The future of facial rejuvenation is electric—literally. With innovation moving at lightning speed, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) is eager to talk about how energy-based devices (EBDs) are expanding what’s possible with non-surgical treatments.
“Energy-based devices are helping transform what’s possible in facial plastic surgery,” says AAFPRS President Anthony E. Brissett, MD, a facial plastic surgeon based in Houston, Texas. “2025 is all about personalization, precision and combining technologies to achieve results patients truly notice.”
According to the AAFPRS, an increasing number of facial plastic surgeons are pairing EBDs with injectables and surgery to achieve results that look natural, last longer and require less downtime (a trifecta that’s long been at the top of patients’ wish lists). Ahead, the association shares the biggest energy-based device trends shaping facial aesthetics now and into 2026.
“Weekend Lifts” Are In
The demand for visible tightening and contouring—without surgery or downtime—is higher than ever. Enter the “weekend lift,” a new class of quick-recovery treatments combining noninvasive ultrasound, fractional resurfacing and energy-based therapies to firm skin and boost collagen.
For those with skin laxity after weight loss, teaming these treatments with injectables for volume—or minor surgical touch-ups when needed—can deliver especially natural-looking results.
Classic Lasers Are Getting a Modern Upgrade
Even tried-and-true lasers are getting smarter. Doctors are now pairing CO₂ resurfacing with radiofrequency microneedling to reach deeper layers of skin. According to the AAFPRS, this combination “penetrates deep into the dermis to stimulate collagen and elastin beyond the surface.” The result means smoother texture, firmer skin and a quicker recovery.
There Are Smart Options for Sensitive Skin
Not every treatment has to be intense to work. For easily irritated skin, fractional Erbium and Erbium-RF resurfacing offer a softer approach. “These treatments remove thin layers of skin while sparing surrounding tissue, stimulating collagen and elastin deep in the dermis,” the AAFPRS reports. “The result: improved tone, texture, and firmness with faster healing, less redness, and minimal downtime.”
