In this remarkable episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with one of the most influential voices in modern aesthetics, Dr. Steven Dayan — facial plastic surgeon, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and founder of XOMD Skincare. Together, they dive deep into the science and psychology of beauty, exploring how confidence, evolution, and empathy shape what we find attractive — and how aesthetic medicine can elevate not just appearances, but lives.
From Sculpture to Surgery
Dr. Dayan’s journey began long before the operating room. A self-described late academic bloomer, he initially studied philosophy and religion before entering medicine. “I was a sculptor before I was a surgeon,” he reflects. “When I discovered plastic surgery, I realized I could merge art, science, and human emotion into one craft.”
That fusion became the hallmark of his career. His fascination with aesthetics evolved into a lifelong exploration of how beauty, psychology, and neuroscience intersect — a perspective that would later fuel his bestselling books and over 200 published studies.
Redefining Beauty Through Science and Emotion
For Dr. Dayan, beauty is more than symmetry or proportion — it’s biology. Drawing from evolutionary psychology, he explains that the perception of beauty is hardwired: “Beauty tells us someone is healthy, well, and genetically strong. You don’t think beauty — you feel it.”
Yet, he emphasizes that attraction, not beauty, is what truly matters. Attraction, he says, is subjective and deeply emotional — influenced by posture, expression, energy, and most importantly, confidence. “My job isn’t to make someone beautiful,” he explains. “It’s to make them feel beautiful. Confidence is the most magnetic quality there is.”
The Confidence Connection
Dr. Dayan’s research reveals that subtle aesthetic adjustments — like softening a frown line or turning up the corners of the mouth — can change not just how others perceive someone, but how they perceive themselves. “When you smile, you become happier,” he says. “When you look approachable, people respond with positivity. It’s biofeedback — beauty that ripples outward.”
He cites studies showing that too much filler or overuse of neuromodulators can do the opposite, creating distrust and emotional dissonance. “We recognize authenticity subconsciously. If I erase every wrinkle, your smile looks fake — and people won’t trust you.”
The Social Media Effect
Dr. Dayan also tackles the cultural forces reshaping beauty ideals, particularly among Gen Z. “Social media has created aesthetic bias,” he warns. “When you see the same exaggerated look over and over, your brain starts to normalize it. That’s why we’re seeing so much overfilling — people have lost sight of natural proportions.”
He urges providers to “check their aesthetic bias” regularly and re-train their eyes toward authenticity and balance. The goal of aesthetic medicine, he says, should be to enhance identity, not erase it.
The Future of Aesthetics
Beyond the clinic, Dr. Dayan advocates for a new era of education — one that prioritizes psychology and cultural understanding alongside anatomy. “The most important class in medical school isn’t anatomy,” he tells Dr. Ekta. “It’s psychiatry. Because to treat a face, you must first understand the mind behind it.”
His ongoing research with dermatologist Dr. Sabrina Fabi, his partner in both life and medicine, explores global beauty perceptions and how cultural context shapes aesthetic desires. Their findings reveal both universal patterns — like symmetry and harmony — and nuanced regional differences that challenge Western beauty standards.
Introducing XOMD: The Science of Attraction
Bridging decades of research into a new frontier, Dr. Dayan introduces XOMD Skincare, a brand rooted in the neurochemical connection between confidence and skin health. Developed alongside Dr. Fabi, the line harnesses the power of oxytocin, often called the “love hormone,” to improve skin quality while enhancing mood and self-perception.
For Dr. Dayan, it’s more than skincare — it’s an extension of his life’s mission: merging aesthetics, psychology, and human connection. “If I can help someone see themselves differently,” he says, “I can help them live differently.”
Listen to the full episode of Skin Anarchy to hear Dr. Steven Dayan unpack the science of attraction, the cultural evolution of beauty, and how confidence may be the most transformative aesthetic treatment of all.