We all know beauty is a balancing act, and thanks to NewBeauty’s The State of Aesthetics Summer 2025 report, powered by the BeautyEngine platform, we have the inside scoop on what that means for patients. It’s a new open-book era of aesthetics, where celebrities are more likely than ever to divulge their favorite treatments and procedures. Combine that with the surge in GLP-1 weight loss patients entering the beauty market for facial rejuvenation and you have a whole new approach to aesthetics. As the buzzword of this era, “facial balancing” is getting a lot of attention as more holistic, natural-looking goals become the norm. And patients are on board.
Featured Experts
- Anna Chacon, MD is a board-certified dermatologist practicing national telehealth.
- Tina Alster, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington, DC
- Janine Hopkins, MD is a board-certified dermatologist with practices in Monroe, LA and Southlake, TX
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
What is Facial Balancing?
“Facial balancing is definitely the new buzzword, and it’s resonating with both first-time and experienced injectable patients,” says national telehealth dermatologist Anna Chacon, MD. “The idea of enhancing overall facial harmony—rather than isolating a single feature—makes aesthetic treatments feel more customized, strategic and natural.”
In short, it’s about approaching rejuvenation from a holistic angle, taking the impact on the whole face into account before choosing a treatment.
“Rather than treating isolated areas like nasolabial folds or marionette lines—which are often where patients initially point—I focus on educating patients about the root causes of aging,” explains Southlake, TX dermatologist Janine Hopkins, MD. “Volume loss in the upper and mid-face leads to downward shadows and imbalance. Restoring structure and harmony in these areas with bio-stimulants like Radiesse and Sculptra yields longer-lasting, more natural-looking results than traditional filler alone.”
More Than a Trend
For patients, “facial balancing” is clearly a major priority, with 70 percent of respondents indicating they were likely to pursue treatments described this way. According to Washington, DC dermatologist Tina Alster, MD, this data falls in line with her experience. “In addition to the importance of sun protection, restoring facial symmetry (or balancing) and maintaining a natural appearance are the most common topics of discussion I have with patients,” she reports.
And experts see “facial balancing” as much more than a trend—it’s a confirmation of a fairly ancient view of aesthetics. The golden ratio first appeared back in writings of Euclid back in 300 B.C.E., so for it to appear as a modern trend has been a long time in the works.
“For experts in the field of cosmetic dermatology, it has been our cornerstone for helping our patient achieve natural appearing results with excellent outcomes for years,” notes Dr. Hopkins. “As a pioneer in advanced facial injections, I’ve always approached aesthetic treatments with an emphasis on symmetry, proportion and natural balance guided by the golden ratio (Phi). Over the decades, scientific research has identified that changes in bony structure and depletion of fat pads leads to visible signs of facial aging. Understanding this has led to techniques that many of my colleagues and I employ to give our patients facial balance and symmetry.”
The Reaction to Filler Fatigue
According to Drs. Hopkins, the result of “facial balancing” has always been the goal of experts using fillers and injectables. It’s just the latest term for a natural-looking result—and the rise of it as a buzzword has more to do with society’s distrust of fillers in recent years.
“This term is also a strategy to combat filler fatigue and the distrust of fillers,” explains Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD. “While we could jump on the bandwagon of renaming fillers as something else to make people feel more comfortable about them (e.g., ‘facial balancing’ or ‘hyaluronic acid gels’), the real truth is that fillers are like driving a sports car: some well-trained individuals are capable of getting a great result, while others misuse the same product and achieve a terrible result.”
And the rise of the term “facial balancing” does make it clear that patients know what it takes to get great results, and they’re doubling down on their aesthetic education and expert recommendations to get there.
“Patients are more open to treatment when it’s framed this way because it’s about enhancing their natural features, not changing them.” notes Dr. Chacon. “Overall, this trend points to a savvier, more intentional consumer—someone who values both the science and artistry behind aesthetics.”
