Health & Wellness 2025: Trends and Innovations Shaping the Future
2025 wellness forecast
As we step into 2025, the world of health and wellness is abuzz with innovation and transformation. From groundbreaking medical advancements to holistic approaches reshaping preventive care, local wellness professionals are leading the charge into a healthier future. To gain insight into what’s ahead, we’ve gathered perspectives from experts across diverse fields, all dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the Lowcountry and beyond.
Heather Hinshelwood, MD
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: I anticipate a continued shift toward proactive health management, with people increasingly seeking non-surgical, restorative treatments to maintain their active lifestyles. Wellness is becoming more about prevention and optimization rather than reaction.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: I’m excited about the growth of restorative medicine, including cellular therapies, which provide patients with innovative options to heal naturally and avoid invasive surgeries while addressing the root causes of pain.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to? A: Advancements in non-invasive technologies, like more precise laser treatments and improved spinal decompression systems, will make care even more effective, helping patients recover faster and maintain better long-term health.
Q: Are there any other trends or innovations that you believe will shape wellness in 2025? A: The integration of data-driven health tools, such as personalized health tracking and diagnostics, will empower patients to take greater control of their wellness journeys, aligning perfectly with our mission at Fraum Health.
Heather Hinshelwood, MD, is the owner and medical director of The Fraum Center.
Scott K. Schultz, MD
Q: Are there any emerging eye treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: One notable and unique technology in the cataract surgery space is the advent of the Light Adjustable Lens from RxSight. The light-adjustable lens is a particular lens that the surgeon implants during surgery. This lens technology allows the surgeon to non-invasively adjust its power post-operatively based on individualized results and preferences to improve focus and achieve the highest levels of visual satisfaction possible. We at Bishop Eye provide a cutting-edge, exceptional cataract surgery experience and best-in-class results. Adopting the light-adjustable lens technology has allowed us to achieve higher levels of post-operative visual precision previously unattainable for particular patients. While this lens may not be for everyone, it truly has been highly beneficial, and we are excited about this new technology.
Q: What advancements in eye technology are you looking forward to? A: There is significant momentum in the area of glaucoma care and management. Glaucoma is a lifelong disease; appropriate management is critical to preserving vision and preventing blindness. Despite the patient’s best intentions, the most significant obstacle to effective treatment is the challenge of remaining compliant with therapy. New pharmaceuticals, treatment modalities, laser technologies and surgical procedures have been emerging to allow patients to achieve their therapeutic goals and help them manage glaucoma more effectively.
Scott K. Schultz, MD, owner of Bishop Eye Center, is an ophthalmologist, laser cataract surgeon and glaucoma subspecialist.
Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD
Q: What new dental care trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: Patients are more interested than ever in preventative dental care because they know that keeping issues from becoming emergent improves their oral health as well as their overall health. They are staying on top of scheduling their routine hygiene visits, which enables early detection of cavities and gum disease. These preventative care visits include oral cancer screening and education about the link between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses.
Q: Are there any emerging dental treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: Dentists are starting to use 3D digital printing to create prosthetics, like crowns, bridges or implants, in-house. Although the turnaround time is faster, our practice still prefers to send our digital intraoral scans to our dental lab because its ceramist can create more natural contours than any in-office printing machine, using more realistic color and anatomy to create better overall aesthetics. However, the technology is improving with both methods.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to? A: Our AI software is improving daily, helping us identify areas of concern on a patient’s X-rays. We use it as a second set of eyes. For example, it highlights cracks, failing restorations and possible decay and bone loss, some of which aren’t visible to the human eye on a regular X-ray. AI brings attention right to the spot we need to investigate further.
Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD, is the owner and founder of ROC Dental Group of Bluffton and Hilton Head and a dentist at ROC Dental Group.
Kenneth Horup, DC
Q What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: Posture is back in style! I anticipate posture braces and kinesio tape to be a new wellness trend in 2025, because it’s already beginning. People are paying more attention to the repercussions of daily habits, such as looking down at the phone and typing on the computer. Kinesio tape assists in holding tissue in place, while posture braces encourage your muscle memory to maintain good posture. You may see young celebrities and athletes wearing colorful kinesio tape, posture braces — and even professional athletes. I believe a wave of posture awareness will continue, especially in the younger generations.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: I am particularly excited about new nerve treatments that have emerged recently. Various noninvasive equipment, like shockwave and infrared light therapy, has helped heal the body and reduce nerve pain. Class 4 lasers are becoming more common in the musculoskeletal world as they increase healing in a targeted area. I am especially excited to see how new laser treatments affect the nerves, as they have had promising success.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: I look forward to seeing how technology continues to advance shockwave and softwave therapies in the wellness industry. Both shockwave and softwave therapy promote healing in an area through high-energy pulses. They are effective, non-invasive treatments that help injuries recover faster. I am eager to see how they will advance.
Dr. Kenneth Horup is a doctor of chiropractic and is board-certified in neuropathy at Discover Specific Chiropractic.
Kamal Patel, MD
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: There will continue to be a growing need for individualized care. What works for one person may not work for someone else. Traditional healthcare, due to limited access to providers and time constraints, cannot accommodate this proactive wellness trend. As a concierge provider, our care is patient-centered and personalized just for them. Using an integrative approach, including nutrition, fitness, supplements, holistic and root-cause measures and modern medical options, enables me to provide comprehensive care to those we serve.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: IV hydration is rapidly becoming a desirable option for many. Whether to speed up recovery from a recent illness or injury or to support fitness and wellness goals, this is a highly effective way to deliver the necessary nutrients.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: With advancing scientific research into anti-aging, we have an extraordinary opportunity to preserve our health and vitality well beyond retirement.
Q: Are there any other trends or innovations that you believe will shape wellness in the coming year? A: We will continue to grow aware of how the quality of our food impacts our well-being. This includes pesticides, additives, colorings, processing, refined sugar and vegetable oils, to name a few. I am hopeful that we are turning a corner as a society in taking back our health.
Kamal Patel, MD, is a concierge physician at Lotus Health and the co-founder of Mobile Concierge Care.
Susan Couzens, DMD
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: For 2025 I am starting to see a focus on hyper-personalization, anti-inflammation and integrative care for healthy aging. We are passionate about making meaningful connections with patients, taking the time that other medical fields may not, and offering the personal touch that helps patients feel truly special. Ultimately, it’s about providing a healthy, confident smile that makes patients feel good about themselves, blending wellness with a positive, uplifting experience. This integrative, patient-centered approach excites me most about the future of wellness in 2025. I’m also excited about several technological advancements that will enhance patient care. At Couzens Dental we focus on continual learning, adopting the latest research in periodontal care, and using technologies like wand anesthesia and conscious sedation for comfort. CEREC same-day crowns have evolved, allowing for faster, more efficient procedures — some crowns can completed in as little as an hour, and no temporary crown is needed.
Q: Are there any other trends or innovations that you believe will shape wellness in the coming year? A: We will be starting customized mouth bacteria culturing in 2025, enabling more personalized care by addressing the link between oral health and overall well-being, reducing inflammation and lowering the risk of conditions like heart disease. Additionally, 3D smile makeovers will allow us to design personalized smiles that patients love, boosting their confidence and adding a personal touch to dentistry. It’s about making patients feel special and giving them a smile they can be proud of.
Susan Couzens, DMD, is the owner of Couzens Dental.
Gregory Haidemenos, MD
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: As an oncologist, I believe there couldn’t be a more exciting time to fight cancer. In the next year, I expect to see more trends that will benefit patients in the Lowcountry, such as improvements in immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a customized and precise treatment that has proven highly effective in curing certain cancers. It is a therapy that is consistently changing, and we are learning more and more every day. Another big trend that I see for next year is the improvement in cancer screening. The cancer mortality rate has been decreasing for the last decade, and much of that can be attributed to better screening that catches cancer earlier.
Q: What technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: As for exciting new technology, I look forward to more effective CT scans and 3D mammograms in the next year. CT scans for lung cancer have proved highly effective and are now accessible to more people. 3D mammography for breast cancer is excellent, and we now ask women more questions to assess their familial or genetic risks for developing cancer. If we know that, we can further screen with ultrasound or MRI to catch cancer earlier. I’m very excited about the cancer treatment landscape in the Lowcountry, and it will only get better in the coming years.
Dr. Gregory Haidemenos is a medical oncologist at St. Joseph’s/Candler–SC Cancer Specialists. He is board-certified in medical oncology and palliative care and has fellowship training in hematology.
Billy Simmons, DLO
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: When it comes to trends for 2025, there is no shortage of new things to come. Our team has seen a rise in the use of computer-specific glasses for clients, which offer improved visual acuity versus a standard progressive lens or reader. In a world of electronic devices, we can tailor lens choices based on vision demands to deliver optimal results with the least amount of eye strain. With the advancements each year, it is so rewarding to personalize lens and frame designs when working with clients.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: The shift to computer-specific glasses has been the most exciting technological advancement we have seen, and it continuously improves. Whether it is the type of computer, monitor position, working distance or professional demands, the advancements we have seen every year allow us to make more personalized lenses. We can now customize multiple glasses for each activity, whether a progressive addition lens (no-line bifocal), a computer single vision or a computer-relief lens design. For instance, if you work with dual computer monitors, we recommend an occupational computer progressive lens to offer a wider intermediate distance. There are many new lens designs available to achieve comfortable vision. As a result, clients have less eye strain, headaches or blurred vision.
Billy Simmons, DLO, ABOC, is a practicing optician at Eyeland Optique.
Paige Wooten, NP
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: I expect to see an increase in the number of people choosing a low-tox lifestyle. People are educating themselves more and more about the dangers of toxic additives in everything from food to cookware and clothing. I think the low-tox trend will continue as we move into 2025.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: I am hopeful that hormone replacement therapy, specifically with bioidentical hormone pellets, will continue to be popular and that commercial insurance companies will see the value of this treatment, especially for women.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: I am quite intrigued by these at-home red-light therapy devices. The tech itself is not all that new, but being able to have an at-home device is.
Q: Are there any other trends or innovations that you believe will shape wellness in the coming year? A: I believe that GLP1-RAs will continue to be popular. We’ve already seen some remarkable results with these drugs that we haven’t seen with others. Of course, they all come with side effects that we are still learning about because of their infancy, but I am optimistic, as they really have been a game-changer for some patients.
Paige Wooten is a nurse practitioner at Main Street Medical.
Kayo Perley, MD
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: With the advent of 2025, Americans can anticipate several exciting wellness trends that promise improved health. Research is finding that colonic bacteria affect obesity, food cravings, infection, diseases and even mental health in more ways than ever before. Supplements, diets and medical therapies that support “good bacteria” are being investigated, and new treatments are expected to debut in the coming year. Another anticipated trend is a shift in attitude regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in both men and women. Although HRT has historically been discouraged in women over 60 due to health risks, newer studies are promoting the safety of treatment in select populations. Based on a study in 2023, the future looks promising for testosterone replacement therapy as well. Still, please remember to address your medical history with an expert to safely navigate the risks and benefits of any trend affecting your health.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: One medical treatment I am eager to report is a new, more discrete way to screen for colon cancer through blood testing. People who are at low risk of colon cancer and had routine colonoscopies in the past or who cannot tolerate anesthesia may welcome the idea of a simple lab test that screens for cancer. It is important to remember that colonoscopies remain the gold standard for diagnosing colon cancer, so first consult your doctor to determine if the blood test is an option for you. I am also excited about the use of genetic testing to treat mental health. These tests can analyze an individual’s DNA and predict how he or she will respond to a particular medication. Genetic analysis can be life-changing for people with complex mental health diseases who are frustrated with the (unfortunately) common trial-and-error approach.
Kayo Perley, MD, is a primary care physician at the Novant Health – Medical Associates of the Lowcountry.
Heidi Harrington, MD
Q: What trend or trends do you see developing in 2025 in the field of plastic surgery and aesthetics? A: I think we will continue to see the popularity of facial balancing. This in-office cosmetic procedure aims to create symmetry and harmony in the face using a customized combination of non-surgical treatments such as Botox, dermal fillers and tailored skincare regimens and treatments. As the popularity of GLP1 medications continues, I think we can expect to see a continued rise in body contouring surgeries after weight loss. These surgeries remove excess skin from different parts of the body that often results after large amounts of weight loss. These procedures can improve the shape of your body, leaving you with tighter skin and a more cinched contour.
Q: Are there any new technologies, procedures or treatments you are excited about? A: There are multiple technologies and procedures that I am excited to be introducing to the Lowcountry. In 2025, we will introduce Crisalix Virtual Reality (VR) Surgery Simulation. This technology allows me to create an accurate 3D visualization of how a patient will look after a cosmetic procedure. Its real-scale, augmented reality technology is an absolute game-changer. Crisalix helps patients make more informed decisions about undergoing cosmetic surgery — plus, it’s fun!
For the brave women facing breast cancer in our community, I am also excited to introduce the option to undergo a single-stage surgery where the oncologic surgeon removes the cancer. Then I immediately reconstruct the breast(s) with either implants or a breast lift or reduction. For these patients, we have introduced SPY-PHI technology (portable SPY Fluorescence Imaging Technology), which allows me to see a patient’s blood flow through the skin after their mastectomy. With this, I’m able to do one-stage, direct-to-implant breast reconstruction with the confidence that there is enough blood supply for optimal healing and maintaining patient safety.
Heidi Harrington, MD, board-certified and fellowship-trained in plastic surgery, leads Beaufort Memorial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics in Okatie.
Patrick Wiita, MD
Q: What new wellness trends do you anticipate for 2025? A: I think the technology pendulum is swinging back, away from our earlier obsession with data and back towards a more intuitive relationship with our bodies. In 2025, I can see people getting rid of their wearable tech or at least only using them briefly before tuning in to their body’s natural feedback.
Q: Are there any emerging treatments or procedures you’re particularly excited about? A: I think the GLP1 movement is still gathering steam. As more and more people are using these life-changing medicines, researchers will have access to larger data sets to explore the other ways these medications might be helpful. I think it’s likely we will see scientific evidence of improved mental health in people using these medications, either through some direct action in the brain or secondary to generally better health.
Q: What advancements in technology are you looking forward to in the wellness industry? A: I’m looking forward to AI being directed to solve real problems in the actual practice of medicine rather than simply being a byproduct of growth-oriented tech startups (looking at you, AI-chatbot therapy). There’s an experimental smartphone app being researched at the Sorbonne in Paris that analyzes voice sounds intending to aid the diagnosis of common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety and something that I would incorporate into my practice.
Patrick Wiita, MD, is a triple-board certified in child, adolescent, adult and forensic psychiatry.
