Every month, we strive to bring you a balanced mix of breaking news (like the cosmetic procedures Martha Stewart does—and doesn’t—get) and advice you can always use, like the differences between MyEllevate and a neck lift. Invariably though, there’s an intriguing headline or viral post that doesn’t make its own stand-alone story yet is still worthy of a share.
Which brings us here, to the latest installment of This Month in Aesthetics, an ICYMI recap of industry-molding moments that we’d be remiss not to acknowledge—from an Oscar-nominated actress’s last words for her plastic surgeon and the new, worrisome trend among young men on TikTok.
Miria, a “next-generation” laser, launches with FDA clearance
A new laser system is taking aim at solving one of the biggest problems with energy devices: safety and efficacy across all skin tones. Called Miria, the novel technology delivers light into precise skin layers (providers can select superficial, medium, and deep treatments) in a cone shape, which allows the energy to be pinpointed to the desired area and bypass top layers of skin—preventing overheating that often leads to burns and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. The device also uses a “zoom lens” of 10x magnification, which allows providers to see exact concerns that can be missed with the naked eye, and an AI system that learns about each patient’s skin and adjusts treatments as it goes.
Miria treats a breadth of concerns ranging from sun damage and texture to acne scarring, deep wrinkles, and volume loss. “Miria’s technology is different in that it’s very versatile based on how it’s been built,” says Dr. Marina Peredo, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and an early adopter of the technology. “Miria can treat multiple issues in one session and with one device. Because it has the ability to go to greater depths, it can treat higher volumes of tissue in a single treatment. Anyone suffering from sun damage, rosacea, and other mild conditions up to more serious concerns including acne scarring, volume loss, and deep wrinkles is a candidate for Miria.”
Sharon Shone says she’s glad her former plastic surgeon is dead
After doctors found benign but large tumors in both of the actress’s breasts in 2001, she had them removed—and then decided to undergo reconstructive surgery. When she awoke from the surgery, she learned that her plastic surgeon had decided to give her larger breasts than they’d agreed on. “We decided that it would fit better,” he told her. “I was standing there deciding if my fist would look good in his teeth,” Stone said in an interview. “I had rage for him. I’m glad he’s dead.”
Beyoncé shares how her psoriasis inspired her new hair-care line
By now, you might have heard that Beyoncé is launching a hair-care line called Cécred (pronounced “sacred”), which includes eight products. Part of her reason for focusing on her hair is her experience with scalp psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that can lead to raised plaques. “From spending my childhood in my mother’s salon to my father applying oil on my scalp to treat my psoriasis—these moments have been sacred to me,” she says in an Essence interview.
For that reason, the product lineup includes a Nourishing Hair Oil. “It’s all about moisture for me—adding oil to my scalp and covering my hair at night so the oils could penetrate,” she says. “It brings back such great memories of my rituals as a child to maintain a healthy scalp.”
Stassi Schroeder reveals results of Barbietox injections
The Vanderpump Rules alum shared before and after photos of her Barbietox (also known as “traptox“) injections, in which neurotoxins are injected into the trapezius muscle between the neck and the shoulder to slim the neckline. “Okay I will never not get barbietox. Y’all, google it, you’re welcome,” she wrote, shouting out her Beverly Hills doctor, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jimmy Firouz.
Breast implant manufacturer Sientra files for bankruptcy
Sientra, which is one of four FDA-approved breast-implant makers in the U.S. (along with Allergan, Ideal Implant, and Mentor), is known for its robust implant warranty—considered the best in the business—and silicone gel implants. However, the company just filed for bankruptcy protection this month and is now looking for a buyer. It does have $22.5 million in financing to continue operations during the sale process, however.
The “looksmaxxing” trend is driving extreme plastic surgery among men
The trend of “looksmaxxing”—ostensibly, a portmanteau of “looks” and “maximizing”—among young men on social media is leading to growing rates of extreme plastic surgery. (According to one study, most cosmetic procedures have increased among men in the past 20 years, with jawline filler, botulinum toxin, and lip filler showing the biggest gains.) There are more than 180,000 posts with the hashtag #looksmaxxing on TikTok, which has also led to “hardmaxxing,” a more intensive version that entails using plastic surgery to reshape the face.
Looksmaxxing is rooted in the incel (short for “involuntarily celibate”) movement, which places the blame for men’s celibacy squarely on women. “I was deemed an outcast, and it triggered something in me,” says looksmaxxing influencer Kareem Shami in an interview, later adding that he rejects the ties to the incel community.
Tameka Foster opens up about her liposuction scare
Surgical procedures always come with some level of risk, but for Usher’s ex-wife and fashion stylist, Tameka Foster, the complication arose before she underwent the knife. “I went in an attempt to have liposuction, and I went into a cardiac arrest with the anesthesiologist,” says Foster, who had traveled to Brazil for the procedure in 2009, in an interview. “The doctor never even entered the room.” Afterward, she was placed in a medically induced coma and recovered at a larger hospital nearby—and she hasn’t attempted to get lipo since.
Alexia Nepola shares the complications of her thread lifts
The Real Housewives of Miami cast member is no stranger to cosmetic surgery, having revealed that she replaced her breast implants back in 2022. On the most recent reunion episode, however, viewers called out a bruise on her cheek. “You looked beautiful tonight but what was that huge bruise on your left jaw from,” said one Instagram commenter. In her reply, Nepola explained that it was a complication of a recent thread lift: “I tried doing collagen stimulation threads (tiny ones) in the jowl area and she got a little vein. It caused swelling and bruising right away. It was really horrible. That’s with makeup and everything.”
