What’s Hot In Plastic Surgery? Former Chief Surgeon On 'The Biggest Loser' Dr. David Stoker Weighs In

Plastic surgery trends can shift over time and what was hot a year ago may not be what’s popular now. 

The latest trends in plastic surgery have shifted to more subtle, natural-looking results, and LA-based expert, Dr. David Stoker, founder of Stoker Plastic Surgery, is leading the movement. The board-certified surgeon and former chief surgeon on the hit show, “The Biggest Loser,” is redefining modern aesthetics with innovative techniques designed to enhance rather than exaggerate. 

Dr. David Stoker sat down with The Blast to share what’s popular in his office, how GLP-1s are changing the industry, and what to look for when choosing a surgeon. 

With more than 25 years of experience and over 20,000 procedures performed, Dr. Stoker is known for pioneering advanced treatments such as the Bikini Body Lift, Traceless Deep Plane Facelift, and Hourglass Tummy Tuck. All these procedures are focused on balanced, refined transformations and a faster recovery. His approach blends surgical precision with artistry while prioritizing patient safety and giving results that look effortlessly natural.

A top graduate of UCSF School of Medicine, where he finished first in his class, Stoker trained at NYU Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and has earned global recognition for his work. 

Beyond his practice, Dr. Stoker plays a key role in advancing the field as a national educator for The Aesthetic Society and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, while also serving as an FDA clinical investigator. He also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at USC Keck School of Medicine. 

Known for pushing boundaries in patient care, he has developed advanced rapid-recovery protocols and signature procedures, including the Bikini Body Lift, Traceless Deep Plane Facelift, and Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation, designed to deliver refined results with minimal downtime.

With the increase in people using GLP-1s, Stoker is seeing a higher demand for body contouring procedures.

"Body contouring and facelift surgery are booming in our practice," Stoker told The Blast exclusively. "Patients who lost weight were already a major part of what we do, but with GLP-1 medications now widespread, we are seeing a dramatic influx of patients who are thrilled with their weight loss and eager to reclaim the bodies, faces, and necks they have been wanting for years, and sometimes decades."

Stoker shared what makes this especially exciting is that "surgical techniques have evolved" and doctors are able to deliver results that may not have been achievable in the past.

"Helping patients complete their weight loss journey by restoring their appearance is one of the most rewarding parts of my work," he added.

When patients go in for a consultation after losing a lot of weight, their concerns fall into two main categories - the body and the face and neck.

"For the body, the days of addressing one area at a time are over. Weight loss affects the entire torso. Sagging skin, cellulite, and loss of shape occur circumferentially," he said. "That is why we developed the Bikini Body Lift, a comprehensive 360-degree procedure that reshapes the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, and pubic region in one operation."

Thanks to this approach, patients are able to wear bikinis or lingerie without having visible scars because incisions are hidden.

GLP-1 medications have "fundamentally changed the plastic surgery landscape," according to Stoker.

"More patients are reaching healthy, stable weights and qualifying for surgery. As a result, there is increased demand for procedures that address the physical changes that follow weight loss," Stoker said. "Terms like 'Ozempic face' and 'Ozempic body' have highlighted real concerns, but surgical techniques such as my signature treatments, the Bikini Body Lift and the Traceless Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift allow us to correct these changes effectively. For patients, this has been transformative."

Something that's been trending for a while is more natural-looking results. Patients want to look more like themselves than anything.

"Patients today are not trying to look like someone else. They want to look like a younger, refreshed version of themselves," Stoker said. "Modern facial surgery allows us to individualize treatment based on age, facial structure, ethnicity, and goals. Rather than applying the same approach to every patient, we tailor techniques to restore natural contours and expressions. The result is a face that looks rested and familiar, not altered."

Dr. Stoker's practice has developed techniques that go beyond just removing excess skin. He said they "focus on reshaping and restoring the body using anatomical and surgical principles that respect each patient's new, leaner form." He added that the goal is not to look operated on but to look natural, balanced, and confident.

Stoker shared some information about the Traceless Deep Plane Face and Neck Lift and what he typically combines with that procedure.

"The deep plane facelift achieves a more complete and natural-appearing result that is possible with a skin only procedure," he said. "I often combine the Traceless Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift with procedures such as eyelid surgery, laser resurfacing, or chin enhancement. These treatments work synergistically to create a harmonious result. Just like remodeling a home, addressing only one element rarely delivers the best outcome."

When the Traceless Deep Plane Face & Neck Lift is combined with laser resurfacing or eyelid surgery, it can turn the clock back a decade or two.

Another procedure Stoker shared some insight into is the Bikini Body Lift, a comprehensive 360-degree procedure for the lower body.

"The Bikini Body Lift is powerful for patients who have experienced weight loss, pregnancy, hormonal changes, or menopause," he said. "It dramatically improves or eliminates cellulite of the buttocks and upper thighs while removing excess skin and sculpting a beautiful shape. It is not simply skin removal. It is artistic body reshaping."

When searching for a plastic surgeon, Dr. Stoker said you want to focus on "results."

"Patients should look for extensive before and after documentation of the exact procedure they are considering. Hundreds of professional photos and videos performed by that surgeon are ideal," he shared. "This demonstrates consistency, experience, and transparency."

He also said that "credentials matter." Training and being board certified "should align with the level of results a patient expects."

"What do you call the person that graduates last in their medical school class? The answer - a doctor. But that is probably not the doctor you would go to for extraordinary plastic surgery results," Stoker told The Blast. "Do the best surgeons cost more? Of course."

For more information about Dr. David Stoker, visit the website.