Ozempic Weight Loss and Plastic Surgery

Drugs such as Ozempic and Wygovy have quickly become the new weight loss solution for obese patients. And while the effects of the drugs are transformational, a common side-effect is a significant excess of sagging skin. Body contouring and skin tightening cosmetic procedures such as abdominoplasty are now the next step for patients with massive weight loss.

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Is Plastic Surgery the Next Step After Weight Loss?

Ozempic has been gaining traction today as a new, nearly instant weight loss solution. As more and more people are shedding pounds, the world of plastic surgery is feeling the effects of this weight loss phenomenon as patients look to contour and tighten their newly slim bodies.

What Is Ozempic?

Ozempic is a name-brand medication of the drug semaglutide. Semaglutide manages glucose levels in patients with type-2 diabetes. There are many drugs with this purpose, but they all have a secondary result: weight loss. Through minimizing appetite, reducing the emptying of the stomach, and increasing feelings of fullness, patients using semaglutide (in any of its forms and names) are experiencing drastic weight loss.

And while this is fantastic for controlling obesity and its associated illnesses, there is another factor: excess skin.

How Are Ozempic and Plastic Surgery Related?

When a person loses a tremendous amount of weight rapidly, they may experience excess sagging skin. While subcutaneous fat is reduced through weight loss, the skin and underlying tissues don’t have enough time to snap back into place. This can be exacerbated if the person has poor skin elasticity, which is more common in older patients.

So, while fat is greatly reduced, patients are disappointed by excess skin that detracts from their appearance and, ultimately, the joy of losing a significant amount of weight.

The next step is getting rid of excess skin–and that’s where plastic surgery comes in. Nonsurgical solutions for excess or sagging skin are only applicable when a patient only has minor sagging and good skin elasticity, which isn’t usually the case with Ozempic patients.

Surgery is generally the ideal option for reducing sagging skin, tightening muscles, and helping weight loss patients finally enjoy their new, slimmer bodies.

What Surgical Options Do Ozempic Patients Have?

Body contouring procedures are most helpful for patients with an excess of loose skin throughout the body. These procedures are varied, but all offer some form of skin-tightening function. When a patient undergoes massive weight loss, this can affect the appearance of more than the body, however, so some facial enhancements can be helpful depending on the patient’s concerns and goals. Below, we’ll highlight some of the most applicable plastic surgery options for Ozempic patients.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

A tummy tuck is commonly misunderstood as a weight loss procedure–it’s not. The primary aim of a tummy tuck is to:

• Surgically tighten the abdominal muscles
• Remove loose skin around the midsection
• Contour the midsection for a slimmer physique

While some surgeons will incorporate liposuction into their abdominoplasties, fat removal is not the primary aim, so this may be an excellent option for Ozempic patients. Abdominal muscle separation (diastasis recti) is common in obese patients, and without surgical intervention, it can be nearly impossible to remedy with exercise alone.

Lastly, the skin tightening and contouring benefits of the tummy tuck align with what Ozempic patients are looking for. Removing excess skin is crucial, as the surgeon will be able to contour the midsection and reveal a sculpted, slim physique.

Breast Lift and/or Breast Augmentation

When a patient loses significant weight, the fat diminishes anywhere–even in places we might not want. A loss of volume in the breasts is another factor that female Ozempic patients may encounter, which can leave the breasts small, deflated, and drooping.

A breast lift is a cosmetic procedure specifically designed to lift and reshape the breast tissue and nipple-areolar complex into a more youthful, perky position. Excess skin is removed, the tissues are repositioned higher on the chest, and the breasts are effectively restored to a youthful state.

Additionally, a breast lift can be combined with a breast augmentation through the use of breast implants. Combining a breast lift with augmentation can restore lost volume and maintain a rounded, perky shape.

Facelift

The face is also susceptible to changes from massive weight loss. Any type of volume reduction in the face can result in a gaunt, worn look, especially around the cheeks and eyes. Excess skin can cause drooping jowls, an undefined chin, and exaggerated, deep creases.

A facelift treats the mid-to-lower face by lifting the underlying tissues and skin into a more youthful, sculpted contour. Wrinkles and deep creases are reduced, the jawline and chin become more defined, and excess skin is eliminated.

Nonsurgical Options

While surgery is ideal for severe sagging skin, there is one more option that can fine-tune the face after massive weight loss. Minimally invasive treatments such as dermal facial fillers can help restore lost volume exactly where the patient wants it.

Subtle injections from an experienced practitioner can help bring youthful contours back to the face, especially in the cheeks and under the eyes. This can improve a gaunt or hollow appearance and bring back the right amount of plumpness.

Want to Learn More About Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss in Scottsdale, AZ?

Dr. Robert J. Spies is a board-certified plastic surgeon of the face, breast, and body, serving Scottsdale, AZ, with over 35 years of experience. If you have experienced massive weight loss and would like to learn more about skin tightening procedures, call us today at (480) 359-1019 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you.