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Popular Aesthetic Treatments Promise 'Rejuvenation'. But The Evidence May Tell a Different Story
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Popular aesthetic treatments like fillers and lasers may make skin appear younger, but a new review finds little evidence that they biologically rejuvenate aging tissue. Researchers analyzed 136 publications to determine whether these procedures merely improve appearance or genuinely renew skin's structure and function. The unreviewed study, posted on Research Square, raises questions about claims of 'regeneration' in aesthetic medicine.
The review covered common treatments including fillers, lasers, platelet-rich plasma, ultrasound, microneedling, and radiofrequency. Rather than assessing visual outcomes alone, the researchers looked for evidence of underlying changes in structure, function, and cellular aging. They used a 22-point scoring system that goes beyond simple collagen increases.
Among 34 primary studies that could be scored, 26âor 76.5 percentâfell into the "inadequate evidence" range for biological rejuvenation. No study scored above 5 out of 22, and the threshold for "rejuvenation" began at 6. The highest-scoring study was conducted on lab cells, not humans; the best clinical study earned only 4 points.
These findings do not prove treatments lack any effect, but they show current research has not assembled the range of evidence needed to demonstrate true regeneration. Most studies focused heavily on collagen, while other biological signsâsuch as tissue organization, functional changes, or reversal of age-related cellular markersâwere rarely examined. Collagen alone, the researchers argue, cannot confirm that aging skin has been biologically renewed.
Lead author William Richard Webb, a cell biologist at Innovation Aesthetics, compared the situation to baking bread with only yeast. "Claiming one part is conclusive without assessing all components is like trying to make bread, and the only ingredient you have is yeast," he told ScienceAlert. The review also found methodological flaws, including small sample sizes and missing comparison groups.
The debate is not new; a 2026 review urged distinguishing regeneration from temporary appearance changes, while another called for better standardized research. Moving forward, researchers need to assess broader biological markers and conduct more rigorous clinical studies. Until then, the claim that popular aesthetic treatments can truly "rejuvenate" skin remains unsupported by the available evidence.
