Dec. 16, 2025
Beauty and the Beasts Podcast Episode 4 | Trends in Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Medicine
In this episode of Beauty and the Beasts, plastic surgeons Dr. Sam Jejurikar (Dallas) and Dr. Sal Pacella (La Jolla/San Diego) break down the biggest trends shaping modern plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery. From younger patients seeking early facelifts, to the rapid rise of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, to the explosive growth of AI in clinical practice, this conversation explores how aesthetic medicine is evolving in real time.
The episode begins with a deep dive into the surge of facelifts and facial rejuvenation in younger patients. The doctors discuss why patients in their 40s—and sometimes even younger—are now choosing surgical procedures historically reserved for older age groups. They compare facelift outcomes, the role of skin elasticity, and when less invasive treatments such as liposuction or microlipo to the jawline may be more appropriate than surgery.
A major portion of the episode focuses on GLP-1 medications and their profound effect on plastic surgery planning. With more than half of cosmetic patients now using Ozempic-class drugs, Dr. Jejurikar and Dr. Pacella explore how rapid weight loss affects tummy tuck results, fat transfer longevity, skin laxity, and the emerging challenge of sarcopenia in aesthetic patients. They discuss timing fat grafting, managing weight stabilization before surgery, and how GLP-1 use influences BBL and body contouring outcomes.
The surgeons also examine the trend toward natural breast aesthetics and how social media influences implant choice. With patients requesting specific implant brands promoted by celebrities and influencers, they discuss the push toward breast preservation, subtle enhancement, and realistic breast augmentation goals.
Finally, the episode explores the accelerating role of AI in plastic surgery. From drafting insurance letters and analyzing medications to AI scribes, imaging tools, facial analysis, and upcoming automated scheduling systems, they discuss how artificial intelligence improves efficiency—but also how it will shape surgical care in the future. They compare AI’s role in diagnosing imaging, analyze its limitations, and debate whether AI will ever have a place in performing actual surgical procedures.
This wide-ranging conversation gives patients and professionals an inside look at the future of aesthetic surgery, covering trends that already influence daily practice and those that will transform the field in the next decade.
The episode begins with a deep dive into the surge of facelifts and facial rejuvenation in younger patients. The doctors discuss why patients in their 40s—and sometimes even younger—are now choosing surgical procedures historically reserved for older age groups. They compare facelift outcomes, the role of skin elasticity, and when less invasive treatments such as liposuction or microlipo to the jawline may be more appropriate than surgery.
A major portion of the episode focuses on GLP-1 medications and their profound effect on plastic surgery planning. With more than half of cosmetic patients now using Ozempic-class drugs, Dr. Jejurikar and Dr. Pacella explore how rapid weight loss affects tummy tuck results, fat transfer longevity, skin laxity, and the emerging challenge of sarcopenia in aesthetic patients. They discuss timing fat grafting, managing weight stabilization before surgery, and how GLP-1 use influences BBL and body contouring outcomes.
The surgeons also examine the trend toward natural breast aesthetics and how social media influences implant choice. With patients requesting specific implant brands promoted by celebrities and influencers, they discuss the push toward breast preservation, subtle enhancement, and realistic breast augmentation goals.
Finally, the episode explores the accelerating role of AI in plastic surgery. From drafting insurance letters and analyzing medications to AI scribes, imaging tools, facial analysis, and upcoming automated scheduling systems, they discuss how artificial intelligence improves efficiency—but also how it will shape surgical care in the future. They compare AI’s role in diagnosing imaging, analyze its limitations, and debate whether AI will ever have a place in performing actual surgical procedures.
This wide-ranging conversation gives patients and professionals an inside look at the future of aesthetic surgery, covering trends that already influence daily practice and those that will transform the field in the next decade.