A look at the future of weight loss injections

Weight loss drugs have been all the rage recently. These so-called "miracle drugs" have been helping both men and women to successfully lose weight and achieve a healthier lifestyle through continued use and proper medical supervision.

These game-changing medications, from brand names such as Ozempic and Moujaro to generic options like semaglutide and tirzepatide, have made waves within the aesthetics industry for both surgeons and patients. Plastic surgeons are seeing an increase in patients seeking body contouring procedures to remove excess skin after losing weight with these drugs. Additionally, some plastic surgeons have started prescribing these medications to patients to help them reach a healthy weight so they can have surgery.

We have made amazing strides in recent years with the introduction and successful implementation of these medications among countless patients, but there is still plenty of room for growth and improvement. Future innovations within this field will be available soon.

To gather more insight into the future of weight loss injections and some of the advancements that are on the horizon, we spoke with ASPS Member Surgeon Johnny Franco, MD. Keep reading to discover his thoughts about weight loss drugs and insider advice on what the future of these medications holds.

ASPS: In the recent few years, we've seen the amazing success of weight loss injections in treating a wide variety of patients, helping them to lose weight, gain confidence and become healthier overall. How popular is this type of treatment at your practice currently? Is its popularity continuing to grow or level off?

Dr. Franco: One, it's been extremely popular. I don't think there's been a medication that has been as popular in the United States since penicillin. We haven't really seen anything else that has positively affected the health of patients in the United States to this degree. It started with diabetics, moved into cardiology and now is becoming more widely used. It's definitely not leveling off – patients are becoming more aware of it and more accepting of it. However, we do have some people come in for weight loss procedures who have not heard of it!

There are still some divisive views about who should manage it, between the compound versions and the prescription versions. I do hear less and less pushback about it in our national meetings and more talk about that it's here to stay. People are definitely starting to accept it – they were waiting for the bottom to fall out, and it just hasn't happened. In fact, it's been continuing to grow and grow, and that's super exciting.

ASPS: What are the most popular current weight loss injection treatments at your practice? Have you found any that seem to be more effective than others?

Dr. Franco: At this point, it's split pretty evenly between tirzepatide – Mounjaro and Zepbound – and semaglutide – Ozempic and Wegovy. For a lot of patients, it depends on cost. The tirzepatide is more expensive, but patients tend to lose more weight and have less side effects. We do see a lot of patients who start on semaglutide and stall out or not reach the point where they want to be. They'll then transition to tirzepatide.

ASPS: How has the introduction of weight loss injections changed the industry for the better? Are there any negative implications?

Dr. Franco: One of the things I talk about a lot is that the weight loss revolution and the success of these medications are going to have a ripple effect in the aesthetic industry. It's our responsibility to be a part of this revolution. We're going to see patients who have secondary weight loss effects from using these medications, such as skin laxity. As aesthetic leaders, we need to be a part of this conversation and the challenges that come with it. For example, when you see 20- or 30-year-olds with laxity in the skin from weight loss, should you give them a facelift?

You also have a lot of new patients who are introduced to the aesthetic industry through weight loss – everyone is interested in that! You're going to see more men and younger patients. Actually, the two most visited places on our website are "Ozempic face" and "Ozempic butt," which just goes to show how many people are actually searching these terms.

As providers, we can have such a unique opportunity in treating patients and helping them along their journey. Even when they're just starting this, we can talk through some of these changes and help them through it. We can help them through the entire process and be very upfront about it.

ASPS: In looking towards the future of weight loss injections, are there any new and exciting innovations we should expect in the upcoming years?

Dr. Franco: Within the next couple of months, we're going to see some new innovations! There's a new injection coming in, called the "triple G," that will be equivalent to bariatric surgery within early 2025 – it's showing 25% body loss per year. Nova is introducing an oral medication that will be the equivalent of their weight loss injections. Eli Lilly has another oral medication that is very similar to semaglutide that's a little further along.

There are some 80 to 100 medications in clinical trials right now, and there are medications slated for release within the next five to seven years within this field. There are even some medications that are once-per-month injections, some medications that are focused on muscle preservation – focused on targeting loss of pure body fat – and many other innovations. A lot of the aesthetic industry is also leaning into the thought about how they can be more proactive with their patients and weight management, such as body composition, nutrition, supplements, etc.

ASPS: Do you have any advice for patients who are interested in pursuing weight loss injections to help get their weight and health back on track?

Dr. Franco: If patients are looking into weight loss medications, I would strongly encourage them to find a certified provider. With the excitement of these medications, there are a lot of online-type things – which aren't necessarily bad – but you have to remember that you get what you pay for. There are a lot of benefits in speaking to someone who can help you along your journey. This is one portion of the journey to help patients get into a great spot. We have a better understanding of weight, and there will be a good subset of our patients that are on these medications for the rest of their life. We're seeing so many additional benefits with these medications that it would be worth it to talk to their providers about.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.