Similar to trends in fashion, trends in aesthetics change as well. A few years ago, the over-plumped and frozen look was in, but that aesthetic is no longer popular. What’s trending now are subtle, almost imperceptible procedures that deliver natural-looking results with a “less is more” approach, which are referred to as “tweakments” or facial optimization.
What Are Tweakments?
Tweakments are non-invasive aesthetic procedures that help rejuvenate the skin, soften, fill, or temporarily paralyze facial muscles, improve the texture and tone of the skin, tighten sagging skin, tighten muscles, and even remove fat. Tweakments are not cosmetic surgery and the results are oftentimes either temporary or accumulative. But in some cases, the results can be permanent. Tweakments can be injectables, chemical peels, and energy-based devices including lasers.
The goal with tweakments is to look rested and refreshed, not totally different. Additionally, tweakments are used for prejuvenation, a paradigm shift in how aesthetic practitioners look at addressing aging skin. In the past, aesthetic practices mainly focused on reactive skin rejuvenation where the signs of aging like sagging skin, pigmentation changes, and loss of volume were treated after these concerns already happened. Prejuventation presents an opposite approach to ‘preventing the loss of youth’ by being proactive early on to lower the chances of needing rejuvenation or more invasive procedures later in life.
In 2019, journalist Alice Hart-Davis published The Tweakments Guide: Fresher Face which helped pave the way to dispel some of the old misconceptions and preconceived notions about having work done on one’s face or body. Now tweakments are generally perceived as another form of self-care and normalized across multiple demographics. Social media and the “Zoom Boom,” which was a result of the world shutting down with the pandemic, have only propelled the normalization of getting small enhancements to the face and body.
It’s a big business too. The North American non-invasive aesthetic treatment market size alone is expected to reach slightly over $46 billion by 2028, which means the tweakment trend isn’t going anywhere.
The goal with tweakments is to look rested and refreshed, not totally different. Additionally, tweakments are used for prejuvenation, a paradigm shift in how aesthetic practitioners look at addressing aging skin. In the past, aesthetic practices mainly focused on reactive skin rejuvenation where the signs of aging like sagging skin, pigmentation changes, and loss of volume were treated after these concerns already happened. Prejuventation presents an opposite approach to ‘preventing the loss of youth’ by being proactive early on to lower the chances of needing rejuvenation or more invasive procedures later in life.
In 2019, journalist Alice Hart-Davis published The Tweakments Guide: Fresher Face which helped pave the way to dispel some of the old misconceptions and preconceived notions about having work done on one’s face or body. Now tweakments are generally perceived as another form of self-care and normalized across multiple demographics. Social media and the “Zoom Boom,” which was a result of the world shutting down with the pandemic, have only propelled the normalization of getting small enhancements to the face and body.
It’s a big business too. The North American non-invasive aesthetic treatment market size alone is expected to reach slightly over $46 billion by 2028, which means the tweakment trend isn’t going anywhere.
What Is Facial Optimization?
Facial optimization is correcting the contours of the face with non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic treatments to deliver natural-looking symmetry of the facial features. Treatments could involve addressing skin laxity and volume loss to create a more balanced, lifted, and youthful appearance. Facial optimization can be achieved with a variety of treatments that are considered “tweakments”.
What Are Some Of The Most In-Demand Treatments Considered To Be Tweakments?
So, what treatments are considered tweakments? There are a lot. But, below are some of the most requested treatments that help people look rejuvenated.
- Tear Through Augmentation: The depletion of under-eye fat pads can present as an aesthetic concern in the 20s and up and leave peoples’ eyes looking sunken in with dark circles and perpetually tired. At one point in time, the only way to address this concern was with surgery. Now, the go-to choice to fix this common concern is to fill the area under the eyes with a dermal filler, typically hyaluronic acid. Typically, it only takes one syringe to fill the skin in. Results typically last six months and can be sustained with maintenance treatments.
- Botox: This highly effective neurotoxin temporarily paralyzes the muscles in the treatment area. While the frozen look was once the goal, injectors are now using Botox to soften lines rather than totally erasing them. Make sure you let your know injector know that you would like the natural look. Results typically last between four-six months.
- EON: EON offers the first touchless, non-invasive treatment with robotic technology for body contouring. One treatment shows a 25% reduction in fat cells (the company suggests two sessions). Currently, the device can only be used for the abdominal region and flanks. The reduction of fat is due in part to the company’s proprietary jet cooling system that keeps the skin cool, while the heat from the laser melts the fat underneath the skin. The results are considered to be permanent, but lifestyle choices like diet and exercise will play heavily in how long the results last.
- Fraxel: Fraxel is one of the most popular non-invasive treatments to address texture, tone, pore size, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. The treatment utilizes two different wavelengths of light that deliver microscopic columns deep into the skin while leaving the surrounding tissue intact. Fraxel resurfaces the skin by stimulating the growth of new skin cells and remodeling collagen. Results are accumulative and can be maintained with follow-up treatments.
Takeaway
Now that the over-plumped and frozen look is out and a well-rested, natural-looking aesthetic is in—tweakments offer a viable solution to address a variety of aesthetic concerns. Just be mindful that tweakments can be a slippery slope. Make sure to find a skincare specialist who will work with you to achieve your skin and body goals who won’t let you go overboard.
