Five Trends We Saw in Clinic This Summer

With another summer season behind us, we took a closer look at what patients were actually booking in our clinics. Because while TikTok can make a treatment look like the next big thing overnight, the appointments filling clinic schedules can tell a very different story.

We compared clinic sales data, alongside observations from Vos Collection experts to provide insight into the trends we witnessed this summer.

What emerged was a summer shaped less by one breakout treatment than by several shifts in what patients are looking for, from the treatments bringing people through the door for the first time to the procedures they’re returning to for increasingly tailored results.

So, what actually made the cut? Here are the five aesthetic trends that defined summer 2026.

Why Is Skin Tightening the Treatment Everyone’s Suddenly Asking About?

Skin tightening had a breakout summer. The number of patients receiving skin-tightening treatments across the Vos Collection network rose double digits compared to 2025, and even more notably by new patients. Much of that growth was driven by Sofwave, a non-invasive ultrasound treatment designed to stimulate collagen and promote firmer, tighter-looking skin with minimal downtime.

Celebrities have thrust skin tightening into the spotlight; Kim and Khloé Kardashian singing Sofwave’s praises on social media. But its staying power comes down to results.

“There’s different machines out there, and everyone tells you, ‘This is the one. This does it all,’” says Oakville Skin’s Medical Director Dr. Sheetal Sapra. For him, Sofwave stands apart because “it goes right in that particular mid-dermis you need.”

And patients aren’t necessarily treating skin tightening as a one-and-done procedure. Increasingly, they’re building it into longer-term treatment plans.

“I’m seeing more patients committing to regular skin-tightening treatments such as Sofwave and Ulthera,” says Vancouver-based Dr. Shannon Humphrey of Humphrey & Beleznay Cosmetic Dermatology.

Lindsey Taylor, a nurse practitioner at Faces of South Tampa, sees the same pull: “Our patients are loving exploring treatments that stimulate collagen… such as Sofwave.”

Filler Finds New Patients in 2026

Filler is having another moment, but the way patients are using it is changing.

This summer, Vos Collection clinics saw an increase in new patients choosing filler. While traditional hyaluronic acid (HA) filler was broadly flat, the growth came from biostimulators and skin boosters, suggesting that people are looking beyond the classic approach to injectables and considering a wider range of tools to achieve their goals.

Dr. Jane Burk of aspireMD in St. Catharines, Ontario, has noticed “increased interest in skin boosters and bio regenerative infusions.”

That broader approach comes at a time when patients are more discerning about filler than ever. Dr. Tess Peters, a dual board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of Cosmedica, describes seeing patients with “some reservations about hyaluronic acid fillers but still very curious and open to injectables.” Rather than solely using less product, physicians are increasingly combining different treatments, products and injection techniques to create more balanced, natural-looking results.

The goal isn’t necessarily to do less; it’s to be more deliberate about what is being treated, where and how different approaches work together. As Dr. Vanessa Abdelhalim, Medical Director of Martin’s Rejuvenation Centre, observes: patients have embraced “more natural and less overfilled-looking” results.

Expert education may help close that gap, particularly as clinicians address misconceptions with their patients about how products behave when they are appropriately placed.

The Regenerative Aesthetics Era is Underway

Across Vos Collection clinics, biostimulators such as Sculptra and Radiesse saw double-digit growth this summer. Both can stimulate collagen production, while Radiesse can also provide immediate volume depending on how it is used. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), another treatment that harnesses the body’s own restorative processes, also saw double-digit growth.

The trend reflects a growing appetite for treatments that work directly with the body’s own cells and tissues.

“People are gravitating towards more biostimulators and regenerative treatments,” says Christine Nell, a nurse practitioner at Ava MD in Beverly Hills.

For some patients, that interest goes further still. “Everyone is into peptides,” says Dr. Shino Bay Aguilera, board-certified dermatologist at Shino Bay Dermatology in Fort Lauderdale. Michelle Ruffino, MS, PA-C at Impressions Face + Body in Chicago, agrees: “PDRN / peptides are really talked about a lot recently.”

Beyond Botox

Neuromodulators remained a top treatment category this summer, but Botox is no longer the only name in the conversation. While Botox remained the largest single brand across Vos Collection clinics, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau all gained more share. These three alternatives now account for more than half of the category share in clinics.

And because the right choice can depend on factors including the treatment area, the desired result and the individual patient, physicians can better tailor treatment more closely to each patient, supporting both the quality of the result and the safety of the care provided.

Watch Dr. Christopher Pavlou, founder of Skin Technique in Vancouver, break down the differences between neuromodulators on Instagram.

First-Time Patients Are No Longer Novices

First-time patients are arriving with bigger questions and broader expectations. This summer, filler, energy-based devices and regenerative treatments grew in share of first-time visits, while facials, peels and hair removal — often seen as the entryway to medical aesthetics — saw a smaller percentage of first-time visits.

Dr. Ben Barankin, board-certified Toronto dermatologist, reports seeing more patients use AI to research skin concerns before coming into the clinic. That growing interest in aesthetics is also showing up in the consultation room, where physicians are seeing patients take a broader view of their treatment options. As Founder of Day Dermatology & Aesthetics, New York, Dr. Doris Day observes: “More people [are] interested in combination treatments and a more complete assessment and plan.”

Dr. Ava Shamban, board-certified dermatologist at Ava MD in Santa Monica, puts it more simply: “People love stackables.”

For some, that broader view now extends to surgery. “Patients who have been doing nonsurgical procedures for over 20 years are now considering surgery,” says Dr. Donna Jubin, Medical Director of Bella Sante MD Cosmetic and Laser Clinic in Saskatoon.

The Takeaway: What Matters Even More

Knowing which treatment, combination or approach makes sense for you starts with an expert who can look beyond the trend and understand the bigger picture.

With a network of aesthetic professionals across North America, Vos Collection brings together physicians and practitioners with expertise across the full spectrum of medical aesthetics.

Find a clinic near you to start the conversation.