If there was one theme at this year’s ASDS meeting in Chicago, it was momentum. Everywhere you turned, dermatologists were talking about smarter resurfacing, tighter skin, regenerative treatments and a noticeable shift toward work that looks completely undetectable. To understand what is truly resonating around the country right now, NewBeauty sat down with three leading experts: Washington DC dermatologist Tina Alster, MD, Omaha dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD and New Orleans dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD. What they shared is a clear snapshot of where aesthetic dermatology is heading in 2026.
Featured Experts
- Tina Alster, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Washington D.C.
- Daniel Schlessinger, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Omaha, NE
- Mary Lupo, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New Orleans
1. Next-Generation Resurfacing
One of the most prominent themes across all three meetings was the leap in resurfacing technology and how these devices are remodeling collagen with more depth and control. “I’ve long been doing fractionated laser technology with microneedling, and I still do that every day,” Dr. Alster says. “But now there’s a new device from a company called Acclero that will bore down a little deeper into the skin and cause a little bit more collagen remodeling. It’s really good for wrinkles around the mouth and large pores, and gives a really fast and easy recovery.”
2. Laser Coring
Laser coring with the UltraClear laser was highlighted as one of the true emerging techniques to watch next year. Dr. Lupo has already integrated the technology into her practice and says its versatility is one of its biggest advantages. She explains that the UltraClear platform allows for everything from no-downtime laser peels—such as the 3D Miracle—to deeper resurfacing treatments.
“I do think that’s something to keep an eye on,” Dr. Alster adds. “I’m still a little bit concerned about the recovery from laser coring, no matter what the device, but I think that is something we’ll be hearing more about as the safety improves.”
3. Devices That Treat All Skin Types
If there’s one thing standing out in 2026 devices, it’s versatility. Dermatologists want systems that can work on multiple tones, depths and concerns without switching platforms. Dr. Lupo says this is what makes certain devices stand out in her practice. “I live in a place that has a very diverse ethnic population, and the ability to tailor a device, one device, for all skin types is really, from a business standpoint and from a patient care perspective, a game changer for me.”
4. AI-Assisted Devices and Education
AI is beginning to influence both treatment delivery and patient guidance. Dr. Schlessinger says we’ve already seen it incorporated, like with the AVAVA laser, which involves AI-driven pulse spacing. “It uses AI to see where the laser is in space and time and adjust the treatment endpoints so that you get evenly spaced-out pulses of light as you go along,” he explains. “And it’s made it a lot more predictable and a lot easier to use.”
5. New Imaging and Skin-Quality Assessment
As aesthetic patients become more data-driven, imaging tools that define and measure “skin quality” are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Dr. Schlessinger says dermatology is moving toward more objective criteria for evaluating the skin. “What skin quality entails” is becoming better defined, he notes. “Being able to assess pores at the level of detail to know not just how fine or coarse they are but the shape of the pore can be beneficial,” he adds.
6. The Push Toward Undetectable Results
Across the panel, the biggest aesthetic trend for 2026 is ultra-natural work that does not read as “treatment.” Dr. Schlessinger offered a direct take on the current push away from filler and toward anything marketed as “natural.” “Just because it’s not hyaluronic acid doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s natural, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s good,” he says. “In the end, it comes down to who is injecting it, their training and how they’re injecting it to get a natural and undetectable look.”
On the topic of filler migration, Dr. Lupo was even more blunt. “We need to start calling filler migration what it really is, which is over and improperly injected,” she says. “When you put too much in a space, it’s going to move to another space.” Undetectability, the doctors agreed, is a technique conversation more than a product conversation.
7. Regenerative and Longevity-Based Care
The most forward-looking trend discussed was the merging of dermatology with regenerative and longevity science. “The area I think is really going to explode is this regenerative type of anti-aging,” Dr. Alster says. She expects greater crossover between in-office treatments and systemic longevity practices as patients seek prevention across multiple channels.
Dr. Lupo believes advances in reversing cellular senescence will push the field even further. “If we understand how rapamycin receptors in the epidermis accumulate DNA damage, then we can reverse that,” she explains. She also sees genetic testing eventually guiding earlier, tailored care. “We could exponentially take everything we currently have to the next-level.”
