The lines between aesthetics, beauty, and wellness are blending, creating a more integrated approach to personal care. At WWD’s annual L.A. Beauty Forum, experts shared insights on how treatments now focus on both appearance and overall wellness.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Julius Few, acupuncturist and CEO of Mimoh Dr. Ellie Byun, and registered nurse Vanessa Lee discussed how the industry is moving toward personalized, research-backed solutions that honor each patient’s unique goals.
Choosing Treatments That Truly Work
New treatments appear almost every day, but not every innovation delivers real results. Dr. Few stressed the importance of evaluating each option carefully. “I’m open to look at any and everything, but with a skeptical eye. Good clinical research that is placebo-controlled for variables and considers alternative treatments is the bar we have to look at,” he said.
Effectiveness is only part of the equation. It is equally important to determine whether a patient truly needs the treatment. Vanessa Lee noted, “People are just tired of getting an automated standard answer,” while Dr. Byun added, “There’s nothing that’s one size fits all for everyone.” This approach shifts focus toward customized care based on individual lifestyles, wellness goals, and specific concerns.
How Personalized Care Works
Dr. Byun explained that understanding the patient’s overall health is the first step. “When a patient comes in, I ask, ‘How is your digestion? How is your sleep quality? How is your hormone balance?’ From that, I create a treatment plan and custom formulas that address their needs,” she said.
Lee highlighted facial balancing as an example of individualized care. She explained that this level of customization is rare because clinics often prioritize high patient volume. “It takes time to customize treatments deeply. In aesthetics and cosmetic dermatology, practitioners are usually pressured to see 25 to 40 patients a day. That doesn’t leave time for personalization,” she said.
Trends Shaping the Future
The beauty industry isn’t just about smoother skin or lifted features anymore—it’s about feeling good from the inside out. Dr. Byun spoke about new options like salmon DNA treatments that nourish skin while supporting wellness, and Dr. Few pointed to the rising use of GLP-1 therapies in combination with aesthetic care.
Still, the goal isn’t perfection—it’s preservation. “This is a room full of beautiful people,” Dr. Few said. “It would be a crime to make everybody look the same.”
Integrating Wellness Into Aesthetic Care
This holistic mindset is changing how patients think about their treatments. It includes:
- Wellness evaluations that explore hormones, digestion, and sleep quality.
- Customized protocols to reflect each patient’s physiology and lifestyle.
- Science-backed methods chosen for their proven results, not popularity.
- Meaningful consultation time that builds trust and understanding.
- This shift ensures results that extend beyond appearance—treatments now support long-term health, balance, and self-assurance. Beauty, in this context, is about authenticity, not perfection.
