin diagnostics. Such a comprehensive, personalized approach allows gently correcting first age changes, delaying need for more aggressive procedures in future, and maintaining natural, 'invisible' results corresponding to modern ideas of status, well-groomed appearance."

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"Naturalness and personalization today remain key patient requests: priority is glowing skin and harmonious, natural facial proportions without excessive injections and noticeable intervention traces. The 'just inject fillers' format is no longer perceived as current.

Major metropolis patients want to look expensive and well-groomed and choose clinics with modern, safe equipment where main attention is paid to skin quality, not preparation quantity. For 30-35 year women, competent anti-aging care is far from always connected with building volumes with fillers: much more important is building a strategy that strengthens skin barrier, improves skin tone, prepares tissues for 40-45+ age when, if necessary, plastic surgery can be planned with more predictable and quick rehabilitation.

Against this background, the 'lunch break' procedure format naturally develops, short but effective interventions lasting 20-60 minutes without rehabilitation, after which patients immediately return to their usual work schedule. Such protocols include phototherapy and photorejuvenation, botulinum toxin injections in hyperactive facial areas for gentle muscle relaxation and 'rested' face effect, light peels with vitamin, amino acid, and peptide complexes, plus oxygenation and serum care on GeneO/Janeyl type devices triggering natural skin oxygen saturation and improving its color.

All this fully corresponds to the modern concept: skin looks even, hydrated, and glowing but without visible intervention traces, precisely such 'status,' natural result is considered optimal today by both patients and the professional community."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"Gradually, fashion for 'identical faces' fades into the past: standardized noses, lips, and breasts are no longer perceived as ideal, and striving to be a copy of Gigi, Kim, Monica, or Angelina has lost relevance. Coming to the forefront is the value of individuality, one's own facial features combined with well-groomed skin become a new, though essentially well-forgotten ideal, a kind of old-school approach in cosmetics.

In the 1980s there wasn't such an arsenal of injection and hardware methods: care basis remained classic procedures and massages, and even tone was attempted with zinc oxide, badyaga, calcium chloride, and other simple means. Today, when the physician has many devices allowing minimal rehabilitation to achieve an even, glowing tone and improve skin quality, the opportunity to look like a 'star' while remaining yourself has become closer than ever. The cosmetologist performs contouring and botulinum therapy not by template but based on individual proportions and specific patient facial expressions.

Brunch procedures take on average 30 to 60 minutes and leave no intervention traces, practically requiring no rehabilitation. They're often chosen as 'going out' procedures, Red Carpet format when you need to quickly refresh your face and get a pronounced but delicate effect.

Such procedures include exosome care, microcurrent therapy, facial muscle stimulation, Nefertiti technique botulinum therapy, Hyaltox, targeted lifting injections (Y-Lift) with hyaluronic acid preparations and peptides, plus hardware methods: Ultraformer MPT, BBL, Hydrafacial, Volnewmer, Heleo LED, 4D Fotona."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"In recent years I've observed a stable trend: at the center of attention is not facial volume but precisely skin quality. What seemed like a novel idea 15 years ago has today become obvious to most of my patients.

By skin quality I mean microrelief (pore pattern), color and tone uniformity accounting for pigmentation and vascular changes, plus fine wrinkle prominence. Healthy skin glow is now the main aesthetic reference point.

Personalized approach becomes especially important starting around 30-35 years. But it's determined not so much by age as individual physiology and skin anatomy features: precisely at this age aging processes launch, which by menopause in women and andropause in men become increasingly noticeable.

2. Trend Toward Masculine Beauty

The second trend is increasingly taking shape in male aesthetics: men are becoming a noticeable and steadily growing patient group in aesthetic medicine clinics. According to Russian clinical data, the share of men among plastic surgery patients today is around 10%, and this figure is gradually increasing, reflecting a global trend. Russian men have developed a taste for plastic surgery and cosmetics and are actively mastering this direction as a quality of life maintenance tool, not as a one-time experiment.

Men come to cosmetologists and plastic surgeons not from caprice but from striving to longer maintain well-groomed, professional, and competitive appearance. Modern men want to look younger and fresher while preserving their features and masculinity, so the key request, rejuvenation without scars, sutures, and obvious intervention traces: the face should look "one's own," not "redone."

Most often men seek correction of age changes (wrinkles in forehead and eye areas, volume loss in mid-face, jowl formation), skin quality improvement (enlarged pores, post-acne, uneven relief), unwanted hair and vascular network removal, plus hyperhidrosis problems.

In male cosmetics and plastic surgery, priority is given to maximally natural results: this is delicate work with nasolabial folds, double chin, facial oval and periorbital zone, using hardware technologies, injections, and low-trauma operative methods allowing quick work return without revealing intervention fact to others. This approach reduces stigma around "male beauty" and gradually makes self-care part of habitual lifestyle, on par with sports and health monitoring, precisely why male cosmetics and plastic surgery segments demonstrate stable growth.

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"A man at a cosmetologist's or plastic surgeon's appointment has long ceased being rare, and in recent years more men are turning to cosmetologists, trichologists, podiatrists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons for care and maintenance procedures. Male skin begins aging earlier than female, plus men more often face acne and its consequences, so requests for vascular spider removal, post-acne scar treatment, laser hair removal, and wrinkle correction aren't uncommon. Cryolipolysis for working with abdominal and chest fat deposits is especially popular.

A clinical example is indicative: a 57-year-old patient leading a sports lifestyle and working in bank management visits the cosmetologist about once every three months, and his care plan is compiled accounting for genetic testing data. The program includes peel and Hydrafacial cleaning once monthly, BBL phototherapy course (4 procedures yearly), body laser hair removal course (12 procedures), Fotona 4D and Ultraformer MPT once every 9 months, plus annual neurotoxin injections and Radiesse preparation. Such a complex allows maintaining skin health and quality long-term, and the psychological result becomes confidence in one's attractiveness and more active life position.

Plastic surgery for men primarily aims to preserve masculinity and well-groomed, 'age-appropriate' appearance with minimal scars and maximally invisible changes. For this, gentle methods are used, early scar prevention, and incisions planned accounting for hairline. Among most requested operations, gynecomastia treatment and facial oval correction, and hair transplantation over the past ten years has firmly entered the most popular procedures list alongside liposuction."

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"Over the past five-six years we've seen noticeable growth in men turning to cosmetologists: male audience is becoming stable and very conscious. In the top requests, procedures improve appearance while leaving no visible intervention traces. For men, phototherapy (including BBL) and thulium laser are especially in demand: these methods allow safely, practically without rehabilitation, reducing pigmentation, narrowing pores, evening tone, and giving skin a well-groomed look.

A separate direction, poly-L-lactic acid introduction, which gently forms clearer, tighter contour while preserving natural, 'masculine' facial relief. Important is work with upper third facial musculature: hyperactive muscle correction not only visually refreshes gaze and forehead but sometimes by neurologist recommendation is used as therapeutic method helping reduce tension and headaches.

Tamara Kirienko, Cosmetologist at MEDSI, Michurinsky Prospekt:

"In recent years we've seen stable growth in men's interest in aesthetic medicine and plastic surgery: this is no longer about caprice but conscious investment in health and appearance. Public ideas about male attractiveness are changing, self-care has ceased being taboo, and neat, well-groomed appearance is increasingly perceived as part of professional and social success.

Men, like women, want to look younger and fresher while preserving individual features and masculinity, so the main request, rejuvenation without scars, sutures, and noticeable intervention traces when the face looks natural, not 'redone.'

For physicians this means a need for even higher personalization and accuracy levels: important is not only mastering technologies but understanding patient psychological expectations, offering individual plans where natural results and minimal risks come first. Precisely this approach makes male cosmetics and plastic surgery one of the most dynamically developing market segments and sets the aesthetic medicine development vector overall."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"Male cosmetics is a direction I've been successfully working with for over 20 years. I truly see that cosmetic procedures overall are less priority and less attractive for men than for women. First, women usually have higher pain thresholds and more easily tolerate even uncomfortable interventions, whereas men have higher sensitivity and less patience.

For them it's especially important that procedures be inconspicuous to others, maximally painless and quick timewise. Fortunately, modern cosmetics has enough methods meeting these requirements and allowing men to stay in habitual life rhythm while looking fresher and more well-groomed."

3. Peptide Trend in Cosmetics

In 2026, a stable trend is forming in cosmetics already called the peptide boom. Peptides cease being supplementary care components and become key tools for working with skin quality and biological age, from fashionable words on mass-market packaging they transition to considered care and injection procedure protocols where formulas, concentrations, and combinations are controlled by specialists.

By structure, peptides resemble proteins, they're also built from amino acids linked in chains. The key difference between proteins and amino acids is the length: if the chain includes no more than 50 amino acids, it's called peptide. If more than 50 amino acids, it's already protein. Peptides are synthesized in the body and perform a whole range of important biological functions: they can act as hormones, neurotransmitters (substances ensuring connection between nerve cells), and possess anti-infection activity. Synthesizing peptides is simple, and their biological effect can be very tangible.

In professional circles, peptides are perceived as "smart" cosmetics tools: they engage regeneration, intercellular communication, and skin barrier functions, help densify dermis, even microrelief, and prolong hardware and injection method effects. Hence brands' and clinics' interest in peptide serums, masks, post-procedure creams, and complexes for rehabilitation after lasers, RF procedures, and peels.

However, with the boom grows professional caution. Not all peptides are equally stable: part of molecules are sensitive to light, temperature, pH, and neighboring activities including acids and retinoids, which can reduce formula effectiveness or lead to its destabilization. Moreover, for many peptides there is only laboratory data and small applied studies but no long-term clinical evidence base comparable to retinoids or, for example, classic injection methods.

Professional peptide procedures today are used as gentle but effective ways to improve skin quality. In injection methods (peptide mesotherapy and biorevitalization) they help densify dermis, increase tone, and reduce fatigue manifestations. In hardware care like GeneO+ or HydraFacial, peptide serums enhance oxygenation, peel, and lifting effects, giving more even tone, smooth texture, and pronounced "healthy glow" without lengthy rehabilitation.

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"Peptides are short amino acid chains, protein building blocks that regulate many body processes. In injection application, widely used in mesotherapy and biorevitalization procedures. There are peptides for eliminating dark circles around eyes, stimulating collagen production, whitening, and boosting local immunity.

In medicine peptides are used in gastroenterology, anti-age therapy, and gynecology, but speaking about cosmetics, peptides were first used for external application, in cosmeceutical composition.

For example, cosmetic peptide argireline with botulinum-like effect (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8), which gently relaxes muscles. There are peptides capable of increasing tissue firmness, stimulating cell renewal. But overall I consider the safest peptide to use precisely cosmetic forms for external application."

Tamara Kirienko, Cosmetologist at MEDSI, Michurinsky Prospekt:

"Peptides are molecules consisting of amino acids that attract attention in dermatology and cosmetics thanks to the ability to affect skin at cellular level. They're used as active ingredients in care products and professional procedures including injections and laser methods. But transition from mass-market to professional segment is connected with a number of risks and limitations important to consider.

Today peptides are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their potential to improve skin condition, stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, and enhance barrier function. As a result, demand for peptide products grows both from consumers and specialists.

It's important to remember risks. Peptides are sensitive to environmental impact, their effectiveness can decrease due to storage and application instability, leading to unpredictable results and reduced product trust. For many peptides there's still no long-term effectiveness and safety data, limiting their professional practice application: specialists must be confident in results they offer patients. Need for further research and clinical trials to confirm long-term peptide effects remains relevant.

Each person's skin is unique, so peptide reactions can significantly differ. This makes preliminary assessment and individual scheme selection accounting for each patient's features mandatory."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"At a certain stage, simple care creams with glycerin, lipids, and vitamins cease giving pronounced effect, and peptides come to the forefront, today they're rightfully considered key tools for age change prevention and anti-age therapy.

Peptides are short amino acid chains that act as signal molecules: regulate intercellular communication, normalize metabolic processes, support collagen synthesis, and overall contribute to preserving skin youth, and thanks to small size can penetrate deeper layers.

Meanwhile, it's important to understand that budget lines often use only peptide 'traces,' while manufacturers formulate very loud promises. Quality cosmetics generally are produced to GMP standards, may have FDA or other regulatory body registration, and contain no anionic surfactants, phthalates, petroleum products, and parabens, increasingly viewed as potentially unfavorable components for skin health.

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"Peptides have been used in cosmetics and medicine for more than one decade, and their effectiveness is confirmed by large clinical practice. Initially developed and tested in military and sports medicine, they long ago proved their stability, effectiveness, and safety.

Today there are many peptides of both synthetic and animal origin, and each has its mechanism of action and application indications. The quality and concentration level of peptides in professional preparations substantially differs from what's offered in the mass-market segment, so commercial cosmetics generally can't give truly pronounced results.

4. Promising NAD+ Trend

In 2026, NAD+ solidified its status as fashionable anti-aging component, though currently there are more expectations than confirmed long-term clinical data around it.

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme participating in energy metabolism, DNA repair, and aging-related enzyme work, and its level decreases with age. NAD+ becomes in demand in two directions simultaneously: it's added to procedures (serums, masks, infusions, skin "recovery complexes") and actively promoted as nutraceuticals and supplements for "rejuvenation from within."

The trend essence is simple: NAD+ levels decrease with age, and this molecule is critical for energy metabolism, mitochondrial work, DNA repair, and antioxidant protection, so the idea to restore its reserves looks logical and attractive for anti-age medicine.

In aesthetics, NAD+ and its precursors (niacinamide, NR, NMN, etc.) are positioned as ways to support skin cells: accelerate post-procedure recovery, improve dermal quality, increase firmness and skin "vitality," plus additionally influence overall energy level and patient wellbeing.

But from an evidence-based medicine standpoint, this is still a forming direction: most data are experimental works, small studies, and reviews on systemic NAD+ and precursor application where short-term safety overall looks acceptable but long-term effects and clear connection with clinical skin rejuvenation remain subjects of further research.

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"NAD+ remains a molecule whose biochemical pathways aren't fully studied either inside cells or in extracellular space. Therefore intravenous NAD+ administration I view as illegitimate and potentially dangerous practice. Much more justified I consider the approach using its precursors, molecules from which NAD+ naturally synthesizes in the body. This variant gives more stable and long-term results within anti-aging therapy, rejuvenation programs, and longevity."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"Fashionable themes confidently entered professional skin care connected with restoring cellular energy metabolism and supporting its longevity resources. NAD+ precursors, nicotinic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin B3, have long been used in cosmetics for acne and pigmentation and, alongside retinol and peptides, pass well through epidermal barrier, entering many mesotherapeutic cocktails for face and scalp.

To replenish age-related NAD+ deficiency, supplements are increasingly recommended: NAD+ enters many anti-age protocols and athlete diets. Intake forms are diverse, tablet and injectable.

Niacinamide serum is my personal number two favorite after retinol: this ingredient helps even skin tone, reduce pigmentation and inflammation manifestations, strengthen barriers, and improve overall texture."

5. Fat as Building Material: Lipofilling's New Face

Lipofilling and allogeneic (donor) fat use are gradually becoming separate aesthetic medicine directions when the task, not simply "add volume" but restore lost tissues where classic fillers no longer cope or begin contouring (becoming noticeable under skin).

Autologous (own) fat works in two ways simultaneously: it replenishes volume and simultaneously improves tissue quality through stem cells and growth factors in stromal-vascular fraction, especially important for correcting dense, retracted scars.

Allogeneic fat and ready fat matrices ("blanks" from donor adipose tissue) are considered options where there's no possibility or sense taking own fat: this allows shortening operation time, avoiding donor trauma, but requires strict safety protocol observance and conscious patient informing.

In clinical practice such solutions are more often used for complex cases, pronounced defects, repeat interventions, correcting incorrect filler consequences when soft, well-integrating adipose tissue allows smoothing unevenness and restoring relief.

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"In my practice, using adipose tissue for scar correction, in my opinion, remains an underestimated approach. More often lipofilling is applied for facial volume replenishment, though for example lower eyelid area is often difficult and risky to correct with hyaluronic acid, whereas a patient's own fat can give safer, long-term, and natural-looking results.

I've observed very good results correcting Venus rings on the neck, replenishing mid-face volume and orbital zone with pronounced skeletization after weight loss."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"At the current plastic surgery and regenerative medicine development stage, patient's own fat is most often used. Such correction is applied in zones requiring stable rejuvenating effect or where stem cell action is needed for soft tissue regeneration, healing scar deformations and trauma consequences.

Donor fat can be applied only under extremely strict indications, though such procedures aren't yet observed in practice. In world practice, predominantly in USA, there are donor cell-based preparations undergoing special preparation.

In our country, the standard remains using its own fat containing mesenchymal-stromal fraction and rich stem cell pool, ensuring pronounced regenerative potential."

6. Exosome Use in Regenerative Aesthetics

Exosomes today, one of aesthetics' most fashionable words: they're added to creams, serums, post-procedure care, even supplements, promising "new skin regeneration level." Essentially, these are microscopic bubbles with which cells transmit signals to each other that can trigger tissue restoration, stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation, and accelerate skin healing.

This beautiful idea spawned a boom: cosmetic products "with exosomes" appear, post-procedure serums after lasers and microneedling, advertised supplements and infusions "for rejuvenation and recovery." Meanwhile, the scientific picture is much more restrained. There is interesting in vitro and animal model data plus first small clinical works on skin healing and quality improvement, but large, standardized, long-term aesthetic and anti-age studies are still lacking.

In practice this resulted in two problems. First, "gray" injection market: cosmetic or conditionally-cosmetic exosome products designed for external application began being introduced intradermally and even deeper, off-label. Cases of severe inflammatory reactions, granulomas, and scars after such "exosome injections" outside clinical conditions are already described, raising serious questions about safety and quality control. Second, concept substitution: under the word "exosomes" can hide plant vesicles, lysates, conditioned media, or even "exosome-like" technologies, with labeling and content standards practically unregulated.

As a result we have a trend example where at the junction of high science and aggressive marketing a gray zone formed. Exosomes and exosome-like systems truly look promising as regenerative medicine and dermatology direction, but in 2026 aesthetics their use requires maximum caution: be critical of brand claims, distinguish topical cosmetic ingredients from injectable biopreparations, and don't substitute experimental promises for real, verified practice.

Tamara Kirienko, Cosmetologist at MEDSI, Michurinsky Prospekt:

"Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles released by cells containing proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. They participate in intercellular communication, which is why their potential medical application today causes great interest. In recent years exosomes actively 'migrated' into cosmetic products, supplements, even injection protocols, but this trend is accompanied by a whole range of questions and limitations.

In cosmetics, exosomes are attributed to the ability to accelerate skin healing, enhance post-procedure regeneration, work as an anti-aging component reducing wrinkle prominence and improving skin texture. In supplement composition they're positioned as enhancers of other active substance action. However, a significant part of such promises is still based more on theoretical premises and laboratory data than large, well-planned clinical studies."

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"Exosomes are signal molecules transmitting information between cells. Well proven in cosmeceutical products. The most serious problem today, their off-label injection use, which is essentially unacceptable.

Exosomes remain one of least studied topics in aesthetic medicine: currently there's insufficient evidence base for either external or especially injection application, and injection administration of such preparations in Russia is directly prohibited."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"In my practice exosomes have already firmly entered the clinic procedure arsenal. Trichologists actively use them treating alopecia, and I as cosmetologist, for skin recovery after traumatic interventions and in anti-age programs.

Exosomes stimulate tissue regeneration, improve metabolic processes, and accelerate cell recovery, so I apply them as masks and serums after laser resurfacing and needle thermolift. They help lighten skin, gently regulate melanocyte activity, reduce hyperpigmentation manifestations, and enter my post-acne and dyschromia treatment protocols.

Meanwhile I always emphasize to patients that the exosome market today is oversaturated: raw material source (plant or animal), manufacturer, and purification degree vary greatly. Exosome injection administration I consider potentially dangerous and unacceptable practice, and working only with verified exclusive distributors, key safety and predictable result conditions."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"Surface exosome application carries no health risks, and thanks to high bioavailability and effective transport function with topical application they can give pronounced anti-aging and rejuvenating effects.

Meanwhile, administering any preparations lacking registration certificates on our country's territory is illegitimate and associated both with legal consequences for specialists and potential patient risks. Our clinic uses exclusively studied preparations with registration certificate and complete certification package."

7. Healing Improvement, Cold Plasma

Cold plasma is gradually transforming from "space technology" into familiar aesthetic and plastic medicine tool. Essentially, this is low-temperature ionized gas flow affecting skin without burning, triggering healing processes, fighting bacteria, and gently stimulating regeneration.

In plastic surgery, cold plasma is increasingly used as post-operative rehabilitation element: treating sutures and intervention zones helps reduce bacterial load, accelerate epithelialization, improve scar quality, and make recovery more predictable. For patients this feels like "accelerated healing": fewer crusts and inflammation, gentler transition from surgery to habitual skin care.

In cosmetics offices, cold plasma (PLADUO and analogs) increasingly becomes complex procedure final touch, needle RF, laser resurfacing, deep cleanings. After traumatic impact, skin briefly remains vulnerable to microbes and inflammation, and in this context cold plasma at session finale works as a kind of "sanitizer and moderator", reduces bacterial load, supports barrier, decreases swelling and redness, thereby reducing complication risks and post-procedure eruptions.

For clinics this is a way to make intensive procedures safer and more comfortable, for patients, opportunity to receive more aggressive protocols with less fear of inflammation, long-healing crusts, and unpredictable reactions. Precisely the combination "powerful impact + gentle completion" makes cold plasma one of most promising tools at surgery, dermatology, and cosmetics junction.

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"In 2014 at a cosmetic equipment exhibition I first saw a cold plasma device: then it was presented as a means for non-surgical blepharoplasty and acne treatment literally in one procedure. Today on the market there are already over 10 systems using non-thermal cold plasma for solving a wide spectrum of aesthetic tasks.

For example, PLADUO device works on argon and nitrogen cold plasma, has pronounced antibacterial and healing effect, and is applied in rehabilitation programs after laser resurfacing and plastic operations, plus treating scars (normo-, atrophic, hypertrophic, keloid), rosacea, and seborrheic dermatitis.

When choosing a device I orient toward the manufacturer and confirm clinical study availability: for me proven effects are important, antibacterial and anti-candidal action, lipogenesis regulation, fibroblast stimulation, and skin detox processes."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"When discussing regeneration and post-plastic surgery recovery, I rely on verified, patented major physiotherapy methods, photodynamic therapy, microcurrents, TECAR therapy, and other approaches with long-confirmed effectiveness. For argon cold plasma today enough research has accumulated and a good evidence base formed, but principally important is using only registered devices.

Needle RF I also view as a rejuvenation and regeneration method allowing deep soft tissue restructuring: depending on device and settings you can get both gentle and pronounced lifting effects, and parameters are always selected by physician after examination and individual patient feature assessment. As for cleanings, for me this is exclusively a care procedure, and counting on pronounced regeneration or rejuvenation only through cleanings I consider inexpedient."

8. Fat-Sparing Lifting

Monopolar RF lifting, one of recent years' most discussed hardware trends: it's positioned as "fat-sparing" alternative to surgical SMAS lifting for those wanting to tighten tissues without scalpel and lengthy rehabilitation. New-generation devices (Oligio, Volnewmer, and analogs) using monopolar radiofrequency deeply warm dermis and underlying structures, stimulating powerful neocollagenesis (new collagen formation process in skin) and tissue remodeling while not destroying subcutaneous fat, meaning not "deflating" face but precisely tightening and densifying framework.

From a practical standpoint this is a story about patients seeing beginning oval descent, jowl appearance, neck folds, or body flabbiness but not yet ready for surgery. Monopolar RF lifting gives them the opportunity to improve facial oval, lower jaw line clarity, neck, décolleté, abdomen, inner thigh and arm skin tone, preserving natural volumes and habitual features. Procedures are conducted in courses, effect builds over several months through collagen framework restructuring and with correct patient selection can postpone SMAS operation necessity.

Hardware cosmetics manufacturers already perceive monopolar RF as "mandatory" technology class: if recently it was represented by single systems, now major brands are joining production, and clinics increasingly include such platforms in comprehensive protocols alongside HIFU, threads, and injections. For the market this means instead of one-two "star" devices the entire device line using the same monopolar radiofrequency principle, and for patients, increasingly accessible and diverse non-surgical face and body lifting program choice.

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"I don't view monopolar RF lifting as a fat-sparing SMAS lifting alternative. Rather it's rejuvenation method applicable to different soft tissue zones, both face and body.

Such devices give a pronounced and sufficiently long-lasting effect: tighten soft tissues, reduce their excess, promote glycated collagen destruction and skin texture evening."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"In 2024, on the wave of interest in hardware methods, we saw monopolar radiowave lifting return, Oligio and Volnewmer devices firmly entered clinical practice. I use them for tissue ptosis, reduced skin firmness, pronounced wrinkles and stretch marks, while Oligio procedure effect persists long-term and can be assessed many months after session.

Unlike classic Thermage, new systems allow working much more delicately, not 'burning' subcutaneous fat and helping gently remove 'tired face' effect while preserving natural volume. Separate direction, Volformer protocol combining SMAS lifting (Ultraformer MPT) and monopolar RF lifting (Volnewmer) within one procedure: these technologies' synergy gives a more pronounced and longer lasting lifting effect than each method separately."

9. Poly-L-Lactic Acid: Gentle Volume

Poly-L-lactic acid is experiencing a "second birth" in aesthetic medicine: from a niche biostimulator for narrow tasks it's transforming into one of key volumetric and quality rejuvenation tools.

Unlike classic fillers, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) works not through instant "filling" but as stimulator: it triggers own collagen synthesis, gradually densifying tissues and restoring volume where fat left and skin weakened.

Precisely therefore the method is especially in demand for patients with adipose tissue deficiency, after strict diets, active sports, with age-related or medication lipoatrophy, and now also those who sharply lost weight on GLP-1 agonist therapy background. For such people traditional fillers give either too sharp, unnatural volume or quickly "cave in." Poly-L-lactic acid allows gently "building up" own framework and returning a healthier, non-depleted appearance.

New interest wave is connected with formulas: combined solutions appear on market where PLLA is combined with hyaluronic acid and positioned as "double action", instant hydration and lifting through hyaluronic acid plus prolonged collagen stimulation from poly-L-lactic acid. Such products and protocols fit well into modern aesthetics: not so much "inflate" separate zones as return face volume, density, and resistance to further aging.

Tamara Kirienko, Cosmetologist at MEDSI, Michurinsky Prospekt:

"Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer long widely used in aesthetic medicine. From the beginning it established itself as safe and effective material for restoring facial and body volumes, and in recent years interest in PLLA noticeably grew, especially against its hyaluronic acid combination and working with adipose tissue deficiency patients.

PLLA action mechanism is based on stimulating own collagen production: injection causes light controlled inflammatory reaction, fibroblasts activate, and skin gradually becomes denser and more elastic. Precisely therefore poly-L-lactic acid suits those counting not on instant but natural and long-lasting results.

PLLA combination with hyaluronic acid gives a pronounced synergistic effect: hyaluronic acid ensures immediately tangible volume and hydration, and poly-L-lactic acid answers for long-term skin structure and quality improvement. This approach is especially relevant for patients with pronounced adipose tissue deficiency, age-related, genetic, or connected with sharp weight fluctuations when cheek and chin volume loss, nasolabial fold deepening, firmness reduction are observed. In these cases PLLA injections allow not only returning volume but improving skin condition.

Meanwhile PLLA is considered material with a favorable safety profile: typical for injections, temporary reactions possible, redness, slight swelling, injection point soreness. With correct technique and care recommendation observance they quickly pass. Poly-L-lactic acid, especially combined with hyaluronic acid, today truly gives method second life: helps restore volume, improve skin texture and firmness, and remains very in demand for adipose tissue deficiency patients oriented toward natural, harmonious correction."

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"Poly-L-lactic acid today remains, in my opinion, strongest and most effective collagen-stimulating preparation. I've long and extensively worked with it in my practice. But its application's biggest problem, not the preparation itself but how correctly it's used.

All parameters are critically important: specific preparation choice for patient, technique and administration depth, instrument selection, correct dilution and concentration, precise zone, volume, and injection quantity determination.

If all these criteria are observed by an experienced physician, poly-L-lactic acid in a specialist's hands becomes a brilliant tool: it beautifully complements lifting hardware methods and truly slows aging processes, allowing preserving naturally young faces without swelling and 'inflated' features.

Poly-L-lactic acid densifies practically any zone, both face and body, stimulating active collagen and elastin fiber production. And its use combined with hyaluronic acid for very thin, asthenic patients today essentially becomes a true must-have."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"In my understanding, poly-L-lactic acid today is experiencing a deserved comeback. Previously PLLA preparations weren't officially registered in Russia, accompanied by high complication risk, and now new-generation hybrid biostimulators appeared combining filler and collagen stimulator properties.

Competent patient selection plays a key role. For people under 40 with thin skin, effect generally is expressed brighter through the hyaluronic acid component, whereas after 45 years more procedures are required, and the result develops slower through neocollagenogenesis activation. Preparation combines well with hardware methods and occupies an important place in my anti-age protocols.

Clinical practice example: a 38-year-old patient whom I conducted a phototherapy course combined with Ultraformer MPT, then Juvelook course, 3 procedures at 45-day intervals. As a result we recorded facial and neck skin turgor increase, Venus ring and nasolabial fold prominence reduction, while the effect continued building months after course completion."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"Poly-L-lactic acid has long and quite widely been applied to different body areas and very different patients. It not only stimulates regeneration but allows replenishing subcutaneous fat and dermal deficiency including collagen fiber and other soft tissue structure deficiency.

Patient selection for such procedures is extremely strict since undesirable reactions are possible, therefore poly-L-lactic acid administration must be performed only by highly professional specialists and exclusively in clinical conditions."

10. Expert Personal Trend

In conclusion we asked speakers to name one trend they consider most relevant precisely for themselves today: what they see in their own practice and are ready to designate as their "personal trend" for coming years.

Ekaterina Shostak, Cosmetologist, Gerontologist at RAMI Clinic and Ramiclinic Residence:

"My own trend, natural transformation of each patient. Priority for me is skin clarity: cleanness, evenness and skin uniformity, facial feature harmonization.

What's important is working with a patient's skin at cellular level, using trehalose and PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide, DNA fragments used in regenerative and aesthetic medicine for skin restoration), competently selected peptide preparations. This is always an individual approach: I help skin restart its own processes, support each cell's vital activity, not 'forcibly' remake something, preserving natural beauty. On this foundation I engage in beautification, relying primarily on evidence-based and safe medicine."

Olga Andriyanova, Cosmetologist, Dermatologist, Figure Correction Specialist, Deputy Chief Physician for Polyclinic at SM-Cosmetology, Kosmonavta Volkova Street:

"Patients increasingly choose procedures not changing facial features, preserving live facial expressions, removing tired gaze and giving skin glow. Interest grows in 'non-traditional zone' rejuvenation: knees, elbows, ear lobes, décolleté.

Short rehabilitation and quick effect procedures are popular. Patients became more conscious, well understanding compositions and home care importance.

"Lifting,' 'even skin tone,' 'delicate rejuvenation' requests still lead, and precisely for them I individually combine hardware and injection methods with hardware priority."

Oksana Chashchina, Deputy Chief Physician for Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatovenerology, Cosmetologist, Physiotherapist, Preventive Medicine Specialist at Atlas Clinic Network:

"My trend is preserving patient individuality and skin health. I consciously avoid excessively aggressive, super-stimulating procedures and don't strive to prescribe many consecutive interventions. Everything I do relies on a specific person's real capabilities: on how their skin can respond to impact and what effect can be achieved naturally.

Therefore my approach is individual, safe, and designed for prolonged results. It doesn't change a patient appearance but only emphasizes and amplifies their own, unique beauty."

Tamara Kirienko, Cosmetologist at MEDSI, Michurinsky Prospekt:

"My personal cosmetics-2026 trend, transition from standard procedures to genuine personalization. Cosmetics, like all beauty medicine, is quickly moving away from standard schemes. Today patients come not for a 'procedure package' but for solving precisely their task accounting for age, lifestyle, genetics, and health. Therefore the main vector of coming years, individual approach.

Skin diagnostics, lifestyle analysis and, where justified, genetic tests help selecting protocols maximally targeted. Personalized care and rejuvenation programs have become a new standard: each patient has their own year's 'roadmap,' not a one-time cosmetologist visit. Comprehensive protocols unite hardware methods, injections, and care built not by price list but around clinical tasks and patient expectations.

I see cosmetics' future precisely this way: high-tech, safe, and very personalized, when procedure effectiveness is determined not by fashion but how precisely it suits a specific person."