GLP-1 medications for medical weight loss have taken center stage in healthcare over the last couple of years, transforming the way we think not only about weight loss, but now cardiovascular, metabolic, sleep and addiction conditions (with larger implications on population health).
Their rapid rise has naturally sparked interest in the aesthetics space, but the question is still commonly asked:
Are GLP-1s a strategic evolution for medical aesthetics or simply the latest hype cycle?
At the surface level the overlap is obvious, as weight loss, especially rapid weight loss, directly affects the face and body. More specifically, patients on GLP-1s are increasingly presenting with concerns in facial volume loss, skin laxity and quality, hair-loss and variable muscle and/or fat loss.
Medical aesthetics is uniquely positioned to support these patients through injectables, biostimulators, energy-based devices and advanced skin health protocols.
What This Means for Medical Aesthetics & Beauty Product Manufacturers
For aesthetics and beauty companies, GLP-1s represent a growing demand catalyst rather than a threat. As the GLP-1 weight loss category continues to trend upward, new aesthetic demand and patient journeys are emerging:
- Widely reported after-effects requiring volume filling, skin tightening, collagen-stimulating and hair health and growth treatments
- GLP-1 users' Increased focus on personal appearance and greater inclination towards cosmetic treatments and products
- Opportunities to develop holistic treatment plans, GLP-1-adjacent protocols, education, and clinical support tools to medical professionals that provide both medical weight loss and aesthetic treatments
What This Means for Physicians and Medical Professionals Offering GLP-1s and/or Aesthetics
For physicians in any medical aesthetics-relevant role, the combination of GLP-1s and medical aesthetics opens the door to:
- Stronger patient retention and lifetime value through longitudinal treatment plans
- Increased demand for specific offerings and treatments adjacent to GLP-1s or addressing unwanted effects
- Opportunities for pioneering academic and clinical research, along with outcomes and cost implications in regards to population health
Chasing this like a passing trend and making decisions without a clear longer-term strategy could negatively impact your brand and introduce clinical, operational, and regulatory complexity for both manufacturers and practices.
When done correctly and with the long-term in mind, this shift could transform companies and practices from transactional treatments to holistic health management.
