Lacey McCrary, nurse practitioner and co-owner of BellaDerma Aesthetics and Wellness, discusses healing from the inside out as the future of aesthetic medicine.
In 2026, we will see the aesthetics industry shift to more of a natural, long-term approach. People will be looking for treatments to stimulate collagen and to heal their bodies, helping to slow the aging process. These treatments will include biostimulators such as Sculptra and Hyperdiluted-radiesse and skin tightening modalities that are non-invasive. Skin will become more of a priority and looking refreshed- rather than done.
Healing the body from the inside out will be the foundation that all aesthetic medicine will move towards. These treatments will also include peptide therapy and hormone therapy. These can help to heal the body from the inside out. We no longer have to suffer from symptoms when there are safe treatments. With the black box warning removed by the FDA concerning cancer risks and estrogen, this helps women feel more comfortable seeking treatment and having open conversations regarding hormones.
Peptides and Bioidentical Hormone Replacements
Peptides are amino acids that open messengers in your body to promote healing. There is a peptide for almost any symptom or concern. They come in injectable form, some come in oral, and nasal sprays. They work cyclically in sync with your natural body rhythm. Peptides are no longer just about GLP-1s. They are for energy, exhaustion, addiction, anxiety, libido. Peptides are a much more natural way to heal your body versus taking a synthetic medication to suppress symptoms.
Bioidentical hormone replacement can help men and women feel more balanced. There is a way to optimize hormones without over-treating. More is not always better. There is a sweet spot in treating hormones. Working with a provider who is educated in this field is important. It is a specialty of its own.
When we begin to work on the inside, you will see it on the outside of our body. Decreasing inflammation and working on gut health will help the skin to glow, shed unwanted weight, and feel more energized to take care of ourselves.
Images: Courtesy of Radiesse
(Left) CaHA is the key. Calcium hydroxylapatite, or CaHA, is what makes Radiesse unique as a dermal filler treatment. Radiesse is composed of CaHA suspended in an aqueous gel carrier. Upon injection, the Radiesse CaHA gel matrix provides immediate improvement. CaHA particles form a “scaffold” that stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen for up to a year and elastin for up to nine months (after only one injection). Learn more at Radiesse.
(Right) As the gel carrier breaks down, a firm network of collagen fibers form.1,4,6* Then, the formed collagen and elastin replaces the correction provided by the gel carrier, smoothing lines and promoting renewed skin structure.
Red flags: How the Gray Market Raises Concerns
Some of the concerns with the aesthetics industry are unregulated and unsafe treatments. For example, peptides are being bought online or from a lab-tested facility. There are no safety measurements in those peptides for purity and dosage. Buying them without proper lab testing and medical oversight is a recipe for ill outcomes. There are risks involved, and no reason to be injecting something into your body without safety testing first. Many people will turn to the gray market because it is cheaper, but it is definitely not safer. Everyone is looking for a deal-but when it comes to health, this is no place to cut corners.
Buying and injecting neurotoxin and dermal fillers has become another new trend. With today’s social media platforms such as TikTok many people are feeling confident in things that should be kept in a medical practice. They see the fun, trendy aspect of these medications and not the complications. Not too many consumers nor medical providers are sharing the harmful side of these treatments. Remember that social media is a highlight reel of the best treatments, outcomes, and possibilities. While social media can be used for good and growth, it has a skewed view as well.
New Modalities Hitting the US: No Downtime, No Needles
One new skin-tightening modality that launched in 2025 but is just making headlines is Xerf. There are no other modalities on the market that are noninvasive that target this deep level of tightening in the SMAS layer. Xerf has minimal pain, no needles, and no downtime. It is changing the skin-tightening game without having surgery. Patients are loving it. People do not have time for downtime and recovery. In today’s world everyone is so busy working, raising children, and taking care of a household. Modalities with Xerf having no downtime will become more and more popular. People are afraid of treatments and needles. Even with some pain associated with Xerf, users are less afraid of it because it is non-invasive. The risks are less concerning, so people trust this more.
There will be more of these modalities in 2026 and rightfully so. Patients want to look good and feel good. They want more quality in their life, and quantity is always a plus. Patients are finally prioritizing their health and seeking more natural modalities without additives. Patients are looking for healthier food, treatments, medications, and all ways to heal from this, inside out.
But again, it is very important to seek providers educated in the modalities and treatments they are offering. Look at their credentials and book a consultation if needed. All of these treatments can be done safely if done correctly. Seeking treatment from an online source is usually not safe or correct. Do your research when it comes to health and wellness.
READ: “How Lacey McCrary, APRN-CNP, Built BellaDerma from the Ground Up and Reached $100K/Month in 3 Months” on Healthgree.
Lacey McCrary, APRN-CNP
Lacey McCrary APRN-CNP is a Nurse Practitioner/co-owner of BellaDerma, specializing in business strategy, healthcare, leadership, entrepreneurship, beauty, and aesthetics. She has been a nurse practitioner for nearly 15 years. She’s spent the last five years in aesthetics, and the last three owning a medspa.
