Younger women are opting out of implants and fillers.

The “Glowdown” Trend: A Shift Towards Natural Beauty

There’s a new trend circulating on social media, particularly among Gen Z and millennial women, who are embracing a “glowdown.” This essentially means they’re looking to recapture a more understated, natural appearance by melting away fillers and having implants removed.

Dr. David Hidalgo, a plastic surgeon, explains, “Patients today don’t want something radically different. They just want to look good.” It seems many are opting for a more subtle approach.

Take Stevie Hatch from Orlando, for instance. She had her first breast augmentation at 18, transforming her from “not even an A-cup” to a D-cup with 450cc implants. But now, at 38, she looks back differently. A year and a half ago, she decided to remove her implants.

“The implants made me feel confident, but I realized they represented a lot more,” Hatch noted. “At first, I thought it was for me, but honestly, the size just wasn’t.” In her current role in corporate sales, she describes the explant surgery as “like a reset.”

“It wasn’t about shame, just about reclaiming my body,” she shared, likening the experience to a homecoming, albeit one that meant leaving behind part of her past.

Hatch posts frequently about her journey on TikTok and receives a flurry of responses from women contemplating similar decisions.

Another story comes from Rylii Warnick, who experienced some lip filler issues. She noticed that her lips were losing shape and felt more vibrant and natural after melting the filler.

Several celebrities have also been trending toward more natural looks. Sami Sheen, Charlie Sheen’s daughter, recently removed her breast implants, citing potential health risks. Meanwhile, a former “Love Island” British cast member admitted to melting her fillers due to concerns about permanent changes. Olivia Culpo and Ariana Grande have made similar adjustments, with Grande commenting on her time away from Botox and fillers.

Dr. Lanna Cek, another cosmetic surgeon, believes we are moving into an era of greater transparency regarding these procedures. She thinks the recent trend toward reversing fillers and surgery reflects a shift influenced by social media and celebrity actions.

Warnick, an aesthetician from Salt Lake City, felt pressure to maintain a “fresh” look and originally started with lip fillers in 2020. Realizing she may have gone too far, she melted everything last year. “I learned that sometimes, filler can age you. It’s easy to get caught up in constant improvement,” she reflected.

Dr. Hidalgo draws attention to what he terms “filler fatigue.” Many patients overdo it, leading to unnatural appearances, which can prompt them to opt for a complete reset. He’s noticed an increase in requests for dissolving fillers and reducing breast implants to a more moderate size.

Shannon Wilson, a 30-year-old from Jupiter, Florida, underwent breast augmentation in 2021 but felt hindered in her athletic pursuits. “I was always a runner and found the implants were just too heavy. I couldn’t play comfortably,” she explained. Not long after, she underwent explant surgery.