IMCAS Paris 2026: The Biggest Aesthetic Takeaways

Every year, physicians, researchers and brands from around the world gather in Paris for IMCAS, the International Master Course on Aging Science. It’s one of the first opportunities each year to see where aesthetic medicine is headed, based on new data, clinical experience and real-world use. This year, much of the conversation focused on how aesthetics fits into different life stages. Maintenance, personalization and long-term planning were recurring themes, with established technologies and newer advances working together to deliver results that make sense for everyday life.

Featured Experts

• Doris Day, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Gerry Muhle, head of global product strategy at Galderma
• Samantha Kerr, PhD, chief scientific officer at Merz Aesthetics
• Sarolta Szabo, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Denver

Menopause Took Center Stage

Menopause emerged as one of the most prominent topics at IMCAS this year, appearing across scientific presentations, symposia and clinical discussions. Galderma presented findings from a global survey of more than 4,300 peri- and postmenopausal women examining how menopause impacts the skin. The data revealed that many women only learn about menopause-related skin changes once they are already experiencing them, with a significant number wishing they had been better informed earlier.

“Aesthetic treatments are important tools in addressing and preventing the varied menopause-related skin changes women can experience,” said New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD. “Hyaluronic acid treatments can help correct skin changes through enhanced hydration and contour, while biostimulators can help regenerate skin health from the inside by boosting collagen and elastin to improve firmness and radiance.”

“Another interesting finding was that of all the treatments or actions to reduce the effects of menopause, including cognitive behavioral therapy, hormone replacement therapy, traditional medicine and exercise changes, aesthetic treatments had the highest level of satisfaction with results,” says Gerry Muhle, head of global product strategy at Galderma. “Yet only 15 percent of the women surveyed had made use of aesthetic treatments to reduce the effects of menopause.”

Alongside the survey results, Galderma announced it will now include menopausal status in all injectable aesthetics clinical trials, signaling a growing commitment to understanding how treatments perform across different life stages.

Menopause was also a major focus for Merz Aesthetics, which hosted a dedicated symposium exploring how hormonal changes affect skin quality and how clinicians can tailor treatment plans based on age and stage of life. The company presented data spanning ultrasound-based technologies, neurotoxins, dermal fillers and skin-quality treatments.

“Women should understand that collagen loss accelerates during and after menopause because the skin loses both systemic estrogen and its own ability to make and respond to estrogen,” said Samantha Kerr, PhD, chief scientific officer at Merz Aesthetics.

Injectables as Ongoing Beauty Maintenance

Another recurring theme at IMCAS was the evolving role of injectables within long-term beauty routines. Rather than being framed as occasional enhancements, injectables were discussed as part of ongoing maintenance strategies.

Galderma shared data highlighting how hyaluronic acid fillers are increasingly used to support structure, balance and skin quality, rather than focusing solely on volume. The emphasis was on flexibility, personalization and natural-looking results. “Our research found that one in three consumers rank HA dermal fillers as their preferred injectable,” said Muhle. “These treatments are prioritized for natural-looking, visible results and a more youthful, refreshed appearance.”

He noted that the brand’s Restylane portfolio aligns with this shift, including its recent global “Wake Up to Restylane” campaign, which positions fillers as an everyday beauty ally. Presentations at IMCAS focused on results beyond volumizing, from shaping and contouring to overall skin-quality improvements.

Laser Technology Expanding Treatment Options

Lasers were another key area of focus, particularly technologies designed to address concerns that have traditionally been difficult to treat without surgery. Among them was iLaser, a minimally invasive diode laser that delivers energy beneath the skin using an ultra-thin fiber.

According to Denver dermatologist Sarolta Szabo, MD, this approach allows for targeted treatment of subcutaneous fat and skin laxity by delivering energy directly below the surface. “This laser procedure is exceptional within its category,” she said. “With a very minimally invasive approach, we can achieve significant fat reduction, skin tightening, lifting and improvement in overall skin quality.”

Clinical interest has centered on areas such as the jawline, jowls, abdomen, arms and above the knees—areas where meaningful results have historically been harder to achieve with external energy-based devices alone.

Where Things Are Heading

The conversations at IMCAS reflected an industry increasingly focused on long-term care, life-stage awareness and individualized treatment planning. Rather than emphasizing dramatic transformation, the conference offered a clear view of how aesthetic medicine is continuing to integrate into everyday life, prioritizing maintenance, education and results that evolve alongside the patient.