The fourth State of Aesthetics revealed a surge in micro treatments, with microneedling and high-tech facials taking the top two and three spots for recent treatments received and planned future treatments. We break down the stats and speak with experts to learn more about these trending treatments.
State of Aesthetics
We already know we have the best readers in the industry. That’s why the State of Aesthetics taps thousands of you to provide a real-time look at the aesthetic industry. Powered by BeautyEngine subscribers, the most advanced and educated consumers in the aesthetic industry, we take a look at what’s popular, how readers choose their treatments, and what you look for in a provider.
See our full report here.
Microneedling Is Rising in Popularity
Based on our data, 40% of respondents in 2023 had received a microneedling treatment, and 36% planning a treatment within the next twelve months. As the second most common treatment received by our readers in 2023, microneedling has seen a surge in popularity in the past year.
The 2021-2022 State of Aesthetics data showed only 26% had plans to receive a microneedling treatment.
What Exactly is Microneedling?
According to Monroe, LA dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD, microneedling is all about refreshing your skin. “I describe microneedling as a procedure that is like cleaning out your closet,” Dr. Hopkins explains. “Think ‘out with the old, in with the new.’”
The idea is to use minor wounding to stimulate your skin.
“Microneedling is performed using devices with tiny, sterile needles that quickly penetrate the skin to create controlled and precise wounding. This benefits the skin by rejuvenating both the outer epidermal layer of the skin as well as the dermal layer,” Dr. Hopkins says. “By purposefully creating wounding in the outer epidermal layer, the skin heals with a smooth, more even complexion benefiting people with melasma, sun damage and dull, blotchy complexions. The treatment also helps rebuild collagen in the dermis to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, stretch marks and even acne scars.”
Microneedling may have seen a rise in popularity simply thanks to how many common skin concerns it can address. Given that, the low downtime and minimum pain, and you have a recipe for aesthetic success.
Additionally, microneedling can easily be combined with radio frequency, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and even microcurrent for enhanced results.
According to Beverly Hills, CA facial plastic surgeon Kimberly J. Lee, MD, combining PRP with microneedling has been a hugely popular option for some time now. “PRP is used in combination with microneedling to produce glow-inducing results,” Dr. Lee explains. “The tiny punctures signal your body to start healing process, increasing the quantity of collagen and elastin deep within the skin layers. The PRP is then applied to supply the stem cells and growth factors in the product to further stimulate healing and regeneration.”
High-Tech Facials: Trending Treatment
Alongside microneedling, the high-tech facial is also a currently trending treatment. Compared to last year, the third edition of State of Aesthetics, where the treatment didn’t even place amongst noninvasive options. This year, however, a whopping 45% of respondents had a high-tech facial planned for this year.
When asked what treatments they would consider in the future, more than 12 months from now, 42% said high-tech facials.
What’s a High-Tech Facial?
There are a lot of different facials, a lot of them are pretty technologically advanced. But one of the most common options for high-tech facials utilize microcurrent, ultrasound and microdermabrasion.
It’s that first one though, microcurrent, that has seen a recent huge expansion in terms of popularity. With the market value of microcurrent facials set to increase by almost $100 million this year alone, microcurrent has quickly become not just a popular in-office treatment, but a common at-home device as well.
New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD explains that these at-home devices use a low level of stimulation. “Medicube’s Age-R and NuFace toning devices are using low voltage stimulation coupled with the use of their anti-aging products,” Dr. Kung says. “I think there’s still a lot of research that has to be done regarding the actual benefits of microcurrent therapy for anti-aging purposes. The beauty industry does want to apply the success of transdermal drug delivery for chronic wounds to transdermal delivery of useful skin healthy ingredients like antioxidants with microcurrent devices.”
According to Miami dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD, high-tech facials that are offered in the office will always offer a better, more customizable result. “Professional treatments are performed by trained clinicians who can adjust the device’s settings according to the specific needs and skin condition of each patient,” Dr. Chacon explains. “They also use professional-grade machines which are more powerful and can penetrate deeper into the skin. Home devices, on the other hand, are designed for safety and ease of use by non-professionals. They are less powerful and offer fewer customization options. However, they can be a good complement to professional treatments for maintaining the results.”
