Even when weight loss becomes weight lost, your journey toward a new you may not be over. As GLP-1 medications continue to prove their effectiveness and rise in popularity, the aesthetic industry is meeting the moment with an influx of post-weight-loss body treatments designed to help patients look as good as they feel. And there’s no sign of a slowdown: According to Fair Health, the percentage of overweight or obese adults prescribed GLP-1 medications jumped from 0.3 percent in 2019 to 2.05 percent in 2024—an increase of nearly 587 percent.
From skin-tightening procedures in new areas to breast reductions and lifts, plastic surgeons are providing the final touch to major transformations—and their services are more in demand than ever. What was once a niche corner of plastic surgery is quickly becoming the new standard. Here, aesthetic experts share the safety protocols that matter most and the procedures that deliver the best results for a post-weight-loss body.
Featured Experts
- Eric Mariotti, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Concord, CA
- Mary Herte, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Las Vegas
- Simona V. Pautler, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in McMurray, PA
- Leo R. McCafferty, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh
- Shawna Flanagan, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Jupiter, FL
From Niche to Necessity: The Boom in Post-Weight-Loss Plastic Surgery
“I have a niche in the post-weight-loss plastic surgery arena,” explains Concord, CA plastic surgeon Eric Mariotti, MD. “Until recently, this has been primarily through diet and exercise, as well as through bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass or a gastric sleeve—making the stomach smaller.”
As GLP-1 medications have become a bonafide way to lose weight, more patients are now seeking the types of procedures Dr. Mariotti offers. These post-weight-loss body treatments typically focus on addressing loose or lax skin that rapid weight loss can cause. Many patients are still actively taking GLP-1s while pursuing these procedures, leading surgeons to establish new safety protocols and treatment approaches.
New Rules for GLP-1 Patients Undergoing Plastic Surgery
With more patients arriving for surgery while still taking GLP-1 medications, surgeons are adapting their protocols to reduce anesthesia-related risks. “We are definitely seeing more surgical patients coming in while on GLP-1 meds,” explains Las Vegas plastic surgeon Mary Herte, MD. “And this poses an increased anesthetic risk, so we are requiring our patients to stop taking them for three weeks in advance to improve their safety at surgery.”
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urges that patients on weekly doses of GLP-1 medications pause their treatment for at least one week before elective procedures. That’s because GLP-1s can slow the way food moves through your digestive system. “The food literally stays in your stomach longer,” explains McMurray, PA plastic surgeon Simona V. Pautler, MD. “And with anesthesia, if there’s a chance there could be food in your stomach, there’s a risk of aspiration.”
Plastic surgeons stress the importance of telling your provider about any GLP-1 medications or other prescriptions you’re taking before surgery. Being transparent about your treatment helps reduce potential risks and keeps your plastic surgery experience as safe and smooth as possible.
Top-Performing Procedures for Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Not everyone loses weight the same way, and rapid results can sometimes make certain side effects more noticeable—particularly skin laxity and muscle deterioration. The challenge with weight loss is that skin doesn’t always bounce back, leading to looseness, while patients may also experience volume loss in areas they want to maintain, such as the face.
“In my practice, breast and body contouring are the most requested surgeries,” explains Dr. Mariotti. “With age, pregnancy or significant weight loss with these newer medications, many patients are asking about procedures such as tummy tucks, breast lifts and other body-contouring procedures. Facial procedures have also increased in order to treat ‘Ozempic Face,’ a condition where facial fat is lost quickly.”
For those looking to smooth remaining areas of stubborn bulk and rebuild muscle tone, in-office treatments such as Emsculpt or Emsculpt Neo are strong options. These devices use high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) combined with radio frequency (RF) to stimulate muscle contractions while also destroying subcutaneous fat. “Emsculpt Neo gives an average of 30 percent loss of fat and 25 percent gain in muscle,” explains Jupiter, FL, dermatologist Shawna Flanagan, MD, adding that the average patient will require at least four treatment sessions about one week apart. “We usually see results within the first month, but the full results are not seen until a few months later,” they said.
This patient lost 130 pounds and saw Dr. Mariotti to remove the loose skin on her lower stomach and thighs.
Skin-Tightening Solutions for Post-Weight-Loss Laxity
“You can’t exercise skin away,” says Dr. Pautler. “When you touch the back of a cat or dog, you can see their entire back twitch, right? That’s because they have muscles in their skin that humans don’t have.” Because we’re left with the skin we have, rapid weight loss can cause excess skin to hang, and the only way to remove it is through surgery.
For those ready to address post-weight-loss laxity, tummy tucks, arm lifts, and thigh lifts can remove excess skin and refine overall contours, while facelifts and neck lifts target sagging in the lower face and jawline. Patients who aren’t ready for surgery may see improvement with collagen-stimulating treatments like Ultherapy, Morpheus8, or radio-frequency microneedling, which help firm and tighten skin over time with less downtime.
“Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight on GLP-1 medications tend to fall into two categories,” explains Pittsburgh plastic surgeon Leo R. McCafferty, MD. “One is men and women who have a lot of extra neck skin and are considering a facelift. The other is mostly women seeking typical body-contouring procedures in areas like the tummy, arms and legs.”
The Best Breast Procedures After Weight Loss
The breasts are often an area of concern once a goal weight is reached. When weight is lost in the breasts, patients may experience deflation, where reduced volume causes breast tissue to sag and significantly decreases overall size. In these cases, procedures that restore lift and shape often take priority.
“I’ve actually had a few patients just this week who were initially considering breast reductions,” Dr. McCafferty says. “But after weight loss, they really only needed a lift and perhaps a small implant to restore shape and volume.”
For others, however, the opposite is true. If weight isn’t lost in the breast area, a breast reduction may be considered to achieve better balance. “Breast reduction might be needed to achieve better proportion after weight loss,” Dr. Herte explains. “Naturally large-breasted women generally do not lose weight in their breasts as readily as smaller-breasted women.”
Pump Up the Volume: Restoring Facial Fullness After Weight Loss
Another key area that experiences volume loss after weight loss is the face, which can create a gaunt or hollow appearance. This change can be especially noticeable because it alters the balance and contours that make the face look youthful. While the shift can feel jarring, there are effective ways to gradually restore volume—even before reaching a goal weight.
“Support of the facial structure with rejuvenation filler—for collagen stimulation—and judicious volumizing can keep a healthy and youthful look despite significant weight loss,” Dr. Herte says. “Family and friends can undermine a patient’s weight loss by making remarks about how gaunt or unhealthy they look as they lose facial fat, as well as body fat. In the process of weight loss, aesthetic injections can keep the motivation going until that ideal weight goal is reached, and they can consider surgery to fine-tune their results.”
