Allergan Aesthetics says patients are moving from single treatments to long-term aesthetic plans

Allergan Aesthetics has published a new global consumer report examining how attitudes towards aesthetic treatments are changing.

Layered Beauty: The New Aesthetic Mindset is based on research involving 12,286 respondents across nine markets, including the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, China, Thailand, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.[1]

The central argument is that consumers are becoming less focused on isolated procedures and increasingly open to a more structured, multimodal approach to aesthetics.

According to the report, 62% of consumers are attracted to the idea of using multiple aesthetic treatments to achieve more comprehensive results, while 70% understand that combining treatments can help optimise results.[1]

Allergan also reports that 81% value personalised treatment plans, while 78% understand the benefits of following a longer-term plan with a practitioner.[1]

From treatment to plan

The report describes this shift as a move from being “treatment-led” to “journey-led”.

Rather than simply choosing an individual treatment, consumers are increasingly considering how different interventions may work together over time.

This is reflected in another finding: more than a third of consumers surveyed had used more than one aesthetic treatment during the previous 12 months, with those using multiple treatments averaging 3.3 treatments.[1]

Allergan says consumers are also showing a preference for broader facial harmony rather than focusing exclusively on individual areas, with 68% preferring full-face harmony to single-area treatment.[1]

Skin becomes the starting point

One of the strongest themes running through the report is what Allergan describes as a “skin first” mindset.

Consumers surveyed placed healthy-looking, hydrated skin among their highest priorities, while professional skincare and facials were frequently viewed as the starting point of a wider treatment plan.[1]

The report suggests that treatments aimed at structure, definition or individual facial features may increasingly sit within a broader plan that begins with skin quality.

Patients still need help navigating the options

Despite greater awareness of aesthetics, Allergan’s research also identifies a significant knowledge gap.

The report says 57% of consumers remain unsure how to plan an aesthetic treatment journey, while 80% are keen to learn more about non-invasive treatments.[1]

That places greater emphasis on the consultation.

Consumers surveyed placed importance on practitioner expertise, transparency around pricing and understanding how treatments work, including risks and side effects.[1]

For UK clinics in particular, the findings are interesting. Allergan reports that 45% of UK consumers expect explanations of how treatments work, compared with a 36% global average, while 31% would prefer a full-face assessment before starting a plan involving multiple treatments.[1]

What does it mean for aesthetic clinics?

The report suggests that clinics may increasingly need to think beyond individual treatment bookings.

Consultations, treatment planning, patient education and ongoing relationships could become more important as consumers become more comfortable with treatments being positioned as part of a longer-term journey.

That does not necessarily mean encouraging patients to have more procedures. Instead, the opportunity may lie in helping patients understand what is appropriate for them, what different treatments can and cannot achieve, and how treatments may fit together over time.

Social media still plays an important role in awareness. However, Allergan’s research suggests that patients continue to place significant trust in the practitioner when making treatment decisions.[1]

For clinics, the message is relatively simple: the patient may increasingly arrive wanting more than a treatment.

They may want a plan.

Reference

[1] Allergan Aesthetics. Layered Beauty: The New Aesthetic Mindset. March 2026. Underlying data: Allergan Aesthetics Holistic Beauty Global Research, REF-145017, January 2026. Research conducted by PureProfile between 28 November and 15 December 2025 with 12,286 respondents across Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, USA and UK.