It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when we stopped—for the most part—treating beauty treatments like plastic surgery like a scarlet letter and adopted a more accepting stance. What was once seen as such a taboo (to the point that celebrities would rather lie and claim drinking olive oil daily or using a $600 cream as the sole reason for their skin looking 15 years younger) has gradually become something many are openly admitting to getting. People craved authenticity and honesty when it came to skin surgery procedures, and this year, that’s exactly what they got: 2025 was the year of plastic surgery transparency.
And the numbers back it up. According to Jenny Zeng, a beauty analyst at Spate, interest in facelifts has not only skyrocketed, but so has interest in non-surgical treatments and at-home solutions. Content around facelifts and facial symmetry, for example, has over 153k views on TikTok. Spate’s data also shows that other procedures have been increasing in popularity year-over-year (YoY): upper blepharoplasty has a little over 651k increase YoY, lower bleph has about 513k increase YoY, and septoplasty has about a 898k increase YoY. Compared to the declining interest in Botox and filler (Botox is down 3.3 YoY while facial filler services are down 13.1 YoY), plastic surgery dominated skin conversations in 2025.
“Aesthetics, in a way, feels less shame-based and more about agency,” says Catherine Chang, MD, FACS, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon and founder of Prive Beverly Hills and NAKEDBEAUTY MD. “Plastic surgery is increasingly viewed as a tool alongside skincare, wellness, and therapy to help people feel more aligned with how they see themselves.”
An upper bleph before and after IG photodump. A 20-part TikTok series documenting the journey abroad to get a facelift. Live vlogging minutes after the anesthesia has worn off in the recovery room. Dr. Chang says social media has played a huge role in allowing people to see all the possibilities with plastic surgery. “When people see their friends, public figures, or influencers openly share their journeys, it helps normalize the idea that having work done doesn’t have to be taboo or drastic and can still look very natural.” Case in point: Kris Jenner called her recent procedure “aging, my way.”
Lesley Rabach, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and cofounder of LM Medical NYC, agrees and says this type of openness on social media dates back to post-COVID lockdown, when people posted more of their lives online, especially when it comes to their skincare routine; she says there was less gatekeeping about what treatments they were getting done and that’s something that’s continued now. “We re really in a world now where people are just living their lives and the stigma of cosmetic surgery has lessened,” she says.
This type of oversharing can also provide important learning lessons. Douglas M. Monasebian, MD, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon at Park Avenue Plastic Surgery and a diplomat for the American Board of Plastic Surgery, says that people are posting the failures of surgery just as much as the successes, which he thinks is important for the public to see. Dr. Rabach adds that social media, AI, and ChatGPT provide a lot more information, and patients are more well-informed than ever before.
Celebrities Getting Real
Though many have debated the impending burst of the influencer bubble, experts say that celebrities and public figures still have influence in consumer decisions. Similar to how Hailey Bieber convinced the masses to have a Pucci summer, we may also be more open to aesthetic treatments if celebs were honest about how they keep their skin looking fresh and smooth. “It helps to alleviate the unrealistic standards, which can cause self-confidence issues in young women,” says Dr. Chang. “When public figures admit to having work done and acknowledge how aging gracefully can include professional help and plastic surgery, it does break the illusion; it helps make plastic surgery feel more human and more accessible.”
“This removes any stigma attached [to plastic surgery],” adds Dr. Monasebian. “People who are influenced by the actions of celebrities or movie stars feel, ‘if it’s all right for them to admit having it done, then it’s certainly all right for me to have it done.’”
This year alone, Simone Biles shared in an exclusive interview with People how she had no shame in getting a breast augmentation and sharing it on social media. “Seeing me win medals at the Olympics, that s not relatable,” Biles told People. “But what is relatable is how we feel about ourselves, what we talk about, what we go through, and how we share openly, honestly. And so that s why I decided to share it.”
Kris Jenner also famously shared the incredible results of her treatment with sought-after plastic surgeon Steven Levine, MD, on her Instagram. Page Six was the first to report on Jenner’s transformation, where reps confirmed exclusively with the mag that Dr. Levine is responsible for Jenner’s recent work. (They did not, however, confirm what exact procedures were done). Kylie Jenner also revealed her breast augmentation size and shape through a TikTok comment.
Of course, not every celebrity is as forthcoming as others. Some are still “gatekeeping” the truth, says Dr. Rabach. But the few that are outspoken do make a difference in swaying public opinion. “When celebrities show really natural, elegant transformations, it does show the general population that you can still look like yourself,” she explains. “My patients really want to look like themselves. The main fear in having plastic surgery is that they will look altered instead of rejuvenated.”
Top Plastic Surgeries Done in 2025
Dr. Monasebian says the two most common procedures this year are facial rejuvenation and breast augmentation. With facial rejuvenation, he says a lot of surgery is accompanied by non-surgical modalities such as radiofrequency and laser energy treatments to resurface and tighten the skin. While breast augmentation has always been popular, he sees patients seeking smaller sizes and volumes. “They no longer want very large breasts,” he says. “They want a very natural look, and today’s implants feel very natural.”
Dr. Chang adds that eyelid surgeries, such as upper and lower eyelid lift,s were other popular treatments that many requested. She also agrees that facial rejuvenation procedures, such as brow lifts, fat grafting, lip lifts, and CO2 lasers, gained popularity and are often paired with surgeries to better benefit the skin. “Together, all of these procedures complement each other and help restore a more youthful proportion,” she says. “[They] ultimately restore the face back to how they know they used to look, rather than changing somebody s core features.”
The Future of Plastic Surgery
All experts agree that interest in plastic surgery is only going to grow in 2026. Dr. Rabach points to deep plane face and deep structural neck lifts as two of the leading procedures that many will opt for, especially since the techniques for both are more advanced, safer for patients, and include other benefits such as rejuvenation of the skin. She also thinks that brow and eyelid restoration will be trending next year.
Dr. Chang adds that we will see “quiet luxury” procedures in aesthetics, where it’s all looking “elevated, natural, and not overly done.” (Think subtle contouring procedures like minor jaw, chin, and nose refinements, she says). She also agrees that rejuvenation will be a main focus in surgical treatments, with many looking to surgery earlier as opposed to doing filler and injectables.
And the era of plastic surgery transparency also won’t be ending anytime soon. Experts predict people will continue to be more open about the work they’ve got done—if they’re comfortable sharing.
“It s about owning your choices and definitely having agency in these decisions,” says Dr. Chang. “A lot of plastic surgery is tied to a very large emotional component, so I think people will continue to share how positively it s made them feel by increasing their confidence, ease, and overall feeling like themselves again. That s something I frequently hear with my patients, where they feel like they finally look how they feel on the inside.”
“There is a certain percentage of people that will continue to keep this private for a variety of reasons, [but] I think that the trend of judgment is lessening,” adds Dr. Rabach. “Plastic surgery is not for everybody. But for those who feel better having had plastic surgery, why judge?”
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