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March 11, 2024
Plastic Surgery After Ozempic®
If you’re considering plastic surgery after weight loss, you’re not alone.
“With injectables like Ozempic®, Wegovy®, or Mounjaro®, we’re seeing a higher volume of patients who have had massive weight loss,” says Kelli Hickle, MD, a plastic surgeon at Plastic + Hand Surgical Associates in Portland, Maine.
“While we regularly take care of weight loss patients after bariatric surgery, these new patients taking injectable medications tend to be a younger population,” Dr. Hickle adds. “They share with us that they are rapidly dissatisfied with their appearance or the loose skin after taking injectable medications.”
Can plastic surgery help, or is it appropriate for you? You’re in the right place to learn more.
Did you lose weight quickly after injectable medications?
Doctors may prescribe injection medications for weight loss in people who meet the criteria. These medications can include Mounjaro®, Zepbound™, and semaglutides such as Wegovy® and Ozempic®, among others.
While some people may try to seek this medication without their provider, it’s not the best idea.
“Like any medication, these weight loss medications have side effects,” says Dr. Hickle. “These should always be administered under the direction of a physician, nutritionist, or weight loss specialist. There are risks with taking these sorts of medications, and there are certain patient populations who should not take them. While many providers may be willing to prescribe this medication, find someone well-versed in nutrition and weight management.”
Once you start injection medications, you may lose weight quickly.
Do you feel like you look older after weight loss?
“After bariatric surgery or with weight loss medication, you’ll have volume loss,” says Dr. Hickle. “The overlying skin in the areas you’ve lost weight can get saggy over time, especially noticeable in our abdomen and faces. It’s also similar to what happens after pregnancy or breastfeeding with postpartum breast deflation.”
What’s the top concern plastic surgeons often hear?
“People say they look older more rapidly with rapid weight loss,” answers Dr. Hickle. “It often makes them feel older than they are.”
How can plastic surgery help after weight loss?
Sometimes, the skin and tissue no longer have the elasticity to conform to your new body size. Body contouring can help.
Various procedures can remove excess sagging skin and fat while improving the shape of the underlying support tissue.
Plastic + Hand specializes in body contouring procedures, including:
What about “Ozempic® face?”
“People often complain specifically about the rapid volume loss leading to the saggy or loose skin of the face and neck,” says Dr. Hickle. “They feel like they look about five years older than if they didn’t lose weight rapidly.”
What happens if you gain weight back?
“Unfortunately, when people regain weight after getting ‘Ozempic® face,’ you don’t regain it in those same fat deposits that you’ve lost it in,” answers Dr. Hickle. “It’s not necessarily reversible. The best way to treat that is to give back volume, either with fillers or fat grafting. Or, we may need to tighten the skin with either a brow lift, eyelid surgery, facelift, or neck lift.”
Is your (new) happy weight sustainable?
Traditionally, patients must wait at least six months after bariatric surgery (or at least be at a stable weight for six months after bariatric surgery) for insurance criteria.
What about patients on injectable medications?
“This is a very complicated question,” admits Dr. Hickle. “We don’t have great literature surrounding recommendations for stable weight after injectable medications. That being said, we know that about a year after stopping injectable medications, patients can regain about two-thirds of their lost weight.”
“Body contouring surgery is a big investment for money and recovery time off work,” Dr. Hickle adds. “If you lose a bunch of weight and go right into body contouring without being at a stable weight for at least six months, and then regain a bunch of weight, it will affect your aesthetic results in the long run.”
Her advice is to find (and live) at your happy weight.
“Get to where you’re not rapidly losing weight, but you’re also not gaining weight either,” explains Dr. Hickle. “We want you to have the best results possible, so the best-case scenario is to maintain your happy weight for at least six months after injectables.”
Don’t lose sight of your nutrition
Whether you have bariatric surgery or use injectable medications, you change your body’s nutrition.
“You need at least 1.5 grams of protein per kilogram for wound healing,” says Dr. Hickle. “This means a 150-pound person should consume at least 100 grams of protein daily for optimal wound healing, especially for these longer body contouring incisions. We know weight loss medications or bariatric surgery can affect this.”
To maximize your aesthetic results, optimize your nutrition before surgery.
“Make sure to maximize protein, get the right micronutrients, don’t operate at a calorie deficit, and work with a nutritionist,” says Dr. Hickle.
Do you have questions about cosmetic surgery after weight loss?
If you’re considering cosmetic surgery after bariatric surgery or weight loss after Mounjaro®, Zepbound™, and semaglutides such as Wegovy® and Ozempic®, or other injectable medications, our Plastic + Hand team has the most qualified plastic surgeons in Maine.
We’re committed to providing the results you seek with the respect and compassion you deserve. The first step begins here. Call us at 207-775-3446 or submit this request form to schedule your consultation with our Patient Care Coordinator to get started.
