Ocean Clinic's Dr Kaye Predicts 2020's Biggest Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Trends

If 2019 was all about big lips, big brows and even bigger butts, what does 2020 have in store for beauty? We asked Director of Ocean Clinic Group Dr. Kai Kaye what procedures he expects to become more popular this year.

Dr. Kai Kaye

Every year, Dr. Kaye attends many major cosmetic surgery conferences around the globe - as well as organising the Marbella International Plastic Surgery Summer School - so he always has his finger on the pulse of the next big thing. Here are his top 5 cosmetic and plastic surgery trends for 2020….  

1) Lip lift

A lip lift is a surgical alternative to lip fillers. It adds volume to the upper lip by removing a section of tissue from beneath the nose. This pulls up the lip into a more youthful position (ligaments loosen and weaken as we age meaning lips droop).

The ideal distance between the top lip and nose in the classically proportioned adult female face is 11 to 13 millimetres, however, that distance elongates by one to three millimetres every decade we age. A lip lift restores lips to their ideal position in less than an hour, performed under local anaesthesia, with the scar hidden beneath the nose. 

2) Buccal fat removal

While adding fat to the cheeks remains a highly popular treatment, slimming the cheeks is also starting to gain traction. Buccal fat removal involves removing fat from the lower cheeks.

The surgery is suitable for people with large buccal fat pads (often a hereditary trait), which give them a child-like appearance.

The fat is removed from inside the mouth, meaning there are no scars and the procedure takes around 20-minutes. The result is a more elegant and mature-looking face. Buccal fat removal is not recommended for people in their 20s because buccal fat pads shrink with age and there is a risk that removal could cause hollowing in the long term.

3) Non-surgical body toning and sculpting

New technology means non-surgical body toning and sculpting is really starting to take off, with impressive results on offer. Treatments like Emsculpt and CoolTone have shifted non-surgical body contouring from being about volume reduction and skin tightening to actually being able to build muscle mass.

Both give the body an intense workout while the patient lies still for 30-minutes. Creating 20,000 muscle contractions, Emsculpt can be used on the glutes, abs, obliques, biceps, triceps, thigh muscles, and calf muscles, while CoolTone can strengthen muscles in the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Another new electrical muscle stimulation machine, TruSculpt Flex claims it can increase muscle mass by an average of 30% in two weeks with four 45-minute treatments.


4) New fillers

A new generation of injectable fillers is coming in 2020, some of which can last as long as four years. This is great news for people who currently have to visit their practitioner every 12-18 months. These fillers more closely mimic the texture of skin and are designed to match different parts of the face. For example, Radiesse, a synthetic calcium filler that acts as an extension of the bones can be used in the cheekbone area for a high cheekbone look, or around the jaw.

Another new product is Restylane Kysse, which is designed especially for the lips. It has a super soft texture to give a more natural look and feel, and can last up to nine months. It also promises reduced swelling after injection. 

5) Fuller jawlines and chins

Strong, defined jawlines and chins will be a big trend in 2020. These will be achieved both surgically - with implants and fat grafting - and non-surgically with filler. And it’s not just for men; women also want a more angled appearance. An angle of around 125 degrees is considered to be ideal for women's jawlines (think Rihanna and Angelina Jolie).

To achieve the desired angle, filler or fat is used to fill out the back of the jaw and visually separate the jaw from the neck. To tackle a weak chin and make sure it’s in proportion with the rest of the face, it can be built out using an implant filler, fat or filler. Finally, filling in the transition from chin to jaw ensures there are clean lines. 

A more subtle look for 2020

Overall, Dr. Kaye believes a more natural look will be on-trend in 2020. While shapely bottoms will still be in fashion, they won’t be so extreme, remaining more in proportion with the rest of the body. Breasts too will be smaller.

“We are increasingly seeing requests for smaller sized breast implants, as well as more women having their implants removed. Either they’re choosing to go without or swapping them for smaller implants,” he says.

“Women want a more natural look and because of that, hybrid augmentations - using both implants and transplanted body fat - are becoming more popular.”

Looking ahead, patients will be seeking more subtle improvements, combining surgical and non-surgical “tweakments” to finesse their appearance. “Thanks to ever-advancing technology and surgical techniques, procedures can increasingly be carried out without scarring and with minimal downtime. It’s an exciting time for surgeons and patients alike.”

Thinking about a surgical or non-surgical treatment in 2020? Why not make an appointment for a consultation?

Getting A Facelift in Your Forties

Facelift surgery is often associated with men and women in their sixties, but this is mostly because patients at this age show the most dramatic transformation.

The truth is, people much younger than this are having facelift surgery - it’s just the results are more subtle. Do you know someone who never seems to grow older? This could be why! There are actually benefits to having surgery sooner rather than later when it comes to preserving youthful looks. But how young is too young for a facelift?

What’s the best age for a facelift?

Every one of us is different, so the best age for one person might not be the best age for another. At Ocean Clinic, rather than state you must be a certain age, we’ll look at the signs of ageing your face is showing. Here’s what we will look for:

Loss of volume - as we age, facial fat diminishes. This leads to the bones of the face become more visible. Hollows appear at the temples, cheeks and around the eyes. At the same time, fat succumbs to the effects of gravity, migrating downwards. This can create a heavy brow and hooded eyelids, as well as folds around the mouth and jowls at the jawline. 

Skin quality - skin that is losing elasticity will begin to wrinkle and sag. Permanent lines appear around the eyes and mouth and on the forehead. Eyelids may take on a crepey appearance, and the skin under the eyes may appear more transparent as it thins. Where the skin has become looser, it starts to collect under the chin and on the neck. A good way to check the condition of your skin is to pinch it and see how quickly it pings back.

Muscles - muscles also weaken with age. The levator muscles, which are responsible for the opening and closing of the eyelids, can become stretched and this leads to drooping eyelids. On the neck, the platysma muscle can start to enlarge and protrude, resulting in the appearance of thick, tight cords. This is known as ‘banding’.

When these natural effects of ageing start to occur they can have a big impact on the expression of your face. You might look tired, stressed or even angry and this might not be at all reflective of how you really feel. It can be upsetting to look in the mirror and see someone you don’t fully recognise as yourself looking back. 

If you’ve started to notice changes in your face, then it might be an appropriate time for surgery. There is no magic number. In some individuals, volume loss in the face can start to be seen during their thirties, while others will have good volume into their late fifties. Genetics play a big role in the way we age, as well as lifestyle factors. If you smoke, drink excessively, eat a poor diet or your weight fluctuates significantly, your skin will suffer and you may look older than your chronological years. 

Ultimately, the best age for a facelift is when the signs of ageing described above start to appear and your surgeon agrees they are advanced enough to warrant surgery. In general, this won’t be before the age of 35, but it could be in your forties.

Why your forties can be a good time for a facelift

Many women who begin to notice the signs of ageing in their late thirties turn to cosmetic injectables and fillers. Once you start with injectables, you’re on a road you can never get off. These treatments must be repeated every 3-12 months and the costs quickly clock up. A facelift, on the other hand, provides a long-term solution at a one-off cost. 

What’s more, a facelift surgically fixes the problems rather than simply patching them up. The results are superior and will take more years off your appearance. US surgeon Dr. Jacono carried out a study of women who had previously used injectables and then had facelifts. The study found that while the women looked four years younger after non-invasive treatments, they looked almost 10 years younger after their facelift surgery.

Often, patients in their forties don’t require a full facelift. This is because there is less excess skin and the tissues have not fallen as much. You may only require a mini-facelift, which is less invasive, requiring a smaller incision, hidden behind the ear. A mini facelift focuses on lifting the wrinkles and sagging skin in the lower part of the face, as well as neck drooping.

Because the skin, tissue and even the bones (the scaffolding of the face) of younger people are better quality, facelifts performed earlier look more natural. This means that a few nips and tucks can totally restore your appearance. Think of it like restoring a car; it’s easier to mend a few dents and scratches then it is to treat advanced rust. 

Another big benefit to undergoing surgery when you’re younger rather than older is that your body is much more resilient. You are better able to tolerate the anaesthesia and there is a lower likelihood of complications. Younger people also heal better and faster. 

Will I need another facelift in my fifties?

Facelifts (sadly) can’t stop time. They can rewind the clock and make you look younger but you will, of course, continue to age. With that said, when you have a facelift at a younger age, the results last longer. A facelift in the forties will last twice as long as one performed on a patient in his or her sixties. 

This means the benefits of your surgery will last you for a long time. Although you will age, you will always look younger than you would have otherwise. Additionally, any revision work you might want will be smaller and less invasive. Having small touch-ups as you go through the decades is usually preferable to a big surgery later in life. This approach will preserve and maintain your appearance, making sure you always look good; through your forties, fifties, sixties and beyond.

Want to know what the best anti-ageing options are for you? Ocean Clinic can tailor treatments to your unique requirements. Call or send us a message to book a consultation.