As we move deeper into 2025, the medical aesthetics industry is expanding in new and meaningful ways. From the accelerating demand for minimally invasive aesthetic procedures to the evolving priorities of younger patients, the market is shifting quickly—and with purpose.
At this year’s Octane Aesthetics Tech Forum, Qsight shared a data-driven look at the macro forces behind these changes. Here are the key aesthetic industry trends shaping the landscape right now—and where leaders should focus next.
The Shift Toward Minimally Invasive, High-Frequency Care
Patients still want results—but more than ever, they’re prioritizing convenience and minimal downtime. That shift in priorities is driving continued growth in minimally invasive procedures. In 2024, U.S. non-surgical aesthetics spending climbed to $17.5B, up from $15.1B just two years earlier.
Injectables continue to dominate. Neurotoxins made up 32% of non-surgical spend in 2024, with dermal fillers close behind at 20%. Daxxify emerged as a standout, especially as providers and patients experiment with longer intervals between treatments.
Dermal Fillers Are Evolving with Patient Expectations
Dermal fillers remain a cornerstone of many facial rejuvenation strategies, but the category is undergoing a notable shift. While they still represent 20% of all non-surgical aesthetic procedures, 2024 data showed a slowdown—driven largely by declining demand for hyaluronic acid (HA)-based fillers.
At the same time, biostimulatory injectables like Sculptra and Radiesse are gaining traction. Instead of temporarily restoring volume, these products stimulate collagen production, offering longer-term structural improvements with a more natural aesthetic. For patients seeking subtle results that evolve over time, these injectables align well with broader treatment plans focused on prevention and longevity.
📈 Key Takeaways for Providers
The data points to a more mature market—one where patients are increasingly intentional about treatment timing, frequency, and outcomes. This is especially true for categories like skin tightening, facial rejuvenation, and growth factor-infused skincare, all of which are seeing increased demand.
As aesthetic clinics adapt to this shift, we expect continued growth in demand for injectables that offer biologic synergy, fewer touch-ups, and improved skin quality over time. In a category once defined by fast fixes, the long game is becoming a driver of innovation.
Gen Z is Showing Up—and Sticking Around
The patient base is getting younger. Gen Z represented just 4% of aesthetic patients in 2017. By 2024, that share had more than doubled to 10%.
Many of these younger patients are approaching aesthetic care as a component of long-term wellness. Preventative neurotoxin use and investment in professional-grade skincare are becoming early steps in a broader routine, not just one-off treatments to address signs of aging.
For brands and practices, this shift means rethinking how they engage a younger, savvier audience. Qsight’s Sales Measurement and Practitioner Tracker provide the kind of granular, demographic-level data that helps marketers and strategists get that positioning right.
Influencing Factors Driving Gen Z Engagement
- Social media exposure to aesthetic trends
- Greater comfort with aesthetic clinics and early treatment plans
- An emphasis on prevention, not correction
- Influence from wellness culture and routine self-care
GLP-1 Medications: A New Frontier in Aesthetic Revenue
GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide aren’t just reshaping the weight loss landscape—they’re driving significant revenue for aesthetic practices. They’re quickly establishing themselves among the most important drugs ever created for patients and practitioners alike.
By the end of 2024, 60% of medspas were offering GLP-1 treatments, and practices that did saw an average of 9% growth. In contrast, those that didn’t offer GLP-1s saw a 2% revenue decline.
Nearly 40% of GLP-1 patients were entirely new to the practice. For providers, that’s a major cross-sell opportunity. For clinics that understand how to fold weight management into a broader aesthetic journey, GLP-1s are proving to be a valuable on-ramp to higher lifetime value.
Skin Rejuvenation and Regenerative Skincare Are on the Rise
While total spend on energy-based devices declined slightly last year, interest in targeted treatments—especially skin rejuvenation and resurfacing—continued to rise. Professional-grade skincare also remained strong, with patients spending an average of $313, and more than half of purchases happening outside of treatment appointments.
This momentum reflects a growing interest in regenerative approaches. Brands offering exosome-based and science-backed skincare are capturing more market share as patients become more selective about what they apply post-procedure. They’re also capturing more patient spend annually than those offering traditional professional-grade skincare alone.
This data shows a willingness to invest in advanced skincare solutions that support long-term skin health and recovery.
Body Contouring Faces a Pricing and Awareness Gap
While there’s buzz around non-surgical body contouring, patient spend in this category is still well below its 2019 peak. In fact, it’s down by roughly half. The top barrier? Price.
According to Qsight’s Practitioner Tracker, 56% of providers cite cost as the biggest hurdle, while another 37% point to a general lack of awareness.
That tells us there’s room for growth—but it’s going to require better pricing strategies, stronger patient education, and clearer value propositions for patients.
Is Traditional Plastic Surgery Still Relevant?
Plastic surgery procedures hold steady in regions where non-invasive alternatives remain cost-prohibitive or unavailable. This balance between invasive and non-invasive modalities is expected to grow more dynamic over the next several years as technological advancements improve access and affordability to high-demand, minimally invasive alternatives.
Why These Trends Matter for Aesthetic Industry Leaders
Younger, better-informed patients are shaping the 2025 aesthetics landscape—as well as providers who are adapting fast. For manufacturers, providers, and investors, succeeding in this environment means having access to accurate, directional data at scale.
Qsight delivers that visibility.
With real-time tracking through Sales Measurement, practitioner insights from Practitioner Tracker, and macro-level market data via Market View, Qsight helps industry stakeholders align strategy with what’s actually happening—not assumptions, anecdotes, or outdated benchmarks.
Whether you’re evaluating market opportunities, pricing strategies, or generational behavior shifts, Qsight is the most reliable source of data to support informed, confident decisions.
Schedule a Demo with Guidepoint Qsight Today
Ready to see how data-backed decisions can transform your aesthetic strategy in 2025? Request a demo online or email us at [email protected] to get started.