FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2025 -- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medications for weight loss are significantly transforming the field of facial plastic surgery, according to the results of a survey released by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).

The 2024 AAFPRS annual online survey was sent in December 2024 to academy members.

Rhinoplasties, facelifts (including partial facelifts), and blepharoplasties remained the top three surgical procedures in 2024. However, facial plastic surgeons reported a 50 percent rise in the average number of fat grafting procedures performed over the past year, a trend likely fueled by patients addressing "Ozempic face" and aiming to restore lost volume while enhancing facial contours. One in four surgeons anticipate that GLP-1 RA medications will drive a growing demand for nonsurgical treatments, such as injectable fillers and skin tightening procedures, as patients seek less invasive options to manage aesthetic changes resulting from weight loss. Additionally, 10 percent of AAFPRS members started personally prescribing GLP-1 RA medications. Other noted trends included the desire for facial rejuvenation as part of "menopause makeovers."

Fifty-seven percent of respondents predicted that regenerative medicine, including treatments such as platelet-rich plasma and exosome-based therapies, will become a major area of innovation in the aesthetic field. In addition, men are increasingly seeking cosmetic procedures, with 92 percent of survey respondents reporting male patients in their practice; blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and facelifts were the most requested procedures.

"Just like their female counterparts, neurotoxins, fillers, and skin treatments remain the top three nonsurgical procedures among men," Patrick Byrne, M.D., president of the AAFPRS, said in a statement. "This trend highlights the growing acceptance of aesthetic treatments among men and their changing approach to self-care."

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