GLP‑1 Use and Body Contouring: Reporting from a 10‑Year Panniculectomy Study

A retrospective cohort analysis in body-contouring surgery reported outcome-specific associations between preoperative glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication use and wound-related events after panniculectomy for excess abdominal skin following major weight loss.

The report compared patients using GLP-1 agents at the time of surgery with those not using them and described differences that varied by complication type rather than moving in a single direction. Across the outcomes highlighted, some wound-healing events were more frequent among GLP-1 users while others were less frequent, suggesting a non-uniform pattern across endpoints.

The study was described as a single-center, 10-year retrospective review of 373 patients undergoing panniculectomy from 2013 through 2023. Preoperative GLP-1 medication use was reported in 21.7% of patients, and the summary noted that use increased sharply in more recent years. To focus on GLP-1 therapy in this setting, the report stated that patients having concurrent bariatric or hernia surgery were excluded. The comparison then centered on postoperative complications observed in GLP-1 users versus nonusers within this abdominal body-contouring cohort.

Among the outcomes highlighted, delayed wound healing was reported more often in GLP-1 users than nonusers (18.5% vs 7.5%), while seroma was reported less often in the GLP-1 group (4.9% vs 14.0%). The report also stated that both differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for other factors. Other outcomes—reopening of the surgical wound (dehiscence), infection, and rehospitalization—were described as similar between groups. In the authors’ framing, GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy did not appear to increase major surgical risk, while associations differed by postoperative endpoint rather than reflecting a consistent shift in overall complication burden.

The authors wrote that GLP-1 receptor agonists appear broadly safe perioperatively with respect to major surgical risk, while their impact on soft-tissue healing may involve mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. They described the relationship as complex and emphasized study limitations alongside the need for continued investigation in a rapidly evolving clinical landscape. The summary reported that the authors called for ongoing research and formal guidelines addressing GLP-1 medications in plastic surgery.

Key Takeaways:

• A retrospective panniculectomy series described mixed wound-related associations in patients using GLP-1 medications compared with nonusers.
• Delayed wound healing was reported as more common and seroma as less common among GLP-1 users, while dehiscence, infection, and rehospitalization were described as similar between groups.
• The authors highlighted limitations and called for further research and formal guidance; the summary did not include a specific perioperative holding recommendation.