Allergan Aesthetics Panel: Medical Weight Loss Fuels New Aesthetic Conversations

Experts at Allergan Aesthetics’ “Navigating the New Era of Patient Needs” virtual event highlighted how GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are changing facial aesthetic concerns, patient education, and treatment sequencing.

The panel examined how the rapid adoption of medical weight loss therapies is reshaping demand in aesthetic practices, particularly for patients concerned about facial volume loss and skin laxity.

Opening the program, Kate McShane, Director of Global Corporate Communications at Allergan Aesthetics, framed the discussion as a turning point for clinicians managing appearance-related concerns alongside metabolic care.

“The advent of medical weight loss is rewriting the rules for patient care,” she said.

Tatiana Pile, a freelance beauty and wellness editor and creator of The Unpolished Edit Substack, moderated the discussion and cited Allergan–commissioned research presented in November at the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) annual meeting. The number of patients receiving GLP-1 RAs rose 137% from 2023 to 2024, she noted, with the average number of medical weight loss patients per provider increasing from 95 to 225 over the same period. Pile also noted that 40% of medical weight loss patients are considering professionally administered aesthetic treatments.

Joely Kaufman, MD, a dermatologist in Coral Gables, Florida, described a sharp rise in GLP-1 RA–associated consultations and emphasized that many patients are new to aesthetic medicine.

“More than half of those people actually have never been in aesthetics,” she said, adding that this creates an education gap around realistic outcomes, product selection, and expectations for gradual change. Patients commonly present after losing weight and noticing new facial changes, including reduced fullness and perceived aging.

Brittony Croasdell, MS, FNP-BC, APRN, CANS, a nurse practitioner in Chicago, Illinois, said early counseling is essential because these medications reduce fat systemically and can “unmask laxity that was already present.” She described a structured assessment focused on skin laxity, degree of volume loss, and the skin’s capacity to regenerate. Croasdell also emphasized the need to match treatment to anatomy and timing, cautioning against overreliance on any single modality.

“GLP-1 agonists are a very powerful metabolic tool,” she said, adding that facial changes are often multifactorial rather than “simply loose skin.”

Stafford Broumand, MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon in New York City, emphasized a stepwise approach grounded in patient goals, clinical examination, and longitudinal follow-up.

“We try to reflect what they’re trying to achieve,” he said, noting that practices are increasingly managing these patients throughout the weight loss journey.

Dr. Broumand highlighted common complaints beyond the midface, including temporal hollowing and neck laxity, and he discussed fat grafting as a key tool in contemporary facial rejuvenation strategies for significant weight loss.

Across specialties, panelists described a practical sequencing strategy: restore structural support first, then refine dynamic lines and skin quality.

“We restore structure first before we refine movement with a neuromodulator,” Croasdell said, positioning hyaluronic acid fillers as a frequent first step when volume depletion is the primary driver.

A recurring theme was normalization and communication. Dr. Kaufman noted the stigma around discussing GLP-1 use may be diminishing as evidence and indications expand, while other panelists encouraged clinicians to proactively ask about medical weight loss therapies in intake and to counsel patients early.

“This is a journey,” Dr. Kaufman said.