Surge in Demand for Plastic Surgery Linked to Weight Loss Medications

Plastic surgeons are currently experiencing an influx of patients looking for a quick solution to a notable side effect from weight loss drugs.

While many individuals celebrate shedding more than 20 pounds, they are often left dismayed by sagging skin, hollow cheeks, and excess folds, results of rapid volume loss.

This phenomenon, which has been informally termed ‘Ozempic face’ and similar phrases for other body parts, has driven numerous patients to seek fillers to regain volume or opt for surgical options like facelifts, neck lifts, and tummy tucks to remove excess skin.

Marlee Bruno, an aesthetician at Mind Body and Soul Medical in Florida, noted a significant spike in people requesting fillers related to weight loss medications. She mentioned, “Most people see it as a quick fix for loose skin, especially since there’s minimal downtime involved. We’re noticing more men seeking these injections as well.”

Dr. Sam Fuller, a plastic surgeon from Indiana, commented on the drastic rise in surgical inquiries. He expressed support for weight loss injections, considering them a safe method for losing weight. However, he also acknowledged the considerable loss of skin elasticity that results from rapid weight loss, prompting many individuals to look for surgical remedies.

Prescriptions for weight loss drugs, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, have skyrocketed, increasing by more than 700 percent in the U.S. among non-diabetic patients. Reports indicated that the number of prescriptions jumped from 21,000 in 2019 to roughly 174,000 in 2023.

In total, around 1.9 million Americans have been prescribed a weight loss drug since 2018, with over 9.3 million prescriptions issued.

Patients often shed significant weight through these injections, but rapid weight loss can lead to loose skin due to fat and muscle loss. For younger people, skin may bounce back, but older individuals might be left with sagging skin.

To address these effects, many are turning to injectables designed to restore volume and smooth out wrinkles. Fillers can last about three months and typically range from $500 to $1,200 per syringe. They are less invasive and allow patients to return to their daily lives on the same day.

Dr. Adam Rubinstein, also a Florida-based surgeon, pointed out that while there’s been an uptick in demand, these changes aren’t strictly due to the weight loss drugs. He clarified that weight loss generally leads to these outcomes, but with more people successfully losing weight thanks to medications, there’s a corresponding rise in demand for aesthetic treatments.

Data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) indicates that filler injections have more than doubled since Ozempic was first approved in 2017. Comparing 2024 to when the drugs were initially introduced, nearly 6.2 million filler procedures were recorded, a significant increase from 2.6 million.

Experts like Bruno and Dr. Rubinstein suggest that societal acceptance of cosmetic procedures has also fueled this trend, leading more individuals to explore these options openly.

The ASPS reports a 32 percent increase in tummy tucks or abdominoplasties during the same timeline, rising from 129,000 to 170,000 annually.

Moreover, there’s been a 45 percent rise in breast lifts to address sagging, with yearly operations climbing from 105,000 to 153,000.

While surgeries may involve higher costs and longer recovery times, many are still choosing these as the quickest route to eliminate loose skin after substantial weight loss.

Weight loss drugs like Ozempic have surged in popularity due to their effectiveness, prompting a notable amount of people to engage with these medications.

A study highlighted a staggering 700 percent increase in prescriptions for non-diabetics from 2019 to 2024. Other estimates suggest that around 12 percent of Americans may have tried a weight loss drug.

ASPS data reports that two in five members with GLP-1 patients are considering cosmetic surgery, with one in five already having pursued such options.