With ever-evolving aesthetic ideals, plus advances in technology and technique, plastic-surgery trends change from year to year. One thing currently having a big impact: the dramatic rise of weight-loss injectables such as Ozempic. Here are five local trends in plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures.
1. More Body Contouring
For years, plastic surgeons have worked on patients who want work done after significant weight loss, but with the exploding use of semaglutides such as Ozempic and similar weight-loss injectables known as GLP-1 drugs, the number of people experiencing major weight loss is on the rise. (A 2024 survey found that more than 15 million Americans—more than one in 17 adults—use the drugs.) “We’re doing surgery on [weight-loss patients] at much higher rates than before,” says Dr. George Bitar of the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute.
In cases of extreme weight loss, says Dr. Douglas Forman of the Plastic Surgery Institute of Washington, people may lose 100 pounds but not look anything like what they imagined. “I get them through that window to what they envision,” he says, by “getting rid of all the extra skin.” But when someone loses more than even 20 pounds, Bitar explains, things can begin to sag, “with laxity not only of their abdomen but their breasts, their face, their arm.” Adds Dr. Troy Pittman of Somenek + Pittman MD: “If it can sag, it needs to be lifted.”
Body contouring—which includes lifts, liposuction, and tummy tucks—is in high demand right now, addressing not just the effects of weight loss but also areas that don’t respond. “A lot of people that hit their goal weight will still have that stubborn area of fat that refuses to leave,” says Dr. Navin Singh of Washingtonian Plastic Surgery.
2. Evolving Facelift Techniques
The explosion of Zoom calls—and people staring at their own faces—prompted more interest in facelifts after Covid hit. Another factor: the rising popularity of nontraditional lift techniques.
One such option, known as a deep plane facelift, involves adjusting underlying tissues, as opposed to just the skin. It’s technically a more aggressive procedure, says Bitar, but there’s less swelling, less bruising, and a faster healing time. “Mini” facelifts are also on the rise, Forman says, particularly among younger people looking for an effective but subtle result: “If you’re, let’s say, 45 years old and doing a lot of selfies and saying, ‘It’s my jowls—I just pinch the skin in front of my ears and pull it up and it looks great,’ that’s a mini facelift they need.”
Singh reports that his practice has also seen an increase in upper-eyelid surgery—a procedure that Forman says can take five to ten years off your appearance. Also on the rise, Forman notes, are endoscopic brow-lift procedures that provide a longer-lasting alternative to Botox “brow lifts.”
3. A Rise in Surgery Among People in Their Forties
Several doctors we spoke with reported that the average age of their patients has declined—with an increasing number in their forties.
“Twenty years ago, my average facelift patient was 75,” Bitar says. “Ten years ago, my average facelift patient was 57. Now my average patient is 45.” With improved techniques resulting in a natural appearance that lasts longer, he says people don’t feel compelled to wait as long to get work done.
It’s also no longer just normal aging that prompts people to seek facial rejuvenation—fixing loose skin that can occur after Ozempic-induced weight loss, Pittman says, has lowered the average age. And, Forman says, it has spurred growth in another demographic: men.
4. Growth in Collagen-Stimulating Procedures
People are steering away from procedures that create overfilled, overplumped results and gravitating instead to treatments that promise natural-looking youthfulness—refreshed, but without looking like they’ve had work done. Pittman has seen a drop in patients seeking traditional fillers as more people turn to collagen stimulation.
Radio-frequency microneedling, ultrasound therapy, and laser resurfacing—plus platelet-derived growth-factor and other injectables like Sculptra—are all used to stimulate collagen production while helping reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and tone, and give skin a healthier appearance. “It’s much more natural—that kind of ‘did she or didn’t she?’ ” says Pittman.
Another popular use of the procedures? As a noninvasive way to achieve a facelift-like effect, says Singh. These treatments are best, though, he adds, for patients with only a minimal amount of “droopiness.”
5. An Increase in Double Procedures
More and more, according to doctors we spoke with, people want to combine surgeries. These patients, Pittman explains, say, “ ‘I really want to have my tummy tuck and facelift at the same time,’ or ‘I want to have my breasts done at the same time as my face.’ ” Often, these are weight-loss patients who want to address excess skin or sagging in more than one area, but they’re not limited to that.
Five to ten years ago, the big combination procedure was the “mommy makeover,” a breast lift or augmentation and tummy tuck, but lately, according to Dr. Anita Kulkarni of the DC Plastic Surgery Boutique, more breast-lift and tummy-tuck requests are coming from weight-loss patients. Another popular request: a “menopause makeover.”
“In the last year, I’ve seen more women in the 50-to-70 range looking for breast and body surgery as their bodies change through menopause,” says Kulkarni. The menopause makeover she sees typically includes a breast lift, reduction, or augmentation; a tummy tuck and liposuction (she says perimenopause shifts fat to areas that tend to respond well to liposuction); and sometimes labiaplasty; but they can also include facial rejuvenation.
She says many of these patients had mommy makeovers in their thirties or forties, and now they want to downsize or remove their implants or redo a breast lift, or in some cases, they want a reduction: “This generation of perimenopausal and menopausal women is more body-conscious in terms of exercise and nutrition, so they are wanting their bodies to continue reflecting the hard work they put into staying healthy and fit.”
Top Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeons
These doctors, some of whom specialize in cosmetic surgery to enhance appearance, can also restore tissue damaged by injury, birth defects, or other causes. They were voted onto Washingtonian’s most recent list of Top Doctors, published in the November 2024 issue. We’ve included any special interests provided by the physicians.
Ali Al-Attar
4660 Kenmore Ave., Alexandria; 703-888-2034. Also McLean, Reston, Rockville.
Frank P. Albino
5550 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase; 301-652-7700. Also Vienna.
Christopher E. Attinger
3800 Reservoir Rd., NW; 202-444-8752. Special interest in wound care, limb salvage.
Stephen B. Baker
3800 Reservoir Rd., NW; 202-444-7073. Also McLean, Falls Church. Special interest in facial plastic surgery, chin and neck surgery, rhinoplasty.
George John Bitar
3023 Hamaker Ct., Fairfax; 703-206-0506. Special interest in face and neck lift, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation.
Michael Boyajian
111 Michigan Ave., NW; 888-884-2327. Also Rockville, Frederick.
C. Coleman Brown
5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-215-5955. Also Tysons. Special interest in cosmetic surgery of the face, nose, breast, and body; fat grafting to breast, buttocks, and face.
Susan Buenaventura
5425 Duke St., Alexandria; 703-751-0800. Special interest in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and tummy; liposuction; breast-cancer reconstruction.
Jonathan Cabin
2440 M St., NW; 202-937-3836.
Mary Ella Carter
5215 Loughboro Rd., NW; 202-363-6844. Special interest in facelift; eyelid surgery; facial fillers and Botox.
Houtan Chaboki
2311 M St., NW; 202-800-2085.
Jerry Chao
2300 M St., NW; 202-741-3240.
Kasandra Dassoulas
10810 Connecticut Ave., Kensington; 301-929-7100.
Steven P. Davison
3050 K St., NW; 202-966-9590. Special interest in breast surgery, facelift, rhinoplasty.
Shaun Chandra Desai
6420 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda; 301-896-3332. Also Columbia, Baltimore, Lutherville.
Gregory O. Dick
9711 Medical Center Dr., Rockville; 301-251-2600. Special interest in cosmetic surgery of the face, breast, and abdomen; laser skin care; breast reconstruction.
Mark Domanski
8316 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; 703-596-1660. Special interest in facelift, neck lift, mommy makeover.
Craig R. Dufresne
8501 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; 703-207-3065. Also Chevy Chase. Special interest in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the face; neck lift.
James M. Economides
1635 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington; 703-841-0399.
Karen Kim Evans
3800 Reservoir Rd., NW; 202-444-9686. Special interest in limb salvage, abdominal-wall reconstruction, wound healing.
Jules Alexander Feledy Jr.
5530 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-654-5666. Also Stafford. Special interest in abdominoplasty.
Douglas L. Forman
11210 Old Georgetown Rd., North Bethesda; 301-881-7770. Special interest in facial rejuvenation, body contouring, male plastic surgery.
Irfan I. Galaria
24805 Pinebrook Rd., Chantilly; 703-327-3173. Special interest in skin cancer, skin lesions, breast reconstruction.
Wendy R. Gottlieb
1800 Town Center Dr., Reston; 703-668-9499. Special interest in breast reconstruction, breast and body aesthetic surgery, facial cosmetic surgery.
Catherine Mary Hannan
2440 M St., NW; 202-844-6464. Special interest in breast surgery, body contouring.
Steven Blair Hopping
2311 M St., NW; 202-785-3175. Special interest in face, eye, and neck rejuvenation; rhinoplasty; laser liposuction.
Kathy Huang
11210 Old Georgetown Rd., North Bethesda; 301-881-7770. Special interest in breast surgery, body contouring, labiaplasty.
Philip Iorianni
10810 Connecticut Ave., Kensington; 301-929-7100.
A. Dean Jabs
6430 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda; 301-327-0404. Special interest in facelift, breast augmentation.
Neelesh Kantak
1221 Mercantile Ln., Largo; 800-777-7904.
Arjun P. Kanuri
5550 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase; 301-652-7700. Also Vienna.
Anita R. Kulkarni
2440 M St., NW; 202-335-4700. Special interest in mommy makeover.
Sheilah A. Lynch
5530 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-652-5933. Also Easton. Special interest in face and neck rejuvenation, body contouring, breast surgery.
Keshav T. Magge
6430 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda; 301-327-0404.
Eric Maiorino
5530 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-654-5666. Also Stafford.
Vineet Mehan
2755 Hartland Rd., Falls Church; 703-544-8971. Special interest in hand surgery, sternal reconstruction, limb salvage.
Alex N. Mesbahi
7601 Lewinsville Rd., McLean; 703-287-8277. Also Northwest DC.
Joseph Michaels
6120 Executive Blvd., Rockville; 301-468-5991. Also Fairfax. Special interest in after-weight-loss plastic surgery, cosmetic breast surgery, mommy makeover.
Talal A. Munasifi
1635 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington; 703-841-0399.
Shervin Naderi
5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-222-2020. Also Reston.
Maurice Nahabedian
7601 Lewinsville Rd., McLean; 703-287-8277. Special interest in breast augmentation, reduction, and reconstruction.
Jason C. Nellis
5215 Loughboro Rd., NW; 202-919-2502.
Marilyn Quynh Nguyen
1851 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington; 703-717-4296.
Albert K. Oh
3023 Hamaker Ct., Fairfax; 703-280-3850. Also Northwest DC. Special interest in pediatric plastic surgery, cleft/craniofacial surgery.
Michael J. Olding
2300 M St., NW; 202-741-3241. Special interest in cosmetic surgery.
Lauren M. Patrick
2440 M St., NW; 202-844-6464. Special interest in breast reduction, tummy tuck, breast augmentation.
Paulo Piccolo
7601 Lewinsville Rd., McLean; 703-287-8277.
Ximena Pinell
3050 K St., NW; 202-966-9590.
Troy A. Pittman
2440 M St., NW; 202-793-8281. Special interest in breast augmentation, complex revision cosmetic breast surgery, breast reduction.
Jennifer Parker Porter
7201 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda; 301-202-1271.
Praful M. Ramineni
2440 M St., NW; 202-742-3999. Special interest in reconstructive and transgender surgery.
Bharat Ranganath
2300 M St., NW; 202-741-3240.
Samir S. Rao
5550 Friendship Blvd., Chevy Chase; 301-652-7700. Also Vienna.
Franklin D. Richards
6430 Rockledge Dr., Bethesda; 301-327-0404. Special interest in cosmetic surgery of the face, eyelids, breast, body, and abdomen.
Gary Rogers
111 Michigan Ave., NW; 888-884-2327. Also Lanham and Rockville. Special interest in burns, craniofacial malformations, congenital and traumatic hand surgery.
Philip Schoenfeld
5454 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase; 301-652-7368. Special interest in rhinoplasty, dermal fillers, facelift.
Navin Singh
7601 Lewinsville Rd., McLean; 703-345-4377. Also Reston. Special interest in mommy make-over, facelift, laser liposuction.
Michael T. Somenek
2440 M St., NW; 202-793-8281. Special interest in rhinoplasty, facelift.
David Song
3800 Reservoir Rd., NW; 202-444-8751.
Ping Song
1851 N. George Mason Dr., Arlington; 703-717-4296.
Yongsook Victoria Suh
8503 Arlington Blvd., Fairfax; 703-293-5010. Special interest in facelift, eyelid surgery, body contouring.
Laura K. Tom
106 Irving St., NW; 202-877-3300. Special interest in cancer and trauma reconstruction, lymphedema.
Mark L. Venturi
7601 Lewinsville Rd., McLean; 703-287-8277. Special interest in cosmetic surgery of the face and body.
Sean Wallace
2300 M St., NW; 202-741-3240.
Lydia Williams
8008 Westpark Dr., McLean; 800-777-7904.
Khalique S. Zahir
3301 Woodburn Rd., Annandale; 703-208-0783. Also Ashburn.
This article appears in the April 2025 issue of Washingtonian.
Amy leads Washingtonian Weddings and writes Style Setters for Washingtonian. Prior to joining Washingtonian in March 2016, she was the editor of Capitol File magazine in DC and before that, editor of What’s Up? Weddings in Annapolis.
