Aesthetic Treatments Improve Facial Appearance Satisfaction in Patients Taking GLP-1 Medications, Studies Find
Key Takeaways
- Two Phase 4 studies presented at ASDS 2026 reported improvements in patient satisfaction with facial appearance following aesthetic treatments among adults taking GLP-1 medications.
- The HARMONY IN DIVERSITY study reported a 42.4-point mean improvement in FACE-Q facial appearance satisfaction following multimodal treatment, while the HALO interim analysis reported a 39.6-point improvement with hyaluronic acid injectables.
- Both studies were small, open-label, single-arm investigations without control groups, limiting conclusions about comparative effectiveness.
Two Phase 4 studies presented at the 2026 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Annual Meeting reported improvements in patient-reported satisfaction with facial appearance following injectable aesthetic treatments among adults taking glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications for weight management.
The findings, announced by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, were presented November 5-8 in San Diego, California.¹
GLP-1 Facial Changes and Aesthetic Treatment Outcomes
The prospective, multicenter HARMONY IN DIVERSITY and HALO studies evaluated aesthetic interventions in adults receiving stable doses of GLP-1 medications.
In HARMONY IN DIVERSITY, 30 participants received hyaluronic acid (HA) injectables, onabotulinumtoxinA, and a study-specified skincare regimen. Mean FACE-Q Satisfaction With Facial Appearance scores increased 42.4 points from baseline to 30 days after onabotulinumtoxinA treatment, a statistically significant improvement. Participants also reported significant improvements in skin quality, psychological function, and social function.
The HALO study evaluated HA injectables administered across the face. An interim analysis involving 25 participants demonstrated a 39.6-point mean improvement in FACE-Q facial appearance satisfaction scores at month 3.
Additionally, 95.7% of participants reported satisfaction with maintaining their recognizable appearance, while 82.6% were satisfied or very satisfied with their natural-looking results. Another 88% expressed satisfaction with their skin's natural appearance.
Most treatment-related adverse events in both studies were mild and nonserious.
Both investigations used validated patient-reported outcome measures, including FACE-Q and SKIN-Q. However, their small sample sizes, open-label designs, and absence of control groups limit interpretation. HALO findings are preliminary, with results reported for 25 of 75 treated participants.
The findings provide early patient-reported data on aesthetic treatment outcomes in individuals receiving GLP-1 medications, although controlled studies are needed to establish comparative effectiveness.
Source
AbbVie. Allergan Aesthetics reports improved satisfaction with facial appearance following aesthetic treatment in two studies of patients on GLP-1 medications. PR Newswire. Published November 8, 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allergan-aesthetics-reports-improved-satisfaction-with-facial-appearance-following-aesthetic-treatment-in-two-studies-of-patients-on-glp-1-medications-302932241.html