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The Aesthetic MEET 2025, hosted this year by The Aesthetic Society in Austin, Texas, brought together some of the most innovative minds in plastic surgery. But beyond the buzzwords and product launches, what really stood out were the shifts in how top doctors are treating the modern patient. From new protocols for GLP-1 users to smarter fat grafting and regenerative skin care that’s rapidly evolving, we heard it all. We sat in on panels, one-on-one interviews and hallway conversations to bring you the real takeaways.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Rafael Couto is a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Juan, PR
- Dr. Chet Mays is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Louisville, KY
- Dr. Bradley Bengtson is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Grand Rapids, MI
- Dr. Robert J. Bianchini is the Director of Research and Development for Dermalogica Pro
- Dr. Jeffrey Antimarino is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh, PA
- Dr. Olga Bachilo is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Houston
1. Rib reshaping redefines the waistline
San Juan, PR plastic surgeon Rafael Couto, MD highlighted a newer body-slimming technique known as rib remodeling that was getting buzz at the meeting. No, it’s not rib removal like the Cher rumor from the ’80s. Instead of removing ribs, surgeons make small incisions to fracture and reposition the lower ribs inward to help create a more cinched waist. “It’s not about taking the rib out anymore,” says Dr. Couto. “It’s about strategically creating fractures and pushing it inward to create that defined waist. It’s subtle, effective and the results are impressive.”
2. Fat grafting gets smarter
Louisville, KY plastic surgeon Chet Mays, MD is one of the early adopters of Alloclae, a new off-the-shelf adipose-derived filler. Unlike traditional fat grafting, which requires liposuction to harvest a patient’s own fat, Alloclae is made from donor fat that’s been stripped of proteins and cells that could trigger an immune response. “It’s allograft fat your body recognizes as its own,” he explained. “You don’t need to go to the OR or do liposuction to get it.”
Dr. Mays says he’s using it in multiple areas, including the face, breasts, buttocks, hands and hip dips, especially in patients with limited fat reserves or those wanting volume without another surgical procedure. “It’s one of the biggest unmet needs we have,” he said. “Current fat grafting options don’t always yield predictable results. Alloclae is aiming to change that.”
Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Bradley Bengtson, MD added that new imaging is helping surgeons better track outcomes. “Vector imaging is going to be an awesome way to follow some of these things,” he noted. “You can see exactly how much volume is retained. Not just before and after, but how long it lasts.”
3. Breast implant options are evolving
Establishment Labs announced the five-year results of its U.S. IDE study for Motiva breast implants at Aesthetic MEET 2025. The study included over 500 patients and 45 board-certified plastic surgeons across 40 U.S. sites. Results showed high patient satisfaction and low complication rates, including a notably low rate of capsular contracture in primary breast augmentation cases.
Dr. Bengtson noted, “It feels a little bit softer and it’s all about the shell. They’re the first company that’s figured that out. It doesn’t feel textured, but it has the resistance of fiberglass. There’s zero bacterial growth. The bacteria can’t really latch onto it, which means less biofilm and, potentially, less capsular contracture.”
4. Skin healing speeds up
Dermalogica Dr. Robert J. Bianchini presented clinical findings on their EXO Booster, a vegan, bacteria-derived exosome treatment designed to enhance recovery following microneedling and laser procedures. “We’re combining bacterial-derived exosomes with omega-3-rich pro-resolution tech, and we’re seeing amplified healing,” said Dr. Bianchini.
According to Dr. Bianchini, their internal studies and collaborations with dermatologists worldwide show that patients treated with EXO Booster experience better resolution of fine lines, acne scars and other imperfections, along with less pain and shorter downtime. The treatment includes an in-office booster followed by a two-week take-home protocol. “The patient downtime has improved quite a bit—less pain, quicker recovery—so they can get back into another procedure faster,” he noted.
5. Micro-coring technology gets an update
The latest version of ellacor by Cytrellis includes faster treatment speeds, a redesigned tip and a more comfortable experience. Previously used primarily on older patients with deeper wrinkles, the device is now gaining attention for early intervention in younger patients who want to treat mild laxity and crepey skin.
Unlike lasers that rely on heat or light, ellacor removes tiny cores of skin to stimulate collagen. Surgeons noted that the new version causes less trauma and heals faster, making it an option for areas like the jawline, lower face and neck.
6. Regenerative topicals are getting more advanced
We’ve seen skin-care brands in the regenerative space, like Plated, which uses exosomes. A recent peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology demonstrated that Plated’s hair serum (derived from platelet-enriched exosomes) led to significant improvements in hair density and quality in both men and women with early-stage androgenetic alopecia.
Now, the next wave in regenerative topicals seems to be secretomes, cell-free proteins from stem cells or placental tissue. One example is Provoque, a secretome-based topical that’s being used to help skin recover faster after procedures like microneedling and lasers. While more studies are still needed, many doctors at the meeting said secretomes could be the next big thing in regenerative skin care.
7. Weight-loss drugs change the surgical timeline
As GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide continue to reshape bodies, they’re also changing the way aesthetic surgeons approach patient care. Pittsburgh plastic surgeon Jeffrey Antimarino, MD said, “We’re seeing more laxity, more quickly, in younger patients. The collagen just doesn’t bounce back the way you’d expect.”
Surgeons are also adapting their protocols. Dr. Mays explained that recovery is more complex: “You can’t be actively losing weight during recovery. We have to stop GLP-1 meds at least six weeks before surgery and patients can’t resume until they’re fully healed, sometimes another six weeks.”
Houston plastic surgeon Dr. Olga Bachilo added that many GLP-1 patients are now candidates for procedures that were once reserved for massive weight-loss patients. “We’ve been doing this a long time on massive weight-loss patients,” she said. “But now, every patient is a candidate. That’s the difference. They may not have a lot of skin, but they have loose tissue and a deflated appearance. You still need to lift and shape the tissue.” She also noted that she uses a de-epithelialized auto-augmentation flap during body lifts to restore projection to the buttocks: “I design a little flap from the tissue we’re cutting away, tuck it in and raise the buttock over it and it gives volume without adding anything foreign.”
8. Hair loss solutions expand
Hair restoration is now one of the fastest-growing categories at Dr. Bengtson’s Grand Rapids practice. One treatment his team has been using is TED (TransEpidermal Delivery) by Alma, which uses sound waves and air pressure to deliver growth factors and peptides into the scalp, no needles needed. “Patients love that it’s noninvasive and that we can do it in the office without downtime,” he said. “We’re using it more and more, especially in women and in patients recovering from GLP-1-related hair thinning.”
While his practice also uses PRP and is experimenting with exosomes, Dr. Bengtson remains realistic: “They’re incredibly expensive and it’s still hard to quantify results. Like PRP, the science is promising, but the data is still catching up.”
As patient needs shift, so do the tools and timing. It’s exciting to see how quickly the field is evolving and how doctors are meeting patients where they are.
