GLP-1 use could boost risky US plastic surgery demand
GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound have helped millions of people shed significant amounts of weight. But for many, the next step isn't losing more pounds—it's addressing the aesthetic changes that can follow rapid weight loss .
A recent study by Gallup found that Americans' use of GLP-1 injectables for weight loss has nearly quadrupled since 2024 with 11 percent of the 342 million U.S. inhabitants on a form of the medication.
A Mounjaro KwikPen injection pen. (Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)
That translates to more Americans taking GLP-1s than report smoking cigarettes, according to a 2024 National Health Interview Survey, which found that 9.9 percent of the population has the habit.
But along with all the health and cosmetic benefits of weight loss come some less desirable outcomes as well. Rapid weight loss can often leave excess skin and change a person's body shape.
The mainstream adoption of GLP-1s is expected to create a boon for the plastic surgery industry as people seek body-contouring procedures, such as tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), lower body lifts, arm lifts, thigh lifts and breast lifts or reshaping, to address loose skin and volume loss.
"When the patient loses 30+ pounds, the skin does not recoil, and post GLP-1 body contouring is a series of operative procedures that help remove excess skin from the abdomen, breasts, arms and thighs, depending on the patient's specific condition," Ronald Rosso, MD, a plastic surgeon and medical director of Peninsula Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles, told Newsweek .
Body-contouring procedures are typically considered after a patient's weight has stabilized and are tailored to the amount of excess skin, overall health and individual goals.
Rosso said that even if only a small percentage of GLP-1 users pursue surgery, the sheer number of people taking the medications has fueled demand and will require plastic surgery practices to expand their capacity.
Dr. Ash Patel, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Duke Health agrees, saying, "The growing use of GLP-1 weight-loss medications is likely to increase demand for body contouring and facial rejuvenation procedures after significant weight loss."
Patel was part of a 2026 five-doctor study that found that using GLP-1 medication and then having contouring surgery is risky. "Our 552-patient study found that greater and faster preoperative weight loss was associated with higher complication risks after abdominal body contouring, especially among patients combining bariatric surgery with GLP-1 therapy. These findings underscore the need for stable weight, careful medical and nutritional assessment and individualized counseling before plastic surgery," he said.
See Newsweek's ranking of America's Best Plastic Surgeons, developed in partnership with Statista, here .
Related Articles
